UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 10-K/A

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

 

(Mark One)

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

 

 

OR

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the transition period from         to        

 

 

Commission file number: 001-07964

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

73-0785597

(State of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. employer identification number)

 

 

 

100 Glenborough Drive, Suite 100
Houston, Texas

 

77067

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(281) 872-3100

 

NOBLE AFFILIATES, INC.

(Registrant’s former name)

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on
Which Registered

 

 

 

Common Stock, $3.33-1/3 par value

 

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

 

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: None

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes   ý        No   o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.     ý

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes   ý     No   o

 

Aggregate market value of Common Stock held by nonaffiliates as of June 28, 2002:  $1,934,000,000.

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 27, 2003:  57,384,490.

 

DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 29, 2003, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Such definitive proxy statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2003.

 

 



 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) is being filed to amend the annual report on Form 10-K of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “Noble Energy”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2003 (the “Original Report on Form 10-K”).  The purpose of this Amendment is to file our 2001 and 2000 financial statements, which KPMG has re-audited.  Arthur Andersen previously audited these financial statements.  In May 2002, we discontinued our use of Arthur Andersen and engaged KPMG to audit our financial statements for 2002.  Our 2002 financial statements, audited by KPMG, were filed with our 2002 Form 10-K on March 11, 2003 and did not require re-audit.

 

We engaged KPMG to re-audit our 2001 and 2000 financial statements in connection with the January 1, 2003 adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force EITF 02-03 “Recognition and Reporting of Gains and Losses on Energy Trading Contracts” (“EITF 02-03”) and as a result of our reporting discontinued operations for the sale of oil and gas properties during 2003. The results of the re-audit as related to the reclassifications of the above two items will be included in a subsequent Form 8-K.

 

With this Amendment we are filing the re-audited 2001 and 2000 financial statements to reflect the consolidation of $125 million of Series A-2 Notes of AMCCO, as our 2002 financial statements, filed in March 2003, already reflect. (Through AMCCO we own 45 percent of an entity that owns and operates a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea.)

 

This restatement of our 2001 and 2000 financial statements does not impact our 2002 financial statements.  Further, the restatement does not impact our net income, earnings per share, shareholders’ equity, or other comprehensive income for 2001 or 2000. The net impact of the restatement adjustment on our financial statements is as follows:

 

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary and long-term debt each increased by approximately $125 million as of December 31, 2001.

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiary and interest expense each increased by approximately $12 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in investing activities each decreased by approximately $12 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000.

 

For additional information about the restatement of our 2001 and 2000 financial statements, see “Note 2 – Restatement - Structured Financing of Methanol Plant”, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Each item of the financial statements and disclosures that are affected by the restatement have been amended and restated. Generally, no attempt has been made in this Amendment to modify or update other disclosures as presented in the Original Report on Form 10-K except as required to reflect the effects of the restatement. However, subsequent events have been reported in a separate section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis, entitled “Subsequent Events”, and in “Note 14 – Subsequent Events”, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

1



 

PART I

 

Item 1.                                   Business

 

This Report on Form 10-K/A and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this filing. These statements by their nature are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are influenced by various factors. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For more information, see “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Other Federal Securities Laws” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

General

 

Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “Noble Energy”), the successor to Noble Affiliates, Inc., is a Delaware corporation that has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange for over 20 years. Noble Energy is principally engaged, directly or through its subsidiaries, in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. The Company is noted for its innovative methods of marketing its international gas reserves through projects such as its methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea and its gas-to-power project in Ecuador.

 

In this report, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the “Company” or the “Registrant” refers to Noble Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2001, Energy Development Corporation (“EDC”) was merged into Samedan Oil Corporation (“Samedan”). Effective December 31, 2002, Samedan was merged into Noble Energy, Inc. Effective December 31, 2002, Noble Trading, Inc. (“NTI”) was merged into Noble Gas Marketing, Inc. (“NGM”) under the name of Noble Energy Marketing, Inc. (“NEMI”).

 

As of January 1, 2003, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NEMI, markets the majority of the Company’s domestic natural gas as well as third-party natural gas. NEMI also markets a portion of the Company’s domestic crude oil as well as third-party crude oil. For more information regarding NEMI’s operations, see “Item 1. Business—Crude Oil and Natural Gas—Marketing” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

In this report, the following abbreviations are used:

 

Bbl

 

Barrel

Bbls

 

Barrels

MBbls

 

Thousand barrels

Bpd

 

Barrels per day

Bopd

 

Barrels oil per day

MMBbl

 

Million barrels

MBpd

 

Thousand barrels per day

MMBpd

 

Million barrels per day

MBopd

 

Thousand barrels oil per day

MMBopd

 

Million barrels oil per day

BOE

 

Barrels oil equivalent

MMBoe

 

Million barrels oil equivalent

MMBoepd

 

Million barrels oil equivalent per day

$MM

 

Millions of dollars

Kwh

 

Kilowatt hour

MW

 

Megawatt

MWH

 

Megawatt hours

Mcf

 

Thousand cubic feet

 

Mcfe

 

Thousand cubic feet equivalent

 

MMcf

 

Million cubic feet

 

MMcfepd

 

Million cubic feet equivalent per day

 

MMcfpd

 

Million cubic feet per day

 

Bcf

 

Billion cubic feet

 

Bcfe

 

Billion cubic feet equivalent

 

Bcfepd

 

Billion cubic feet equivalent per day

 

Bcfpd

 

Billion cubic feet per day

 

Tcf

 

Trillion cubic feet

 

Tcfe

 

Trillion cubic feet equivalent

 

BTU

 

British thermal unit

 

BTUpcf

 

British thermal unit per cubic foot

 

MMBTU

 

Million British thermal unit

 

MMBTUpd

 

Million British thermal unit per day

 

MTpd

 

Metric tons per day

 

LPG

 

Liquefied petroleum gas

 

 

For reporting BOE or Mcfe, one Bbl of oil or condensate is equal to six Mcf of natural gas.

 

2



 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas

 

Noble Energy, directly or through its subsidiaries or various arrangements with other companies, explores for, develops and produces crude oil and natural gas. Exploration activities include geophysical and geological evaluation and exploratory drilling on properties for which the Company has exploration rights. Noble Energy has been engaged in the exploration, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas since 1932. The Company has exploration, exploitation and production operations domestically and internationally. The domestic areas consist of: offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and California; the Gulf Coast Region (Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas); the Mid-Continent Region (Oklahoma and Kansas); and the Rocky Mountain Region (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and California). The international areas of operations include Argentina, China, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, the Mediterranean Sea (Israel), the North Sea (Denmark, Netherlands and United Kingdom) and Vietnam.

 

Exploration, Exploitation and Development Activities

 

Domestic Offshore. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama) and California since 1968. The Company has shifted its domestic offshore exploration focus to the Gulf of Mexico deep shelf and deepwater areas, and away from the Gulf of Mexico’s conventional shallow shelf, in order to take advantage of lower operating costs, larger prospect sizes and higher rates of return. The Company’s current offshore production is derived from 194 gross wells operated by Noble Energy and 304 gross wells operated by others. At December 31, 2002, the Company held offshore federal leases covering 982,733 gross developed acres and 764,682 gross undeveloped acres on which the Company currently intends to conduct future exploration activities.

 

Domestic Onshore. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in three regions since the 1930s. The Gulf Coast Region covers onshore Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. The Mid-Continent Region covers Oklahoma and Kansas. Properties in the Rocky Mountain Region are located in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and California.

 

Noble Energy’s current onshore production is derived from 1,496 gross wells operated by the Company and 1,238 gross wells operated by others. At December 31, 2002, the Company held 685,162 gross developed acres and 398,815 gross undeveloped acres onshore on which the Company may conduct future exploration activities.

 

Argentina. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in Argentina since 1996. The Company’s producing properties are located in southern Argentina in the El Tordillo field, which is characterized by secondary recovery crude oil production from a 10,000 acre reservoir. At December 31, 2002, the Company held 28,988 gross developed acres and 2,398,970 gross undeveloped acres in Argentina on which the Company may conduct future exploration activities.

 

China. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in China since 1996. The Company has two concessions offshore China. These concessions, Cheng Dao Xi and Cheng Zi Kou, are contiguous and adjoin non-owned production in the southern portion of Bohai Bay. At December 31, 2002, the Company held 7,413 gross developed acres and 2,569,522 gross undeveloped acres in China on which the Company may conduct future exploration activities.

 

Ecuador. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in Ecuador since 1996. The Company is currently utilizing the gas in the Amistad gas field (offshore Ecuador), which was discovered in the 1970s, to generate electricity through its 100 percent owned natural gas-fired power plant, located near the city of Machala. Currently generating 130 MW, with additional capital investment, the power plant will ultimately be capable of generating 220 MW of electricity into the Ecuadorian power grid. The concession covers 12,355 gross developed acres and 851,771 gross undeveloped acres encompassing the Amistad field.

 

3



 

Equatorial Guinea. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties offshore Equatorial Guinea (West Africa) since 1990. The offshore Equatorial Guinea production is from the Alba field, which produces natural gas and condensate. The majority of the natural gas production is sold to a methanol plant, which began production in the second quarter of 2001. The methanol plant has a 25-year contract to purchase natural gas from the Alba field. The plant is owned by Atlantic Methanol Production Company LLC (“AMPCO”), in which the Company indirectly owns a 45 percent interest through its ownership of Atlantic Methanol Capital Company (“AMCCO”). For more information on the methanol plant, see “Item 1. Business-Unconsolidated Subsidiary” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

At December 31, 2002, the Company held 45,203 gross developed acres and 266,754 gross undeveloped acres offshore Equatorial Guinea on which the Company may conduct future exploration activities.

 

Israel. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in the Mediterranean Sea, offshore Israel, since 1998. The Company owns a 47 percent interest in 11 licenses and two leases. At December 31, 2002, the Company held 123,552 gross developed acres and 1,028,796 gross undeveloped acres located about 20 miles offshore Israel in water depths ranging from 700 feet to 5,000 feet. Noble Energy and its partners announced on June 25, 2002 they had executed a definitive agreement for the sale of natural gas to Israel Electric Corporation (“IEC”).

 

North Sea. Noble Energy has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of crude oil and natural gas properties in the North Sea (Denmark, Netherlands and United Kingdom) since 1996. At December 31, 2002, the Company held 81,675 gross developed acres and 677,029 gross undeveloped acres on which the Company may conduct future exploration activities.

 

Vietnam. Noble Energy owns a 77 percent interest in two offshore blocks totaling 1,701,812 gross undeveloped acres in the Nam Con Son Basin.

 

Production Activities

 

Operated Property Statistics. The percentage of crude oil and natural gas wells operated and the percentage of sales volume from operated properties are shown in the following table as of December 31:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

(in percentages)

 

Oil

 

Gas

 

Oil

 

Gas

 

Oil

 

Gas

 

Operated well count basis

 

23.3

 

62.8

 

24.8

 

60.6

 

23.1

 

66.0

 

Operated sales volume basis

 

29.3

 

45.1

 

37.2

 

52.3

 

48.3

 

64.5

 

 

Net Production. The following table sets forth Noble Energy’s net crude oil and natural gas production, including royalty, for the three years ended December 31:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Crude Oil Production (MMBbl)

 

12.4

 

11.2

 

9.4

 

Natural Gas Production (Bcf)

 

141.5

 

154.2

 

148.7

 

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Equivalents. The following table sets forth Noble Energy’s net production stated in crude oil and natural gas equivalent volumes, for the three years ended December 31:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Total Crude Oil Equivalents (MMBoe)

 

36.0

 

36.9

 

34.2

 

Total Natural Gas Equivalents (Bcfe)

 

216.0

 

221.3

 

205.4

 

 

4



 

Acquisitions of Oil and Gas Properties, Leases and Concessions

 

During 2002, Noble Energy spent approximately $8 million on the purchase of proved crude oil and natural gas properties. The Company spent approximately $98 million in 2001 and $99 million in 2000 on proved properties.

 

During 2002, Noble Energy spent approximately $31 million on acquisitions of unproved properties. The Company spent approximately $81 million in 2001 and $18 million in 2000 on acquisitions of unproved properties. These properties were acquired primarily through various offshore lease sales, domestic onshore lease acquisitions and international concession negotiations.

 

Marketing

 

NEMI seeks opportunities to enhance the value of the Company’s domestic natural gas by marketing directly to end users and aggregating gas to be sold to natural gas marketers and pipelines. During 2002, approximately 83 percent of NEMI’s total sales were to end users. NEMI is also actively involved in the purchase and sale of natural gas from other producers. Such third-party natural gas may be purchased from non-operators who own working interests in the Company’s wells or from other producers’ properties in which the Company may not own an interest. NEMI, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Noble Gas Pipeline, Inc., engages in the installation, purchase and operation of natural gas gathering systems.

 

Noble Energy has a short-term natural gas sales contract with NEMI, whereby the Company is paid an index price for all natural gas sold to NEMI. The Company sold approximately 66 percent of its natural gas production to NEMI in 2002. Third-party sales, including derivative transactions, are recorded as gathering, marketing and processing revenues. NEMI records the amount paid to Noble Energy and third parties as gathering, marketing and processing costs and expenses. All intercompany sales and expenses are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company has a small number of long-term natural gas contracts representing less than four percent of its total natural gas sales.

 

Crude oil produced by the Company is sold to purchasers in the United States and foreign locations at various prices depending on the location and quality of the crude oil.  The Company has no long-term contracts with purchasers of its crude oil production. Crude oil and condensate are distributed through pipelines and by trucks to gatherers, transportation companies and end users. NEMI markets approximately 30 percent of the Company’s crude oil production as well as certain third-party crude oil. The Company records all of NEMI’s sales as gathering, marketing and processing revenues and records cost of sales in gathering, marketing and processing costs. All intercompany sales and expenses are eliminated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Crude oil prices are affected by a variety of factors that are beyond the control of the Company. The Company’s average crude oil price increased $.68 from $23.30 per Bbl in 2001 to $23.98 per Bbl in 2002. Due to the volatility of crude oil prices, the Company, from time to time, has used hedging instruments and may do so in the future as a means of controlling its exposure to price changes. For additional information, see “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

Substantial competition in the natural gas marketplace continued in 2002. The Company’s average natural gas price decreased from $3.98 per Mcf in 2001 to $2.92 per Mcf in 2002. Due to the volatility of natural gas prices, the Company, from time to time, has used hedging instruments and may do so in the future as a means of controlling its exposure to price changes. For additional information, see “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

The largest single non-affiliated purchaser of the Company’s crude oil production in 2002 accounted for approximately 15 percent of the Company’s crude oil sales, representing approximately three percent of total revenues. The five largest purchasers accounted for approximately 50 percent of total crude oil sales. The largest single non-affiliated purchaser of the Company’s natural gas production in 2002 accounted for approximately six

 

5



 

percent of its natural gas sales, representing approximately two percent of total revenues. The five largest purchasers accounted for approximately 16 percent of total natural gas sales. The Company does not believe that its loss of a major crude oil or natural gas purchaser would have a material effect on the Company.

 

Regulations and Risks

 

General. Exploration for and production and sale of crude oil and natural gas are extensively regulated at the international, national, state and local levels. Crude oil and natural gas development and production activities are subject to various laws and regulations (and orders of regulatory bodies pursuant thereto) governing a wide variety of matters, including allowable rates of production, prevention of waste and pollution and protection of the environment. Laws affecting the crude oil and natural gas industry are under constant review for amendment or expansion and frequently increase the regulatory burden on companies. Noble Energy’s ability to economically produce and sell crude oil and natural gas is affected by a number of legal and regulatory factors, including federal, state and local laws and regulations in the United States and laws and regulations of foreign nations. Many of these governmental bodies have issued rules and regulations that are often difficult and costly to comply with, and that carry substantial penalties for failure to comply. These laws, regulations and orders may restrict the rate of crude oil and natural gas production below the rate that would otherwise exist in the absence of such laws, regulations and orders. The regulatory burden on the crude oil and natural gas industry increases its costs of doing business and consequently affects the Company’s profitability.

 

Certain Risks. In the Company’s exploration operations, losses may occur before any accumulation of crude oil or natural gas is found. If crude oil or natural gas is discovered, no assurance can be given that sufficient reserves will be developed to enable the Company to recover the costs incurred in obtaining the reserves or that reserves will be developed at a sufficient rate to replace reserves currently being produced and sold. The Company’s international operations are also subject to certain political, economic and other uncertainties including, among others, risk of war, expropriation, renegotiation or modification of existing contracts, taxation policies, foreign exchange restrictions, international monetary fluctuations and other hazards arising out of foreign governmental sovereignty over areas in which the Company conducts operations.

 

Environmental Matters. As a developer, owner and operator of crude oil and natural gas properties, the Company is subject to various federal, state, local and foreign country laws and regulations relating to the discharge of materials into, and the protection of, the environment. The unauthorized release or discharge of crude oil or certain other regulated substances from the Company’s domestic onshore or offshore facilities could subject the Company to liability under federal laws and regulations, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended. These laws, among others, impose liability for such a release or discharge for pollution cleanup costs, damage to natural resources and the environment, various forms of direct and indirect economic losses, civil or criminal penalties, and orders or injunctions, including those that can require the suspension or cessation of operations causing or impacting or potentially impacting such release or discharge. The liability under these laws for a substantial such release or discharge, subject to certain specified limitations on liability, may be extraordinarily large. If any pollution was caused by willful misconduct, willful negligence or gross negligence within the privity and knowledge of the Company, or was caused primarily by a violation of federal regulations, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act provides that such limitations on liability do not apply. Certain of the Company’s facilities are subject to regulations that require the preparation and implementation of spill prevention control and countermeasure plans relating to the prevention of, and preparation for, the possible discharge of crude oil into navigable waters.

 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended (“CERCLA”), also known as “Superfund,” imposes liability on certain classes of persons that generated a hazardous substance that has been released into the environment or that own or operate facilities or vessels onto or into which hazardous substances are disposed. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (“RCRA”) and regulations promulgated thereunder, regulate hazardous waste, including its generation, treatment, storage and disposal. CERCLA currently exempts crude oil, and RCRA currently exempts certain crude oil and natural gas exploration and production drilling

 

6



 

materials, such as drilling fluids and produced waters, from the definitions of hazardous substance and hazardous waste, respectively. The Company’s operations, however, may involve the use or handling of other materials that may be classified as hazardous substances and hazardous wastes, and therefore, these statutes and regulations promulgated under them would apply to the Company’s generation, handling and disposal of these materials. In addition, there can be no assurance that such exemptions will be preserved in future amendments of such acts, if any, or that more stringent laws and regulations protecting the environment will not be adopted.

 

Certain of the Company’s facilities may also be subject to other federal environmental laws and regulations, including the Clean Air Act with respect to emissions of air pollutants.

 

Certain state or local laws or regulations and common law may impose liabilities in addition to, or restrictions more stringent than, those described herein.

 

The environmental laws, rules and regulations of foreign countries are generally less stringent than those of the United States, and therefore, the requirements of such jurisdictions do not generally impose an additional compliance burden on the Company or on its subsidiaries.

 

The Company has made and will continue to make expenditures in its efforts to comply with environmental requirements. The Company does not believe that it has to date expended material amounts in connection with such activities or that compliance with such requirements will have a material adverse effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company. Although such requirements do have a substantial impact upon the energy industry, generally they do not appear to affect the Company any differently or to any greater or lesser extent than other companies in the industry.

 

Insurance. The Company has various types of insurance coverages as are customary in the industry which include, in various degrees, general liability, well control, pollution and physical damage insurance. The Company believes the coverages and types of insurance are adequate.

 

Competition

 

The oil and gas industry is highly competitive. Many companies and individuals are engaged in exploring for crude oil and natural gas and acquiring crude oil and natural gas properties, resulting in a high degree of competition for desirable exploratory and producing properties. A number of the companies with which the Company competes are larger and have greater financial resources than the Company.

 

The availability of a ready market for the Company’s crude oil and natural gas production depends on numerous factors beyond its control, including the level of consumer demand, the extent of worldwide crude oil and natural gas production, the costs and availability of alternative fuels, the costs and proximity of pipelines and other transportation facilities, regulation by state and federal authorities and the costs of complying with applicable environmental regulations.

 

Unconsolidated Subsidiary

 

The Company owns a 45 percent interest in AMPCO through its ownership in AMCCO. Prior to January 2002, AMCCO was a 50 percent owned joint venture that owned an indirect 90 percent interest in AMPCO, which completed construction of a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea in the second quarter of 2001. During 1999, AMCCO issued $125 million Series A-1 and $125 million Series A-2 senior secured notes due December 15, 2004 to fund the remaining construction payments. The Company includes the $125 million Series A-2 senior notes in its balance sheet. On January 2, 2002, the Company’s partner in AMCCO directed AMCCO to sell 50 percent of its interest in AMPCO as a component of the partner’s sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets. The proceeds of the AMPCO sale were used to repay in full AMCCO’s $125 million Series A-1 Notes on January 28, 2002 and to make a distribution to the Company’s partner. The terms of the $125 million Series A-2 Notes remain unchanged.

 

7



 

The plant construction started during 1998 and initial production of commercial grade methanol commenced May 2, 2001. The total construction costs of the plant and supporting facilities as of December 31, 2002 were $417 million, with the Company responsible for $208.5 million. The plant is designed to produce 2,500 MTpd of methanol, which equates to approximately 20,000 Bpd. At this level of production, the plant would purchase approximately 125 MMcfpd from the 34 percent owned Alba field. The methanol plant has a 25-year contract to purchase natural gas from the Alba field. For more information, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 10 - Unconsolidated Subsidiary” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

Geographical Data

 

The Company has operations throughout the world and manages its operations by country. Information is grouped into five components that are all primarily in the business of natural gas and crude oil exploration, exploitation and production: United States, Equatorial Guinea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and Other International. For more information, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 12 - Geographical Data” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

Employees

 

The total number of employees of the Company increased during the year from 610 at December 31, 2001, to 624 at December 31, 2002. Eighty foreign nationals worked in Noble Energy offices in China, Ecuador, Israel and Vietnam as of December 31, 2002.

 

Available Information

 

The Company’s website address is www.nobleenergyinc.com. Available on this website under “Investor Relations -Investor Relations Menu - SEC Filings,” free of charge, are Noble Energy’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with or furnished to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

8



 

PART II

 

Item 5.                                   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

Common Stock. The Registrant’s Common Stock, $3.33 1/3 par value (“Common Stock”), is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NBL.” The declaration and payment of dividends are at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Registrant and the amount thereof will depend on the Registrant’s results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.

 

Stock Prices and Dividends by Quarters. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price per share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange and quarterly dividends paid per share.

 

 

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividends
Per Share

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First quarter

 

$

40.00

 

$

30.76

 

$

.04

 

Second quarter

 

$

40.76

 

$

34.70

 

$

.04

 

Third quarter

 

$

36.34

 

$

26.65

 

$

.04

 

Fourth quarter

 

$

40.50

 

$

31.55

 

$

.04

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First quarter

 

$

51.09

 

$

39.63

 

$

.04

 

Second quarter

 

$

45.20

 

$

34.26

 

$

.04

 

Third quarter

 

$

38.19

 

$

27.50

 

$

.04

 

Fourth quarter

 

$

40.00

 

$

30.00

 

$

.04

 

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Wachovia Bank, N.A., NC1153, 1525 West W. T. Harris Blvd., 3C3, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262-1153.

 

Stockholders’ Profile. As of December 31, 2002, the number of holders of record of Common Stock was 1,085. The following chart indicates the common stockholders by category.

 

December 31, 2002

 

Shares
Outstanding

 

Individuals

 

602,640

 

Joint accounts

 

55,350

 

Fiduciaries

 

221,479

 

Institutions

 

2,551,728

 

Nominees

 

53,922,073

 

Foreign

 

9,275

 

Total-Excluding Treasury Shares

 

57,362,545

 

 

Sales of Unregistered Securities. The Company owns a 45 percent interest in AMPCO through its ownership in AMCCO. Prior to January 2002, AMCCO was a 50 percent owned joint venture that owned an indirect 90 percent interest in AMPCO, which completed construction of a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea in the second quarter of 2001. During 1999, AMCCO issued $125 million Series A-1 and $125 million Series A-2 senior secured notes due December 15, 2004 to fund the remaining construction payments. The Company includes the $125 million Series A-2 senior notes in its balance sheet. On January 2, 2002, the Company’s partner in AMCCO directed AMCCO to sell 50 percent of its interest in AMPCO as a component of the partner’s sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets. The proceeds of the AMPCO sale were used to repay in full AMCCO’s $125 million Series A-1 Notes on January 28, 2002 and to make a distribution to the Company’s partner. The terms of the $125 million Series A-2 Notes remain unchanged. The plant construction started during 1998 and initial production of commercial grade methanol commenced May 2, 2001.

 

9



 

At the same time the Series A-2 Notes were issued, the Company guaranteed the payment of interest on the Series A-2 Notes and issued, in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, 125,000 shares of its Series B Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred”), par value $1.00 per share to Noble Share Trust, which is a Delaware statutory business trust, in exchange for all of the beneficial ownership interests in the Noble Share Trust.

 

Noble Share Trust holds the 125,000 shares of Series B Preferred for the benefit of the holders of the Series A-2 Notes. The Series A-2 indenture trustee, and the holders of 25 percent of the outstanding principal amount of the Series A-2 Notes, would have the right to require a public offering of the Series B Preferred to generate proceeds sufficient to repay the Series A-2 Notes, upon the occurrence of certain events (“Trigger Dates”), including (i) defaults under the Indenture governing the Series A-2 Notes, (ii) a default and acceleration of the Company’s debt exceeding five percent of the Company’s consolidated net tangible assets, and (iii) the simultaneous occurrence of a downgrade of the Company’s unsecured senior debt rating to “Ba1” or below by Moody’s or “BB+” or below by Standard & Poor’s and a decline in the closing price of the Company’s common stock for three consecutive trading days to below $17.50. The exercise of this mandatory remarketing right is subject to certain forbearance provisions that would allow the Company the opportunity to obtain funds for the repayment of the Series A-2 Notes by alternative means for a specified period of time.

 

The terms of the Series B Preferred, including dividend and conversion features, would be reset at the time of the remarketing, based on the recommendation of Credit Suisse First Boston, as Remarketing Agent, as to the terms necessary to generate proceeds to repay the Series A-2 Notes. If the Remarketing Agent is not able to complete a registered public offering of the Series B Preferred, it may under certain circumstances conduct a private placement of such stock. If it were impossible for legal reasons to remarket the Series B Preferred, the Company would be obligated to repay the Series A-2 Notes.

 

The Series B Preferred stock would be mandatorily convertible into the Company’s common stock three years after remarketing (or failed remarketing). Generally, each share of Series B Preferred would then be mandatorily convertible at the “Mandatory Conversion Rate,” which is equal to the following number of shares of the Company’s common stock:

 

(a) if the Mandatory Conversion Date Market Price is greater than or equal to the Threshold Appreciation Price, the quotient of (i) $1,000 divided by (ii) the Threshold Appreciation Price;

 

(b) if the Mandatory Conversion Date Market Price is less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but is greater than the Reset Price, the quotient of $1,000 divided by the Mandatory Conversion Date Market Price; and

 

(c) if the Mandatory Conversion Date Market Price is less than or equal to the Reset Price, the quotient of $1,000 divided by the Reset Price.

 

“Mandatory Conversion Date Market Price” means the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to, but not including, the mandatory conversion date.

 

“Threshold Appreciation Price” means the product of (i) the Reset Price (as the same may be adjusted from time to time) and (ii) 110 percent.

 

“Reset Price” means the higher of (i) the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the Trigger Date or (ii) the quotient (rounded up to the nearest cent) of $125,000,000 divided by the number, as of the Trigger Date, of the authorized but unissued shares of common stock that have not been reserved as of the Trigger Date by the Company’s Board of Directors for other purposes.

 

10



 

In addition to the mandatory conversion discussed above, each share of the Series B Preferred is generally convertible, at the option of the holder thereof at any time before the mandatory conversion date, into 36.364 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Optional Conversion Rate”); provided, however, that the Optional Conversion Rate shall adjust, as of the earlier to occur of remarketing or failed remarketing, to the quotient of (i) $1,000 divided by (ii) the Threshold Appreciation Price.

 

11



 

Item 6.                                   Selected Financial Data.

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts and ratios)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

 

 

 

 

(Restated)

 

(Restated)

 

(Restated)

 

 

 

Revenues and Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

1,443,728

 

$

1,600,746

 

$

1,411,512

 

$

918,349

 

$

906,787

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

504,291

 

623,762

 

558,315

 

343,100

 

382,010

 

Net income (loss)

 

17,652

 

133,575

 

191,597

 

49,461

 

(164,025

)

Per Share Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

$

.31

 

$

2.36

 

$

3.42

 

$

.87

 

$

(2.88

)

Cash dividends

 

$

.16

 

$

.16

 

$

.16

 

$

.16

 

$

.16

 

Year-end stock price

 

$

37.55

 

$

35.29

 

$

46.00

 

$

21.44

 

$

24.63

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

57,196

 

56,549

 

55,999

 

57,005

 

56,955

 

Financial Position (at year end)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas mineral interests, equipment and facilities

 

$

2,139,785

 

$

1,953,211

 

$

1,485,123

 

$

1,242,370

 

$

1,429,667

 

Total assets

 

2,730,015

 

2,604,255

 

2,002,819

 

1,543,023

 

1,686,080

 

Long-term obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

977,116

 

961,118

 

648,567

 

567,524

 

745,143

 

Deferred income taxes

 

201,939

 

176,259

 

117,048

 

83,075

 

106,823

 

Other

 

69,820

 

75,629

 

61,639

 

53,877

 

52,868

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

1,009,386

 

1,010,198

 

849,682

 

683,609

 

642,080

 

Ratio of debt-to-book capital

 

.50

 

.50

 

.44

 

.46

 

.54

 

Capital Expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas mineral interests, equipment and facilities

 

$

543,967

 

$

765,291

 

$

502,430

 

$

121,077

 

$

445,910

 

Methanol and power projects

 

57,646

 

95,716

 

98,737

 

89,728

 

25,131

 

Other

 

3,185

 

1,932

 

4,430

 

1,410

 

2,733

 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

604,798

 

$

862,939

 

$

605,597

 

$

212,215

 

$

473,774

 

 

The selected financial data has been adjusted to reflect the restatement that the Company has made in connection with a re-audit of its consolidated financial statements for 2001 and 2000. For additional information, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.

 

Operating Statistics

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

Natural Gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (in millions)

 

$

392.1

 

$

595.4

 

$

553.7

 

$

365.1

 

$

446.0

 

Production (MMcfpd)

 

387.6

 

422.4

 

406.3

 

455.1

 

566.6

 

Average realized price (per Mcf)

 

$

2.92

 

$

3.98

 

$

3.80

 

$

2.26

 

$

2.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales (in millions)

 

$

292.9

 

$

255.5

 

$

229.6

 

$

180.6

 

$

160.6

 

Production (Bopd)

 

34,037

 

30,661

 

25,805

 

30,003

 

37,217

 

Average realized price (per Bbl)

 

$

23.98

 

$

23.30

 

$

24.95

 

$

16.81

 

$

12.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty sales (in millions)

 

$

15.6

 

$

20.9

 

$

17.3

 

$

14.0

 

$

13.1

 

 

12



 

Item 7.                                   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K/A contains forward-looking statements based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this filing. These statements by their nature are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are influenced by various factors. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For more information, see “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Other Federal Securities Laws” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

This report contains consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000. The nature of the restatement adjustments that the Company has made to its financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements set forth in this report. The net impact of the adjustments include the following:

 

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary and long-term debt each increased by approximately $125 million as of December 31, 2001.

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiary and interest expense each increased by approximately $12 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. There was no impact to reported net income in 2001 or 2000.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in investing activities each decreased by approximately $12 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000.

 

Generally, no attempt has been made in the following discussion to modify or update other disclosures, except as required to reflect the effects of the above items.

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company’s estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves are the most significant. All of the reserve data in this Form 10-K/A are estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved natural gas and crude oil reserves. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, reserve estimates may be different from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

 

The Company accounts for its crude oil and natural gas properties under the successful efforts method of accounting. Under this method, costs to acquire mineral interests in crude oil and natural gas properties, to drill and equip exploratory wells that find proved reserves and to drill and equip development wells are capitalized. Capitalized costs of producing crude oil and natural gas properties are amortized to operations by the unit-of-production method based on proved developed crude oil and natural gas reserves on a property-by-property basis as estimated by Company engineers. Through December 31, 2002, estimated future restoration and abandonment costs are recorded by charges to depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) expense over the productive lives of the related properties.

 

The Company generally recognizes revenue when the product is delivered to a third-party purchaser. The Company follows the entitlements method of accounting for its natural gas imbalances. Natural gas imbalances occur when the Company sells more or less natural gas than it is entitled to under its ownership percentage of total natural gas

 

13



 

production. Any excess amount received above the Company’s share is treated as a liability. If less than the Company’s entitlement is received, the underproduction is recorded as a receivable.

 

The Company, directly or through its subsidiaries, from time to time, uses various derivative arrangements in connection with anticipated crude oil and natural gas sales to minimize the impact of product price fluctuations. Such arrangements include fixed price hedges, costless collars and other contractual arrangements. The Company accounts for its derivative arrangements under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” and has elected to designate its derivative arrangements as cash flow hedges.

 

Other significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment; valuation allowances for receivables, inventories and deferred income tax assets; environmental liabilities; valuation of derivative instruments; and assets and obligations related to employee benefits. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management believes it is necessary to understand the Company’s significant accounting policies, “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this Form 10-K/A, in order to understand the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Liquidity

 

The Company’s net cash provided from operations in 2002 was lower than 2001 due to lower natural gas prices and decreased gas production volumes, offset partially by higher oil prices and increased oil production volumes. Net cash from operating activities per BOE of production are shown in the chart below.

The crude oil price received by the Company in 2002 increased three percent from 2001 and the natural gas price received by the Company decreased 27 percent in 2002 from the price received in 2001. In 2001, the Company’s crude oil price decreased nine percent and the natural gas price increased five percent compared to 2000.

 

The Company owns a 45 percent interest in AMPCO through its ownership in AMCCO. Prior to January 2002, AMCCO was a 50 percent owned joint venture that owned an indirect 90 percent interest in AMPCO, which completed construction of a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea in the second quarter of 2001. During 1999, AMCCO issued $125 million Series A-1 and $125 million Series A-2 senior secured notes due December 15, 2004 to fund the remaining construction payments. The Company includes the $125 million Series A-2 senior notes in its balance sheet. On January 2, 2002, the Company’s partner in AMCCO directed AMCCO to sell 50 percent of its interest in AMPCO as a component of the partner’s sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets. The proceeds of the AMPCO sale were used to repay in full AMCCO’s $125 million Series A-1 Notes on January 28, 2002 and to make a distribution to the Company’s partner. The terms of the $125 million Series A-2 Notes remain unchanged. The plant construction started during 1998 and initial production of commercial grade methanol commenced May 2, 2001. The total costs of the

 

14



 

plant and supporting facilities as of December 31, 2002 were $417 million, with the Company responsible for $208.5 million. During 2002, the Company recorded costs of $7 million toward the project.

 

During 2002, $544 million was spent on acquisition, exploration and development projects, $7 million on the methanol project, $51 million on the Machala power project in Ecuador and $3 million for various other projects for total expenditures of $605 million. The 2003 capital expenditures budget is approximately $510 million.

 

The Company’s current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was .66:1 at December 31, 2002, compared with .92:1 at December 31, 2001. The decrease in the current ratio was due to a $57.8 million decrease in cash and short-term investments coupled with an $81.8 million increase in accounts payable.

 

Financing

 

The Company’s total long-term debt, net of unamortized discount, at December 31, 2002, was $977 million compared to $961 million at December 31, 2001. The ratio of debt-to-book capital (defined as the Company’s total debt plus its equity) was 50 percent at December 31, 2002, and 50 percent at December 31, 2001.

 

(in thousands)

 

Payments Due by Period

 

Contractual
Obligations

 

Total

 

Less Than
1 Year

 

1 to 3
Years

 

4 to 5
Years

 

After 5
Years

 

Long-term debt

 

$

1,025,246

 

$

41,919

 

$

153,327

 

$

380,000

 

$

450,000

 

Drilling obligations

 

118,211

 

116,411

 

1,800

 

 

 

 

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

1,143,457

 

$

158,330

 

$

155,127

 

$

380,000

 

$

450,000

 

 

The Company’s long-term debt, net of current portion, is comprised of:

 

                  $250 million of 8% Senior Notes Due 2027

                  $100 million of 7 1/4% Notes Due 2097

                  $100 million of 7 1/4% Notes Due 2023

                  $380 million on the $400 million credit facility based upon a Eurodollar rate plus a range of 60 to 145 basis points depending upon the percentage of utilization and credit rating, maturing in 2006. The interest rate at December 31, 2002 was 2.47 percent. The interest rate at December 31, 2001 was 3.0 percent.

                  $125 million of 8.95% Series A-2 Notes on the AMCCO debt, payable in 2004.

                  $20.4 million on the Israel debt based upon the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 75 basis points, payable in 2004. The interest rate at December 31, 2002 was 2.18 percent. There was no outstanding Israel debt at December 31, 2001.

                  $7.9 million of the 6.25% Aspect acquisition note, payable in 2004

                  ($6.2) million unamortized discount

 

The Company entered into a new $400 million five-year credit agreement on November 30, 2001 with certain commercial lending institutions which exposes the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. The interest rate is based upon a Eurodollar rate plus a range of 60 to 145 basis points depending upon the percentage of utilization and credit rating. At December 31, 2002, there was $380 million borrowed against this credit agreement, which has a maturity date of November 30, 2006. For more information, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 4 - Debt” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

The Company also entered into a new $200 million 364-day credit agreement on November 27, 2002 with certain commercial lending institutions which exposes the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. The interest rate is based upon a Eurodollar rate plus a range of 62.5 to 150 basis points depending upon the percentage of utilization and credit rating. At December 31, 2002, there were no amounts outstanding under this credit agreement. The agreement has a maturity date of November 26, 2003 for the revolving commitment and a maturity date of November 25, 2004 for the term commitment that includes any balance remaining

 

15



 

after the revolving commitment matures. For more information, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 4 - Debt” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

Financial covenants on both the $400 million and $200 million credit facilities include the following: (a) the ratio of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Exploration Expense (“EBITDAX”) to total interest expense for any consecutive period of four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter may not be less than 4.0 to 1.0; (b) the total debt to capitalization ratio, expressed as a percentage, may not exceed 60 percent at any time; and (c) the total asset value of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries may not be less than $800 million at any time.

 

The Company had no short-term borrowings outstanding on December 31, 2002. The Company had a $25 million short-term note payable outstanding December 31, 2001, which was repaid January 28, 2002. The note was an uncommitted facility with an interest rate of 3.25 percent for the period December 28, 2001 to January 28, 2002.

 

Other

 

The Company has paid quarterly cash dividends of $.04 per share since 1989. For more information, see “Subsequent Events” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors, in February 2000, authorized a repurchase of up to $50 million in the Company’s common stock. In the first quarter of 2000, the Company repurchased approximately $30 million of common stock. The 2000 repurchase of 1,386,400 shares at an average cost of $21.84 per share was funded from the Company’s current cash flow. On September 17, 2001 the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion of the original repurchase program from $50 million to $100 million. During the fourth quarter of 2001, in conjunction with the expanded repurchase program, the Board approved a stock repurchase forward program. Under the stock repurchase forward program, one of the Company’s banks purchased approximately $35 million of the Company’s stock or 1,044,454 shares on the open market during the first quarter of 2002.

 

The program was scheduled to mature in January 2003 but has been extended to January 2004. Under the provisions of the agreement with the bank, the Company can choose to either purchase the shares from the bank, issue additional shares to the bank to the extent that the share price has decreased, pay the bank a net amount of cash to the extent that the share price has decreased, or receive from the bank a net amount of cash to the extent that the share price has increased. The bank has the right to terminate the agreement prior to the maturity date if the Company’s share price decreases by 50 percent (to $16.77 per share) or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded below BBB- (S&P) or Baa3 (Moody’s). If either event occurs and the bank exercises its right to terminate, the Company still retains the right to settle in cash or additional shares. The agreement limits the number of shares to be issued by the Company to 14,000,000 additional shares. Amounts paid or received related to the change in share price will be an addition or reduction to the Company’s capital in excess of par value. As of December 31, 2002, the fair value of the Company’s obligation under the contract would be an obligation to pay approximately $36.1 million to the bank (and hold the shares as treasury stock), or the bank would return 81,946 shares of Company stock to the Company, or the bank would pay $3.1 million to the Company. In June 2003, the Company and the bank amended the agreement to delete the provisions that allowed the Company to net settle the contract, and in December 2003, the Company paid the obligation in full. See also “Subsequent Events” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

The Company has sold a number of non-strategic crude oil and natural gas properties over the past three years. Total amounts of crude oil and natural gas reserves associated with the 2002 and 2000 dispositions were .7 MMBbls of oil and 20.3 Bcf of gas and 1.2 MMBbls of oil and 4.8 Bcf of gas, respectively. There were no significant sales of oil or gas properties in 2001. The Company believes the disposition of non-strategic properties furthers the goal of concentrating its efforts on strategic properties.

 

During 2002, the Company paid $7 million related to certain operating contingencies that had previously been accrued.

 

16



 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” in June 1998. The Statement established accounting and reporting standards requiring every derivative instrument (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) to be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the derivative’s fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met wherein gains and losses are reflected in shareholders’ equity as other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative’s gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the statement of operations, and requires that a company formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. The Company adopted SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2001. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Net Income and Revenues

 

The Company’s net income for 2002 was $17.7 million, a decrease of $115.9 million from 2001. The decrease was due primarily to a $208.3 million decrease in natural gas sales, offset by a $37.1 million increase in crude oil sales. The decrease in net income for 2001 compared to 2000 was due to a $61.2 million increase in dry hole expense, offset by a $3.8 million decrease in abandoned asset expense.

 

Natural Gas Information

 

Natural gas revenues decreased 34 percent in 2002 due to a 27 percent decrease in the average natural gas price coupled with an eight percent decrease in natural gas production. In the United States, natural gas production decreased 13 percent due to reduced drilling activity, natural decline rates for properties in the Gulf of Mexico and the onshore Gulf Coast region, as well as temporary shut-ins related to Hurricanes Isidore and Lili, coupled with a 25 percent decrease in the average natural gas price. In the North Sea, natural gas revenues decreased 15 percent due to an 11 percent decrease in the average natural gas price coupled with a five percent decrease in natural gas production. In Equatorial Guinea, natural gas revenues increased 39 percent due to the full year of operations of the methanol plant.

 

Natural gas revenues for 2001 increased eight percent due to a four percent increase in natural gas production coupled with a five percent increase in the average natural gas price compared to 2000. The methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea began operations on May 2, 2001, which accounted for the increased natural gas production compared to 2000.

 

The table below depicts average daily natural gas production in Mcf by area for the last three years.

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

United States

 

327,451

 

378,475

 

378,101

 

North Sea

 

16,991

 

17,830

 

23,676

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

34,382

 

24,488

 

2,572

 

Other International

 

8,799

 

1,651

 

1,970

 

Total

 

387,623

 

422,444

 

406,319

 

 

Natural gas production during 2002 ranged from a low of 351.8 MMcfpd in May, to a high of 424.3 MMcfpd in January. Natural gas accounted for 57 percent of the Company’s total natural gas and crude oil revenues in 2002.

 

17



 

2002 Daily Production by Quarter

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

 

Crude Oil Information

 

Crude oil revenues increased 14 percent during 2002 due to an 11 percent increase in production coupled with a three percent increase in the average crude oil price. In the North Sea, crude oil revenues increased 80 percent due to a full year of production from the Hanze field, the commencement of production from the Hannay field in March 2002 and an eight percent increase in the average crude oil price. In Equatorial Guinea, crude oil revenues increased 18 percent due to a 14 percent increase in production from the Alba field, coupled with a four percent increase in the average crude oil price.

 

Crude oil revenues increased 11 percent in 2001, compared to 2000, due to a 19 percent increase in production offset by a seven percent decline in the average price received for 2001. In the North Sea, crude oil revenues increased 136 percent due to the commencement of production from the Hanze field in August 2001, offset by a 10 percent decrease in the average crude oil price. In Equatorial Guinea, crude oil revenues increased 52 percent due to an 85 percent increase in production from the Alba field, offset by a 17 percent decline in the average price.

 

The table below depicts average daily crude oil production in Bbls by area for the last three years.

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

United States

 

18,110

 

18,614

 

19,019

 

North Sea

 

7,847

 

4,688

 

1,787

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

5,259

 

4,620

 

2,497

 

Other International

 

2,821

 

2,739

 

2,502

 

Total

 

34,037

 

30,661

 

25,805

 

 

Crude oil production during 2002 ranged from a low of 31,060 Bopd in July, to a high of 36,381 Bopd in April. Crude oil accounted for 43 percent of the Company’s total natural gas and crude oil revenues in 2002.

 

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

 

The Company, directly or through its subsidiaries, from time to time, uses various hedging arrangements in connection with anticipated crude oil and natural gas sales to minimize the impact of product price fluctuations. Such arrangements include fixed price hedges, costless collars and other contractual arrangements. Although these hedging arrangements expose the Company to credit risk, the Company monitors the creditworthiness of its counterparties and believes that losses from nonperformance are unlikely to occur. Hedging gains and losses related to the Company’s crude oil and natural gas production are recorded in crude oil and natural gas sales and royalties. For more information, see “Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

18



 

Costs and Expenses

 

Crude oil and natural gas operations expense, consisting of lease operating expense, workover expenses, production taxes and other related lifting costs, was flat overall, in absolute dollars, in 2002 compared to 2001. In the North Sea, operations expense increased 78 percent due to a full year of production operations from the Hanze field and the commencement of operations from the Hannay field in March 2002. In Equatorial Guinea, operations expense increased 45 percent due to the increased production from the Alba field. Domestic operations expense decreased in absolute terms during 2002 offsetting the international increases. Crude oil and natural gas operations expense increased 10 percent overall in 2001 from 2000. In the North Sea, operations expense increased 16 percent due to the commencement of operations of the Hanze field in August 2001. In Equatorial Guinea, operations expense increased 61 percent due to the commencement of natural gas deliveries to the methanol plant in May 2001. Included in operations expense were workover costs of $8.5 million, $15.1 million and $21.1 million for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The workovers increased operations expense in such periods by $.04, $.07 and $.10 per Mcfe, respectively.

 

 

In 2002, DD&A expense increased slightly compared to 2001. In the North Sea, DD&A expense increased 71 percent due to a full year’s production of the Hanze field. In Equatorial Guinea, DD&A expense increased 50 percent due to the results of the field expansion, which included a full year of natural gas sales to the methanol plant. The unit rate of DD&A per BOE was $7.92 in 2002.

 

In 2001, DD&A expense increased 23 percent overall compared to 2000. In the United States, DD&A expense increased 22 percent due to increased development costs incurred in the Gulf of Mexico to stabilize production volumes. In the North Sea, DD&A expense increased 34 percent due to the commencement of production from the Hanze field in August 2001. In Equatorial Guinea, DD&A expense increased 186 percent due to the commencement of natural gas sales to the methanol plant in May 2001. The unit rate of DD&A per BOE was $7.70 in 2001.

 

Through December 31, 2002, the Company provided for the cost of future liabilities related to restoration and dismantlement costs for offshore facilities. This provision is based on the Company’s best estimate of such costs to be incurred in future years based on information from the Company’s engineers. These estimated costs were provided through charging DD&A expense using a ratio of production divided by reserves multiplied by the estimated costs to dismantle and restore. The Company adopted SFAS No. 143 on January 1, 2003 and will recognize, as the fair value of asset retirement obligations, $99.7 million related to the United States and $10.0 million related to the North Sea. The Company’s accumulated provision for future dismantlement and restoration cost was $84.1 million at December 31, 2002, $80.0 million at December 31, 2001 and $79.7 million at December 31, 2000. The Company has not determined the cumulative effect of adoption of this standard. Total estimated future dismantlement and restoration costs of $206.6 million, which consists of $188.7 million for the United States and $17.9 million for the North Sea, are included in future production and development costs for purposes of estimating the future net revenues relating to the

 

19



 

Company’s proved reserves. For more information, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

Crude oil and natural gas exploration expense consists of dry hole expense, unproved lease amortization, seismic and other miscellaneous exploration expense, including lease rentals and exploration staff. The table below depicts the exploration expense by area for the last three years.

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry hole expense

 

$

64,449

 

$

54,810

 

$

37,281

 

Unproved lease amortization

 

19,426

 

15,112

 

15,675

 

Seismic

 

14,282

 

13,328

 

17,794

 

Other

 

22,538

 

17,242

 

9,617

 

United States Total Exploration Expense

 

$

120,695

 

$

100,492

 

$

80,367

 

North Sea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry hole expense

 

$

544

 

$

28,992

 

$

17

 

Unproved lease amortization

 

178

 

1,725

 

 

 

Seismic

 

827

 

2,209

 

239

 

Other

 

3,661

 

2,024

 

1,140

 

North Sea Total Exploration Expense

 

$

5,210

 

$

34,950

 

$

1,396

 

Other International including Israel and Equatorial Guinea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry hole expense

 

$

16,403

 

$

15,882

 

$

1,165

 

Unproved lease amortization

 

1,650

 

376

 

400

 

Seismic

 

5,383

 

70

 

705

 

Other

 

1,360

 

326

 

835

 

Other International Total Exploration Expense

 

$

24,796

 

$

16,654

 

$

3,105

 

Total Exploration Expense

 

$

150,701

 

$

152,096

 

$

84,868

 

 

Impairment of Operating Assets

 

Developed crude oil and natural gas properties and other long-lived assets are assessed whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company performs this review of recoverability by estimating future cash flows. If the sum of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment is recognized based on the fair value of the assets as determined using the expected present value of future net cash flows. The Company recorded no operating asset impairments during 2002, 2001 or 2000. Individually significant unproved crude oil and natural gas properties are periodically assessed for impairment of value and a loss is recognized at the time of impairment by providing an impairment allowance.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)

 

SG&A expenses increased $3.5 million in 2002 compared to 2001 and decreased $3.1 million in 2001 compared to 2000. The increase in SG&A expenses for 2002 is due to increased salary and legal expense, as well as increased costs associated with the Company’s international expansion. The decrease in 2001 compared to 2000 reflects the Company’s effort to reduce SG&A through efficiencies and other reduction measures.

 

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

NEMI markets the majority of the Company’s domestic natural gas, as well as certain third-party natural gas. NEMI sells natural gas directly to end-users, natural gas marketers, industrial users, interstate and intrastate pipelines, power generators and local distribution companies. NEMI markets a portion of the Company’s domestic crude oil, as well as certain third-party crude oil. The Company records all of NEMI’s sales and expenses as gathering, marketing and processing revenues and expenses. All intercompany sales and expenses have been eliminated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

20



 

The gathering, marketing and processing revenues less expenses for NEMI are reflected in the table below.

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

(amounts include inter-
company eliminations)

 

Crude
Oil

 

Natural
Gas

 

Crude
Oil

 

Natural
Gas

 

Crude
Oil

 

Natural
Gas

 

Revenues

 

$

88,377

 

$

625,714

 

$

75,550

 

$

645,400

 

$

91,204

 

$

498,729

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold

 

61,553

 

588,022

 

49,191

 

607,170

 

63,005

 

464,600

 

Transportation

 

20,323

 

28,284

 

19,739

 

27,779

 

19,455

 

24,014

 

General and administrative

 

802

 

3,857

 

199

 

3,176

 

190

 

3,002

 

Total Expenses

 

$

82,678

 

$

620,163

 

$

69,129

 

$

638,125

 

$

82,650

 

$

491,616

 

Gross Margin

 

$

5,699

 

$

5,551

 

$

6,421

 

$

7,275

 

$

8,554

 

$

7,113

 

 

The margins for natural gas on a per MMBTU basis were $.035 for 2002 and 2001 and $.027 for 2000. The increase in natural gas margin on a per MMBTU basis for 2001 compared to 2000 was due to the improvement in natural gas prices. The margins for crude oil on a per Bbl basis were $.84 for 2002, $.95 for 2001 and $1.28 for 2000. The decrease in crude oil margin for 2002 compared to 2001 was due to increased general and administrative expenses coupled with higher transportation expense. The decrease in crude oil margin for 2001 compared to 2000 was due to lower crude oil prices.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense decreased to $25 million in 2002 from $91 million in 2001, primarily from the decrease in income. However, the effective income tax rate increased to 59 percent in 2002 from 41 percent in 2001. During 2002, more of the Company’s income was from international operations. Some of the countries in which the international operations were conducted have a higher statutory income tax rate than the United States. To a lesser extent, also impacting the effective rate in 2002 was the lower income level.

 

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

ACCOUNTING FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL RIGHTS: During 2003, a reporting issue arose regarding the application of certain provisions of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” to companies in the extractive industries, including oil and gas companies. The issue is whether SFAS No. 142 requires registrants to classify the costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as intangible assets in the balance sheet, apart from other capitalized oil and gas property costs, and provide specific footnote disclosures. Historically, the Company has included the costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as a component of oil and gas properties. If it is ultimately determined that SFAS No. 142 requires oil and gas companies to classify costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as a separate intangible assets line item on the balance sheet, excluding amortization, the Company would be required to reclassify certain amounts out of oil and gas properties and into a separate intangible assets line item. The Company has not yet determined fully the impact of this change; however, it is expected to significantly impact the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s cash flows and results of operations would not be affected since such intangible assets would continue to be depleted and assessed for impairment in accordance with successful efforts accounting rules. Further, the Company does not believe the classification of the costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as intangible assets would have any impact on compliance with covenants under the Company’s debt agreements.

 

2003 PROPERTY SALES: During 2003, the Company identified five property packages for disposition. Bids have now been received on all five packages. Year-to-date, property sales have closed on four of the five packages, with the remaining property package expected to close during the first quarter of 2004. Total pretax proceeds on all five packages, before closing adjustments, are expected to be in excess of $110 million.

 

21



 

During the third quarter 2003, closed property sales resulted in a pretax gain of $9.9 million. Also during the third quarter 2003, certain properties in two packages were classified as held for sale, written down by $18.3 million to fair value, pretax, and reported in discontinued operations.

 

Subsequent to September 30, 2003, the remaining asset package met the criteria to be classified as held for sale. During the fourth quarter 2003, Noble Energy has closed sales on properties located in California, Oklahoma and Wyoming. A package of Gulf of Mexico properties is expected to close during the first quarter 2004. The transfer of the remaining property package to discontinued operations and the timing of completed sales will result in an expected non-cash, pretax write-down to fair value and realized loss of approximately $40 million ($26 million after tax) (unaudited). The total non-cash charge will appear in discontinued operations for the fourth quarter 2003.

 

CREDIT FACILITY: The Company entered into a new 364-day credit facility in the amount of $300 million effective November 3, 2003 that replaced the $200 million credit facility that would have expired November 26, 2003. The interest rate on the new credit facility is LIBOR plus a range of 62.5 to 150 basis points, depending upon the percentage of utilization.

 

ADOPTION OF SFAS NO. 150: During the second quarter of 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity.” As a result, the Company recorded an additional 1.04 million shares of treasury stock at a cost of $36.6 million and an obligation of $36.6 million.  During 2003 the Company paid the obligation of $36.6 million in full.

 

DIVIDEND PAYMENT: On October 28, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of five cents per common share payable November 24, 2003 to the shareholders of record on November 10, 2003. This payment represents an increase of one cent per share, or 25 percent, over the Company’s previous quarterly payment of four cents per share.

 

LEGAL UPDATE: On January 13, 2003, the Noble Defendants each filed an answer to ENA’s complaint. On January 29, 2003, the Noble Defendants filed the Motion of Noble Energy Marketing, Inc., as Successor to Noble Gas Marketing, Inc., Aspect Resources L.L.C., and Noble Energy, Inc., as Successor to Samedan Oil Corporation, to Compel Arbitration. On March 4, 2003, the Court issued its Order Governing Mediation of Trading Cases and Appointing the Honorable Allan L. Gropper as Mediator (the “Mediation Order”) which, among other things, abated this case and referred it to mediation along with other pending adversary proceedings in the Enron bankruptcy cases which involve disputes arising from or in connection with commodity trading contracts. Pursuant to the Mediation Order, the Honorable Allan L. Gropper (United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York) is acting as mediator for this case and the other trading cases which have been referred to him. The mediation for this case was held on December 17, 2003 and no resolution was reached.

 

FUTURE TRENDS

 

The Company expects crude oil and natural gas production to increase in 2003 and 2004 compared to 2002. The increased production in 2003 is expected primarily from the phase 2A expansion of the Alba field in Equatorial Guinea, the startup of production from the Mari-B field, offshore Israel, production from the CDX block in China and a full year of production in Ecuador. The increase in 2004 is expected primarily from the continued expansion of markets in Israel and the phase 2B expansion of the LPG plant in Equatorial Guinea.

 

The Company recently set its 2003 capital expenditures budget at approximately $510 million. Such expenditures are planned to be funded principally through internally generated cash flows. The Company believes that it has the capital structure to take advantage of strategic acquisitions, as they become available, through internally generated cash flows or available lines of credit and other borrowing opportunities.

 

SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” was issued in December 2002. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide for alternative methods of transition for an entity that voluntarily changes to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. It

 

22



 

also amends the disclosure provisions of that statement to require prominent disclosure about the effects on reported net income of an entity’s accounting policy decisions with respect to stock-based employee compensation.

 

The Company currently accounts for stock-based employee compensation plans under the recognition and measurement principles of the Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The Company has not determined if it will adopt the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 123.

 

In June 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on certain issues contained in Topic 02-03, “Recognition and Reporting of Gains and Losses on Energy Trading Contracts” under EITF Issue No. 98-10, “Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities.” While the Company does not engage in energy trading activities, the EITF has expanded its definition of energy trading activities to include the marketing activities in which the Company is engaged. As of January 1, 2003, the Company presents its gathering, marketing and processing activities in the statement of operations for all periods on a net rather than a gross basis. The change will significantly decrease reported marketing sales and purchases, but will have no effect on operating income or cash flows.

 

Management believes that the Company is well positioned with its balanced reserves of crude oil and natural gas and downstream projects. The uncertainty of commodity prices continues to affect the crude oil, natural gas and methanol industries. The Company cannot predict the extent to which its revenues will be affected by inflation, government regulation or changing prices.

 

Item 7a.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

The Company is exposed to market risk in the normal course of its business operations. Management believes that the Company is well positioned with its mix of crude oil and natural gas reserves to take advantage of future price increases that may occur. However, the uncertainty of crude oil and natural gas prices continues to impact the oil and gas industry. Due to the volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices, the Company, from time to time, has used derivative hedging instruments and may do so in the future as a means of managing its exposure to price changes.

 

During 2002, the Company entered into various natural gas costless collars, natural gas costless collar combinations and crude oil costless collar transactions related to its production. The table below depicts the various transactions for 2002.

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

Hedge MMBTUpd

 

170,274

 

Hedge Bpd

 

5,247

 

Floor price range

 

$2.00 - $3.50

 

Floor price range

 

$23.00 - $24.00

 

Ceiling price range

 

$2.45 - $5.10

 

Ceiling price range

 

$29.30 - $30.10

 

Percent of daily production

 

44

%

Percent of daily production

 

15

%

Gain (loss) per Mcf

 

$.03

 

Gain (loss) per Bbl

 

$0

 

 

As of December 31, 2002, the Company had entered into costless collars related to its natural gas and crude oil production to support the Company’s investment program as follows:

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

Production
Period

 

MMBTU
Per Day

 

Price
Per MMBTU
Floor - Ceiling

 

Bbls
Per Day

 

Price
Per Bbl
Floor - Ceiling

 

1Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.87 - $4.82

 

15,000

 

$23.00 - $28.63

 

2Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.43 - $4.57

 

15,000

 

$23.00 - $28.63

 

3Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.43 - $4.60

 

10,000

 

$23.00 - $27.95

 

4Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.43 - $4.84

 

10,000

 

$23.00 - $27.95

 

 

23



 

The contracts entitle the Company (floating price payor) to receive settlement from the counterparty (fixed price payor) for each calculation period in amounts, if any, by which the settlement price for the last scheduled NYMEX trading day applicable for each calculation period is less than the floor price. The Company would pay the counterparty if the settlement price for the last scheduled NYMEX trading day applicable for each calculation period were more than the ceiling price. The amount payable by the floating price payor, if the floating price is above the ceiling price, is the product of the notional quantity per calculation period and the excess, if any, of the floating price over the ceiling price in respect of each calculation period. The amount payable by the fixed price payor, if the floating price is below the floor price, is the product of the notional quantity per calculation period and the excess, if any, of the floor price over the floating price in respect of each calculation period.

 

During 2001, the Company had natural gas costless collars for the fourth quarter of 2001 for 50,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day, with a floor price of $3.25 per MMBTU and a ceiling price of $4.60 per MMBTU. The net effect of this fourth quarter 2001 hedge was a $.02 per Mcf increase in the average natural gas price for the year 2001. Of the 50,000 MMBTU per day of costless collars, 25,000 MMBTU per day were terminated early, at a gain. As a result, the Company recognized an additional $.70 per MMBTU on the 25,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day in 2001.

 

NEMI, from time to time, employs hedging arrangements in connection with its purchases and sales of production. While most of NEMI’s purchases are made for an index-based price, NEMI’s customers often require prices that are either fixed or related to NYMEX. In order to establish a fixed margin and mitigate the risk of price volatility, NEMI may convert a fixed or NYMEX sale to an index-based sales price (such as by purchasing an index-based futures contract obligating NEMI for delivery of production). Due to the size of such transactions and certain restraints imposed by contract and by Company guidelines, as of December 31, 2002, the Company had no material market risk exposure from NEMI’s hedging activity.

 

The Company has a $400 million credit agreement that exposes the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. The interest rate is based upon a Eurodollar rate plus a range of 60 to 145 basis points depending upon the percentage of utilization and credit rating. At December 31, 2002, there was $380 million borrowed against this credit agreement with an interest rate of 2.47 percent and a maturity date of November 30, 2006. A ten percent change in the December 31, 2002 interest rate on this $380 million would result in a change in interest expense of $937,080. All other significant Company long-term debt is fixed-rate and, therefore, does not expose the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. For more information, see “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 4 - Debt” of this Form 10-K/A.

 

The Company does not enter into foreign currency derivatives. The U.S. dollar is considered the primary currency for each of the Company’s international operations. Transactions that are completed in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars and recorded in the financial statements. Transaction gains or losses were not material in any of the periods presented and the Company does not believe it is currently exposed to any material risk of loss on this basis. Such gains or losses are included in other income on the statement of operations. However, certain sales transactions are concluded in foreign currencies and the Company, therefore, is exposed to potential risk of loss based on fluctuation in exchange rates from time to time.

 

Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Other Federal Securities Laws

 

General. Noble Energy is including the following discussion to generally inform its existing and potential security holders of some of the risks and uncertainties that can affect the Company and to take advantage of the “safe harbor” protection for forward-looking statements afforded under federal securities laws. From time to time, the Company’s management or persons acting on management’s behalf make forward-looking statements to inform existing and potential security holders about the Company. These statements may include, but are not limited to, projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and the Company’s future: (1) income, (2) crude oil and natural gas production, (3) crude oil and natural gas reserves and reserve replacement and (4) capital spending.

 

24



 

Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “goal” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Sometimes the Company will specifically describe a statement as being a forward-looking statement. In addition, except for the historical information contained in this Form 10-K/A, the matters discussed in this Form 10-K/A are forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and will be influenced by various factors. Should any of the assumptions underlying a forward-looking statement prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially.

 

Noble Energy believes the factors discussed below are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made herein or elsewhere by the Company or on its behalf. The factors listed below are not necessarily all of the important factors. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein could also have material adverse effects on actual results of matters that are the subject of forward-looking statements. Noble Energy does not intend to update its description of important factors each time a potential important factor arises. The Company advises its stockholders that they should: (1) be aware that important factors not described below could affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements, and (2) use caution and common sense when analyzing our forward-looking statements in this document or elsewhere. All of such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

Volatility and Level of Hydrocarbon Commodity Prices. Historically, natural gas and crude oil prices have been volatile. These prices rise and fall based on changes in market supply and demand fundamentals and changes in the political, regulatory and economic climates and other factors that affect commodities markets generally and are outside of Noble Energy’s control. Some of Noble Energy’s projections and estimates are based on assumptions as to the future prices of natural gas and crude oil. These price assumptions are used for planning purposes. The Company expects its assumptions may change over time and that actual prices in the future may differ from our estimates. Any substantial or extended change in the actual prices of natural gas and/or crude oil could have a material effect on: (1) the Company’s financial position and results of operations, (2) the quantities of natural gas and crude oil reserves that the Company can economically produce, (3) the quantity of estimated proved reserves that may be attributed to its properties, and (4) the Company’s ability to fund its capital program.

 

Production Rates and Reserve Replacement. Projecting future rates of crude oil and natural gas production is inherently imprecise.  Producing crude oil and natural gas reservoirs generally have declining production rates. Production rates depend on a number of factors, including geological, geophysical and engineering issues, weather, production curtailments or restrictions, prices for natural gas and crude oil, available transportation capacity, market demand and the political, economic and regulatory climates. Another factor affecting production rates is Noble Energy’s ability to replace depleting reservoirs with new reserves through exploration success or acquisitions. Exploration success is difficult to predict, particularly over the short term, where results can vary widely from year to year. Moreover, the Company’s ability to replace reserves over an extended period depends not only on the total volumes found, but also on the cost of finding and developing such reserves. Depending on the general price environment for natural gas and crude oil, Noble Energy’s finding and development costs may not justify the use of resources to explore for and develop such reserves.

 

Reserve Estimates. Noble Energy’s forward-looking statements are predicated, in part, on the Company’s estimates of its crude oil and natural gas reserves. All of the reserve data in this Form 10-K/A or otherwise made by or on behalf of the Company are estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved natural gas and crude oil reserves. Projecting future rates of production and timing of future development expenditures is also inexact. Many factors beyond the Company’s control affect these estimates. In addition, the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Therefore, estimates made by different engineers may vary. The results of drilling, testing and production after the date of an estimate may also require a revision of that estimate, and these revisions may be material. As a result, reserve estimates may be different from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

 

25



 

Laws and Regulations. Noble Energy’s forward-looking statements are generally based on the assumption that the legal and regulatory environments will remain stable. Changes in the legal and/or regulatory environments could have a material effect on the Company’s future results of operations and financial condition. Noble Energy’s ability to economically produce and sell crude oil, natural gas, methanol and power is affected by a number of legal and regulatory factors, including federal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S. and laws and regulations of foreign nations, affecting: (1) crude oil and natural gas production, (2) taxes applicable to the Company and/or its production, (3) the amount of crude oil and natural gas available for sale, (4) the availability of adequate pipeline and other transportation and processing facilities, and (5) the marketing of competitive fuels. The Company’s operations are also subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S. and laws and regulations of foreign nations relating to the generation, storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of materials into the environment. Noble Energy’s forward-looking statements are generally based upon the expectation that the Company will not be required, in the near future, to expend cash to comply with environmental laws and regulations that are material in relation to its total capital expenditures program. However, inasmuch as such laws and regulations are frequently changed, the Company is unable to accurately predict the ultimate financial impact of compliance.

 

Drilling and Operating Risks. Noble Energy’s drilling operations are subject to various risks common in the industry, including cratering, explosions, fires and uncontrollable flows of crude oil, natural gas or well fluids. In addition, a substantial amount of the Company’s operations are currently offshore, domestically and internationally, and subject to the additional hazards of marine operations, such as loop currents, capsizing, collision, and damage or loss from severe weather. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain, and drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, including drilling conditions, pressure or irregularities in formations, equipment failures or accidents and adverse weather conditions.

 

Competition. The Company’s forward-looking statements are generally based on a stable competitive environment. Competition in the industry is intense. Noble Energy actively competes for reserve acquisitions and exploration leases and licenses, for the labor and equipment required to operate and develop crude oil and natural gas properties and in the gathering and marketing of natural gas, crude oil, methanol and power. The Company’s competitors include the major integrated oil companies, independent crude oil and natural gas concerns, individual producers, natural gas and crude oil marketers and major pipeline companies, as well as participants in other industries supplying energy and fuel to industrial, commercial and individual consumers, many of whom have greater financial resources than the Company.

 

Noble Energy believes that the location of its properties, its expertise in exploration, drilling and production operations, the experience of its management and the efforts and expertise of its marketing units generally enable it to compete effectively. In making projections with respect to numerous aspects of the Company’s business, Noble Energy generally assumes that there will be no material adverse change in competitive conditions.

 

26



 

Item 8.            Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Independent Auditors’ Report

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Other Comprehensive Income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (Unaudited)

 

 

Supplemental Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

 

 

All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule or because the information required is included in the financial statements, including the notes thereto.

 

27



 

Independent Auditors’ Report

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Noble Energy, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Noble Energy, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and other comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Noble Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 2 – Restatement – Structured Financing of Methanol Plant to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, Noble Energy, Inc. has restated the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 for the effect of consolidating senior secured notes related to a structured finance arrangement.  Noble Energy, Inc.’s 2001 and 2000 consolidated financial statements were previously audited by other independent auditors who have ceased operations.

 

 

 

KPMG LLP

 

Houston, Texas

December 23, 2003

 

28



 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and short-term investments

 

$

15,442

 

$

73,237

 

Accounts receivable - trade

 

232,924

 

182,979

 

Oil and gas hedges receivable

 

10,271

 

33,424

 

Materials and supplies inventories

 

10,663

 

10,828

 

Other current assets

 

41,074

 

51,103

 

Total current assets

 

310,374

 

351,571

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, at Cost:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas mineral interests, equipment and facilities
(successful efforts method of accounting)

 

4,285,508

 

3,929,226

 

Other

 

48,507

 

45,528

 

 

 

4,334,015

 

3,974,754

 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(2,194,230

)

(2,021,543

)

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

2,139,785

 

1,953,211

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary

 

234,668

 

242,142

 

Other Assets

 

45,188

 

57,331

 

Total Assets

 

$

2,730,015

 

$

2,604,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable - trade

 

$

351,856

 

$

270,091

 

Short-term note payable

 

 

 

25,000

 

Current installments of long-term debt

 

41,919

 

19,507

 

Oil and gas hedges payable

 

32,285

 

25,363

 

Other current liabilities

 

36,159

 

41,090

 

Income taxes - current

 

9,535

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

471,754

 

381,051

 

Deferred Income Taxes

 

201,939

 

176,259

 

Other Deferred Credits and Noncurrent Liabilities

 

69,820

 

75,629

 

Long-term Debt

 

977,116

 

961,118

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock - par value $1.00; 4,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock - par value $3.33 1/3; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
59,868,067 and 59,511,323 shares issued in 2002 and 2001, respectively

 

199,558

 

198,369

 

Capital in excess of par value

 

405,271

 

396,104

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(14,603

)

5,070

 

Retained earnings

 

458,490

 

449,985

 

 

 

1,048,716

 

1,049,528

 

Less common stock in treasury at cost
(December 31, 2002 and 2001, 2,505,522 shares)

 

(39,330

)

(39,330

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

1,009,386

 

1,010,198

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

2,730,015

 

$

2,604,255

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

29



 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas sales and royalties

 

$

700,602

 

$

871,812

 

$

800,594

 

Gathering, marketing and processing

 

714,091

 

721,000

 

589,933

 

Electricity sales

 

18,257

 

 

 

 

 

Income from investment in unconsolidated subsidiary

 

9,532

 

6,981

 

13,544

 

Other income

 

1,246

 

953

 

7,441

 

Total Revenues

 

1,443,728

 

1,600,746

 

1,411,512

 

Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas operations

 

133,826

 

133,549

 

121,866

 

Transportation

 

16,441

 

16,012

 

9,241

 

Oil and gas exploration

 

150,701

 

152,096

 

84,868

 

Gathering, marketing and processing

 

703,556

 

708,292

 

574,266

 

Electricity generation

 

15,946

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

285,286

 

284,016

 

230,800

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

47,664

 

44,164

 

47,291

 

Interest

 

64,040

 

53,960

 

50,023

 

Interest capitalized

 

(16,331

)

(15,953

)

(6,326

)

Total Costs and Expenses

 

1,401,129

 

1,376,136

 

1,112,029

 

Income Before Taxes

 

42,599

 

224,610

 

299,483

 

Income Tax Provision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

7,625

 

31,595

 

74,616

 

Deferred

 

17,322

 

59,440

 

33,270

 

Total Tax Provision

 

24,947

 

91,035

 

107,886

 

Net Income

 

$

17,652

 

$

133,575

 

$

191,597

 

Basic Earnings Per Share

 

$

0.31

 

$

2.36

 

$

3.42

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

$

0.31

 

$

2.33

 

$

3.38

 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

57,196

 

56,549

 

55,999

 

Diluted

 

57,763

 

57,303

 

56,755

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

30



 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

17,652

 

$

133,575

 

$

191,597

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

285,286

 

284,016

 

230,800

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization - electricity generation

 

8,458

 

 

 

 

 

Dry hole expense

 

81,396

 

99,684

 

38,463

 

Amortization of unproved leasehold costs, net

 

21,254

 

17,213

 

16,075

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

 

(106

)

(2,098

)

(3,799

)

Noncurrent deferred income taxes

 

18,192

 

59,212

 

33,973

 

Income from unconsolidated subsidiary

 

(9,532

)

(6,981

)

(13,544

)

Dividends received from unconsolidated subsidiary

 

17,696

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in other deferred credits

 

(5,810

)

13,990

 

7,762

 

(Increase) decrease in other

 

10,942

 

(2,224

)

(3,747

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, not including cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable

 

(49,945

)

57,973

 

(137,049

)

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

 

21,972

 

(64,951

)

3,557

 

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

 

81,764

 

(17,960

)

198,871

 

Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities

 

5,072

 

52,313

 

(4,644

)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

504,291

 

623,762

 

558,315

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(595,739

)

(738,706

)

(536,901

)

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary

 

(7,652

)

(36,641

)

(45,026

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

20,363

 

1,434

 

12,608

 

Distribution from unconsolidated subsidiary

 

5,500

 

 

 

 

 

Aspect acquisition

 

 

 

(107,078

)

 

 

Cash obtained in acquisition

 

 

 

9,286

 

 

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

(577,528

)

(871,705

)

(569,319

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

10,356

 

16,675

 

13,717

 

Cash dividends paid

 

(9,147

)

(9,042

)

(8,958

)

Proceeds from bank debt

 

158,669

 

675,000

 

137,000

 

Repayment of bank debt

 

(124,929

)

(375,000

)

(57,000

)

Repayment of notes payable - unconsolidated subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

(23,245

)

Repayment of note payable obtained in Aspect acquisition

 

(19,507

)

(9,605

)

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

(30,283

)

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

 

15,442

 

298,028

 

31,231

 

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Short-term Cash Investments

 

(57,795

)

50,085

 

20,227

 

Cash and Short-term Cash Investments at Beginning of Year

 

73,237

 

23,152

 

2,925

 

Cash and Short-term Cash Investments at End of Year

 

$

15,442

 

$

73,237

 

$

23,152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest (net of amount capitalized)

 

$

26,321

 

$

26,590

 

$

32,976

 

Income taxes paid (refunded)

 

$

(40,394

)

$

66,131

 

$

56,890

 

Non-cash financing and investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of treasury stock for acquisition

 

 

 

$

14,238

 

 

 

Debt assumed in acquisition

 

 

 

$

40,043

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

31



 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

NOBLE ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

(in thousands)

 

Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

 

Common
Stock

 

Capital in
Excess of
Par Value

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

 

Treasury
Stock
(At Cost)

 

Total
Shareholders’
Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 1999

 

 

 

$

195,231

 

$

360,983

 

$

142,813

 

 

 

$

(15,418

)

$

683,609

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

191,597

 

 

 

 

 

191,597

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30,283

)

(30,283

)

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

1,441

 

12,276

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,717

 

Cash dividends
($.16 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8,958

)

 

 

 

 

(8,958

)

December 31, 2000

 

 

 

$

196,672

 

$

373,259

 

$

325,452

 

 

 

$

(45,701

)

$

849,682

 

Net Income

 

$

133,575

 

 

 

 

 

133,575

 

 

 

 

 

133,575

 

Hedge derivatives marked
to market

 

5,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,070

 

 

 

5,070

 

Treasury stock issued for acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

7,867

 

 

 

 

 

6,371

 

14,238

 

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

1,697

 

14,978

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,675

 

Cash dividends
($.16 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,042

)

 

 

 

 

(9,042

)

Total

 

$

138,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2001

 

 

 

$

198,369

 

$

396,104

 

$

449,985

 

$

5,070

 

$

(39,330

)

$

1,010,198

 

Net Income

 

$

17,652

 

 

 

 

 

17,652

 

 

 

 

 

17,652

 

Reclassification of
unrealized gains on
hedges to net income,
net of $.5 income tax

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Change in fair value of
cash flow hedges,
net of income tax

 

(19,674

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,674

)

 

 

(19,674

)

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

1,189

 

9,167

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,356

 

Cash dividends
($.16 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,147

)

 

 

 

 

(9,147

)

Total

 

$

(2,021

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

$

199,558

 

$

405,271

 

$

458,490

 

$

(14,603

)

$

(39,330

)

$

1,009,386

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

32



 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in tables, unless otherwise indicated, are in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

 

Accounting policies used by Noble Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries reflect industry practices and conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The more significant of such policies are briefly discussed below. The consolidated accounts include Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “Noble Energy”) and the consolidated accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2001, Energy Development Corporation (“EDC”), a previously wholly-owned subsidiary of Samedan Oil Corporation (“Samedan”), was merged into Samedan, another previously wholly-owned subsidiary. Effective December 31, 2002, Samedan was merged into Noble Energy, Inc. Also effective December 31, 2002, Noble Trading, Inc. (“NTI”) was merged into Noble Gas Marketing, Inc. (“NGM”) under the new name of Noble Energy Marketing, Inc. (“NEMI”). Listed below are consolidated entities at December 31, 2002. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

LaTex Resources Inc.

 

Noble Energy Marketing, Inc.

 

Noble Gas Pipeline, Inc.

 

NPM, Inc.

 

Samedan North Sea, Inc.

 

Samedan of North Africa, Inc.

 

Atlantic Methanol Capital Company (“AMCCO”)

 

EDC Ireland

 

Samedan International

 

Machalapower Cia. Ltda.

 

Samedan, Mediterranean Sea

 

Samedan Transfer Sub

 

Samedan Vietnam Limited

 

Samedan, Mediterranean Sea, Inc.

 

Samedan of Tunisia, Inc.

 

Samedan Oil of Canada, Inc.

 

Samedan Oil of Indonesia, Inc.

 

Samedan Pipe Line Corporation

 

Samedan Royalty Corporation

 

EDC Australia, Ltd.

 

EDC Ecuador Ltd.

 

EDC Ecuador Limited

 

EDC Portugal Ltd.

 

EDC (UK) Limited

 

EDC (Denmark) Inc.

 

EDC (Europe) Limited

 

EDC (ISE) Limited

 

EDC (Oilex) Limited

 

Brabant Oil Limited

 

Energy Development Corporation (Argentina), Inc.

 

Energy Development Corporation (China), Inc.

 

Energy Development Corporation (HIPS), Inc.

 

Gasdel Pipeline System Incorporated

 

HGC, Inc.

 

Producers Service, Inc.

 

33



 

Nature of Operations

 

The Company is an independent energy company engaged, directly or through its subsidiaries or various arrangements with other companies, in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. The Company has exploration, exploitation and production operations domestically and internationally. The domestic areas consist of: offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and California; the Gulf Coast Region (Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas); the Mid-Continent Region (Oklahoma and Kansas); and the Rocky Mountain Region (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and California). The international areas of operations include Argentina, China, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, the Mediterranean Sea (Israel), the North Sea (Denmark, Netherlands and United Kingdom) and Vietnam. The Company also markets domestic crude oil and natural gas production through NEMI.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves are the most significant. All of the reserve data in this Form 10-K/A are estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved natural gas and crude oil reserves. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, reserve estimates may be different from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Other items subject to estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment; valuation allowances for receivables, inventories and deferred income tax assets; environmental liabilities; valuation of derivative instruments; and assets and obligations related to employee benefits. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The U.S. dollar is considered the primary currency for each of the Company’s international operations. Transactions that are completed in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars and recorded in the financial statements. Transaction gains or losses were not material in any of the periods presented and are included in other income on the statement of operations.

 

Materials and Supplies Inventories

 

Materials and supplies inventories, consisting principally of tubular goods and production equipment, are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined by the first-in, first-out method.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

The Company accounts for its crude oil and natural gas properties under the successful efforts method of accounting. Under this method, costs to acquire mineral interests in crude oil and natural gas properties, to drill and equip exploratory wells that find proved reserves and to drill and equip development wells are capitalized. Capitalized costs of producing crude oil and natural gas properties are amortized to operations by the unit-of-production method based on proved developed crude oil and natural gas reserves on a property-by-property basis as estimated by Company engineers. Through December 31, 2002, estimated future restoration and abandonment costs are recorded by charges to DD&A expense over the productive lives of the related properties. The Company has provided $84.1 million for such future costs classified with accumulated DD&A in the December 31, 2002 balance sheet. The total estimated future dismantlement and restoration costs of $206.6 million, which consists of $188.7 million for the United States and $17.9 million for the North Sea, are included in future production and development costs for purposes of estimating the future net revenues relating to the Company’s proved reserves. Upon sale or retirement of depreciable

 

34



 

or depletable property, the cost and related accumulated DD&A are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is recognized.

 

Individually significant unproved crude oil and natural gas properties are periodically assessed for impairment of value and a loss is recognized at the time of impairment by providing an impairment allowance. Other unproved properties are amortized on a composite method based on the Company’s experience of successful drilling and average holding period. Geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals and costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves are expensed. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

 

Proved crude oil and natural gas properties and other long-lived assets are periodically assessed to determine if circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” was issued in August 2001. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. This statement supersedes SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of.” This statement requires (a) recognition of an impairment loss only if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows and (b) measurement of an impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value of the asset. The Company adopted the statement January 1, 2002 with no material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

Capitalization of Interest

 

The Company capitalizes interest costs associated with the development and construction of significant properties or projects.

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and short-term investments include cash on hand and investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less.

 

35



 

Basic Earnings Per Share and Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) of common stock have been computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. The diluted EPS of common stock includes the effect of outstanding stock options. The following table summarizes the calculation of basic EPS and diluted EPS components as of December 31:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

(in thousands
except per share amounts)

 

Income
(Numerator)

 

 

 

Shares
(Denominator)

 

Income
(Numerator)

 

 

 

Shares
(Denominator)

 

Income
(Numerator)

 

 

 

Shares
(Denominator
)

 

Net income/shares

 

$

17,652

 

 

 

57,196

 

$

133,575

 

 

 

56,549

 

$

191,597

 

 

 

55,999

 

Basic EPS

 

 

 

$

.31

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.36

 

 

 

 

 

$

3.42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/shares

 

$

17,652

 

 

 

57,196

 

$

133,575

 

 

 

56,549

 

$

191,597

 

 

 

55,999

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities
Stock options

 

 

 

 

 

567

 

 

 

 

 

754

 

 

 

 

 

756

 

Adjusted net income and shares

 

$

17,652

 

 

 

57,763

 

$

133,575

 

 

 

57,303

 

$

191,597

 

 

 

56,755

 

Diluted EPS

 

 

 

$

.31

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.33

 

 

 

 

 

$

3.38

 

 

 

 

The table below reflects the amount of options not included in the EPS calculation above, as they were antidilutive.

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Options excluded from dilution calculation

 

2,229,978

 

1,485,303

 

1,633,149

 

Range of exercise prices

 

$35.40 - $43.21

 

$38.88 - $43.21

 

$35.94 - $40.38

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$39.77

 

$41.29

 

$38.39

 

 

Accounting for Employee Stock-Based Compensation

 

At December 31, 2002, the Company has two stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in “Note 6 - Common Stock, Stock Options and Stockholder Rights.” The Company accounts for those plans under the intrinsic value recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related Interpretations. At issuance, stock-based employee compensation cost was reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation.

 

(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Net income, as reported

 

$

17,652

 

$

133,575

 

$

191,597

 

Add: Stock-based compensation cost recognized, net of
related tax effects

 

392

 

 

 

477

 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense
determined under fair value based method for all awards,
net of related tax effects

 

(6,394

)

(7,538

)

(8,170

)

Pro forma net income

 

$

11,650

 

$

126,037

 

$

183,904

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic - as reported

 

$

.31

 

$

2.36

 

$

3.42

 

Basic - pro forma

 

$

.20

 

$

2.23

 

$

3.28

 

Diluted - as reported

 

$

.31

 

$

2.33

 

$

3.38

 

Diluted - pro forma

 

$

.20

 

$

2.20

 

$

3.24

 

 

36



 

Fair value estimates are based on several assumptions and should not be viewed as indicative of the operations of the Company in future periods. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, as follows:

 

(amounts expressed in percentages)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Interest rate

 

4.78

 

5.46

 

6.25

 

Dividend yield

 

.43

 

.40

 

.40

 

Expected volatility

 

40.26

 

38.19

 

51.67

 

Expected life

 

9.73

 

9.64

 

9.71

 

 

The weighted average fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, is as follows:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Black-Scholes model weighted average fair value option price

 

$

18.14

 

$

23.86

 

$

16.66

 

 

Revenue Recognition and Gas Imbalances

 

Noble Energy generally recognizes revenue when the product is delivered to a third-party purchaser.

 

NEMI records third-party sales, including derivative transactions, as gathering, marketing and processing revenues. NEMI records the amount paid to third parties as gathering, marketing and processing costs and expenses.

 

The Company follows the entitlements method of accounting for its natural gas imbalances. Natural gas imbalances occur when the Company sells more or less natural gas than it is entitled to under its ownership percentage of total natural gas production. Any excess amount received above the Company’s share is treated as a liability. If less than the Company’s entitlement is received, the underproduction is recorded as a receivable. The Company records the non-current liability in other deferred credits and non-current liabilities, and the current liability in other current liabilities. The Company’s natural gas imbalance liabilities were $15.4 million and $15.5 million for 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company records the non-current receivable in other assets and the current receivable in other current assets. The Company’s natural gas imbalance receivables were $20.1 million and $20.9 million for 2002 and 2001, respectively, and are valued at the amount that is expected to be received.

 

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

 

The Company, directly or through its subsidiaries, from time to time, uses various hedging arrangements in connection with anticipated crude oil and natural gas sales to minimize the impact of product price fluctuations. Such arrangements include fixed price hedges, costless collars and other contractual arrangements. Although these hedging arrangements expose the Company to credit risk, the Company monitors the creditworthiness of its counterparties and believes that losses from nonperformance are unlikely to occur. Hedging gains and losses related to the Company’s crude oil and natural gas production are recorded in oil and gas sales and royalties.

 

The FASB issued SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” in June 1998. The Statement established accounting and reporting standards requiring every derivative instrument (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) to be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the derivative’s fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met wherein gains and losses are reflected in shareholders’ equity as other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative’s gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the statement of operations, and

 

37



 

requires that a company formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting.

 

The Company adopted SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2001. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position, as of the date of adoption. At December 31, 2002, the Company recorded crude oil and natural gas hedge liabilities of $22.5 million and other comprehensive loss, net of tax, of $14.6 million related to the Company’s hedging contracts.

 

Self-Insurance

 

The Company self-insures the medical and dental coverage provided to certain of its employees, certain workers’ compensation and the first $250,000 of its general liability coverage.

 

Liabilities are accrued for self-insured claims when sufficient information is available to reasonably estimate the amount of the loss.

 

Unconsolidated Subsidiary

 

The Company owns a 45 percent interest in AMPCO through its ownership in AMCCO. Prior to January 2002, AMCCO was a 50 percent owned joint venture that owned an indirect 90 percent interest in AMPCO, which completed construction of a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea in the second quarter of 2001. During 1999, AMCCO issued $125 million Series A-1 and $125 million Series A-2 senior secured notes due December 15, 2004 to fund the remaining construction payments. The Company includes the $125 million series A-2 notes in its balance sheet. On January 2, 2002, the Company’s partner in AMCCO directed AMCCO to sell 50 percent of its interest in AMPCO as a component of the partner’s sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets. The proceeds of the AMPCO sale were used to repay in full AMCCO’s $125 million Series A-1 Notes on January 28, 2002 and to make a distribution to the Company’s partner. The terms of the $125 million Series A-2 Notes remain unchanged. The Company accounts for its investment in unconsolidated subsidiary under the equity method of accounting. AMPCO is an integral component of the Company’s natural gas operations as AMPCO’s function is to convert a portion of the Company’s natural gas reserves to methanol for sale. For more information, see “Note 2 – Restatement - Structured Financing of Methanol Plant” and “Note 10 - Unconsolidated Subsidiary”.

 

Reclassification

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2000 and 2001 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2002 presentation. These reclassifications are not material to the Company’s financial position.

 

Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” was issued in June 2001. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. This statement requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying cost of the asset. The Company adopted SFAS No. 143 on January 1, 2003 and recognized, as the fair value of asset retirement obligations, $99.7 million related to the United States and $10.0 million related to the North Sea. The Company’s accumulated provision for future retirement obligations was $84.1 million at December 31, 2002. The Company has not determined the cumulative effect of adoption of this standard. The expected future retirement obligation for the United States is $188.7 million and for the North Sea is $17.9 million. The difference between the expected future retirement obligation and the fair value of the retirement obligation will be expensed beginning in 2003 based on the credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 8.5 percent until the asset retirement date.

 

38



 

SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” was issued in December 2002. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide for alternative methods of transition for an entity that voluntarily changes to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. It also amends the disclosure provisions of that statement to require prominent disclosure about the effects on reported net income of an entity’s accounting policy decisions with respect to stock-based employee compensation.

 

The Company currently accounts for stock-based employee compensation plans under the recognition and measurement principles of the APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The Company has not determined if it will adopt the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 123.

 

In June 2002, the EITF reached a consensus on certain issues contained in Topic 02-03, “Recognition and Reporting of Gains and Losses on Energy Trading Contracts” under EITF Issue No. 98-10, “Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities.” While the Company does not engage in energy trading activities, the EITF has expanded its definition of energy trading activities to include the marketing activities in which the Company is engaged. As of January 1, 2003, the Company presents its gathering, marketing and processing activities in the statement of operations for all periods on a net rather than a gross basis. The change significantly decreased reported marketing sales and purchases, but had no effect on operating income or cash flows.

 

Note 2 – Restatement - Structured Financing of Methanol Plant

 

In 1999, the Company and an unrelated entity financed $250 million of the costs of construction of a jointly owned methanol plant with an off-balance-sheet special purpose entity (SPE) that entered into two separate non-recourse note borrowings (with the Company’s partner collateralizing $125 million of series A-1 senior secured notes and the Company collateralizing $125 million of series A-2 senior secured notes). The borrowings contained cross-collateral provisions with respect to a dividend distribution from AMPCO’s joint collection account into which the proceeds from shared collateral were to be deposited. Plant construction was completed in the spring of 2001. In December 2001, the Company’s partner issued an irrevocable call for $125 million of the A-1 Notes and they were re-paid in January 2002. As part of the 1999 financing, Noble Energy guaranteed the interest payments on the A-2 Notes, subject to a $75 million limit. The Company did not guarantee repayment of the A-2 Notes; however, the Company issued mandatorily convertible preferred stock to a trust as security for the A-2 Notes. If an amount to repay the A-2 Notes was not deposited within 120 days of the maturity date (or earlier date caused by, for example, a downgrade of the credit rating of the Company) the holders of 25 percent of the A-2 Notes could cause the mandatorily convertible preferred shares to be sold. The mandatorily convertible preferred stock of the Company was convertible into the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock needed to make the note holder whole without limit. Additional security for the A-2 Notes was 60 percent of the capital stock of Samedan Methanol, an entity that held a 45 percent ownership interest in the methanol plant. The SPE’s assets comprised investments in Samedan Methanol and in another subsidiary that also owned a 45 percent interest in the methanol plant. Because the use of non-recourse debt having cross-collateral provisions only with respect to AMPCO’s joint collection account effectively segregated the cash flows and assets, in substance this financing created two separate SPEs. The Company has now concluded that it should have consolidated the $125 million of series A-2 senior secured notes. Therefore, the Company has restated its 2001 and 2000 consolidated balance sheet to increase its equity ownership interest in the methanol plant and increase debt, each by approximately $125 million.

 

39



 

The following tables reflect the effects of the adjustments the Company made to its consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000.  There was no impact on net income or earnings per share or to the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity and other comprehensive income.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2001

 

2001

 

 

 

(As Reported)

 

(As Restated)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

$

351,571

 

$

351,571

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

1,953,211

 

1,953,211

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary

 

117,735

 

242,142

 

Other Assets

 

57,331

 

57,331

 

Total Assets

 

$

2,479,848

 

$

2,604,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable - trade

 

$

270,091

 

$

270,091

 

Short-term note payable

 

25,000

 

25,000

 

Current installments of long-term debt

 

19,507

 

19,507

 

Oil and gas hedges payable

 

25,363

 

25,363

 

Other current liabilities

 

40,624

 

41,090

 

Total current liabilities

 

380,585

 

381,051

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Income Taxes

 

176,259

 

176,259

 

Other Deferred Credits and Noncurrent Liabilities

 

75,629

 

75,629

 

Long-term Debt

 

837,177

 

961,118

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

1,010,198

 

1,010,198

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

2,479,848

 

$

2,604,255

 

 

40



 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2001

 

2001

 

2000

 

2000

 

 

 

(As Reported)

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Reported)

 

(As Restated)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas sales and royalties

 

$

871,812

 

$

871,812

 

$

800,594

 

$

800,594

 

Gathering, marketing and processing

 

721,000

 

721,000

 

589,933

 

589,933

 

Income (loss) from investment in unconsolidated subsidiary

 

(5,075

)

6,981

 

1,489

 

13,544

 

Other income

 

953

 

953

 

7,441

 

7,441

 

Total Revenues

 

1,588,690

 

1,600,746

 

1,399,457

 

1,411,512

 

Costs and Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas operations

 

133,549

 

133,549

 

121,866

 

121,866

 

Transportation

 

16,012

 

16,012

 

9,241

 

9,241

 

Oil and gas exploration

 

152,096

 

152,096

 

84,868

 

84,868

 

Gathering, marketing and processing

 

708,292

 

708,292

 

574,266

 

574,266

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

284,016

 

284,016

 

230,800

 

230,800

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

44,164

 

44,164

 

47,291

 

47,291

 

Interest

 

41,904

 

53,960

 

37,968

 

50,023

 

Interest capitalized

 

(15,953

)

(15,953

)

(6,326

)

(6,326

)

Total Costs and Expenses

 

1,364,080

 

1,376,136

 

1,099,974

 

1,112,029

 

Income Before Taxes

 

224,610

 

224,610

 

299,483

 

299,483

 

Income Tax Provision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

31,595

 

31,595

 

74,616

 

74,616

 

Deferred

 

59,440

 

59,440

 

33,270

 

33,270

 

Total Tax Provision

 

91,035

 

91,035

 

107,886

 

107,886

 

Net Income

 

$

133,575

 

$

133,575

 

$

191,597

 

$

191,597

 

Basic Earnings Per Share

 

$

2.36

 

$

2.36

 

$

3.42

 

$

3.42

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

$

2.33

 

$

2.33

 

$

3.38

 

$

3.38

 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

56,549

 

56,549

 

55,999

 

55,999

 

Diluted

 

57,303

 

57,303

 

56,755

 

56,755

 

 

41



 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2001

 

2001

 

2000

 

2000

 

 

 

(As Reported)

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Reported)

 

(As Restated)

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

133,575

 

$

133,575

 

$

191,597

 

$

191,597

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

284,016

 

284,016

 

230,800

 

230,800

 

Dry hole expense

 

99,684

 

99,684

 

38,463

 

38,463

 

Amortization of unproved leasehold costs, net

 

17,213

 

17,213

 

16,075

 

16,075

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

 

(2,098

)

(2,098

)

(3,799

)

(3,799

)

Noncurrent deferred income taxes

 

59,212

 

59,212

 

33,973

 

33,973

 

(Income) loss from unconsolidated subsidiary

 

5,075

 

(6,981

)

(1,489

)

(13,544

)

Increase (decrease) in other deferred credits

 

13,990

 

13,990

 

7,762

 

7,762

 

(Increase) decrease in other

 

(2,224

)

(2,224

)

(3,747

)

(3,747

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, not including cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable

 

57,973

 

57,973

 

(137,049

)

(137,049

)

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

 

(64,951

)

(64,951

)

3,557

 

3,557

 

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

 

(17,960

)

(17,960

)

198,871

 

198,871

 

Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities

 

52,267

 

52,313

 

(4,680

)

(4,644

)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

635,772

 

623,762

 

570,334

 

558,315

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(738,706

)

(738,706

)

(536,901

)

(536,901

)

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary

 

(48,651

)

(36,641

)

(57,045

)

(45,026

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

1,434

 

1,434

 

12,608

 

12,608

 

Aspect acquisition

 

(107,078

)

(107,078

)

 

 

 

 

Cash obtained in acquisition

 

9,286

 

9,286

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

(883,715

)

(871,705

)

(581,338

)

(569,319

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

 

298,028

 

298,028

 

31,231

 

31,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in Cash and Short-term Cash Investments

 

50,085

 

50,085

 

20,227

 

20,227

 

Cash and Short-term Cash Investments at Beginning of Year

 

23,152

 

23,152

 

2,925

 

2,925

 

Cash and Short-term Cash Investments at End of Year

 

$

73,237

 

$

73,237

 

$

23,152

 

$

23,152

 

 

Note 3 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between two willing parties.

 

Cash, Short-Term Investments, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

 

The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short-term nature or maturity of the instruments.

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Price Hedge Agreements

 

The fair value of crude oil and natural gas price hedges is the estimated amount the Company would receive or pay to terminate the hedge agreements at the reporting date taking into account creditworthiness of the hedging parties.

 

42



 

Long-Term Debt

 

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.

 

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, including current items, as of December 31, for each of the years are as follows:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001 (As Restated)

 

(in thousands)

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Crude oil and natural gas price hedge agreements

 

$

(22,520

)

$

(22,520

)

$

16,032

 

$

16,032

 

Long-term debt

 

$

(1,025,246

)

$

(1,039,216

)

$

(986,015

)

$

(996,540

)

 

Note 4 - Debt

 

A summary of debt at December 31 follows:

 

 

 

December 31, 2002

 

December 31, 2001

 

(in thousands)

 

Debt

 

Percentage
Interest
Rate

 

Debt (As Restated)

 

Percentage
Interest
Rate

 

$ 400 million Credit Agreement, maturity date November 2006

 

$

380,000

 

2.47

 

$

380,000

 

3.00

 

Note obtained in Aspect acquisition, due May 2004

 

11,508

 

6.25

 

31,015

 

6.25

 

7 1/4% Notes Due 2023

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

8% Senior Notes Due 2027

 

250,000

 

8.00

 

250,000

 

8.00

 

7 1/4% Senior Debentures Due 2097

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

100,000

 

7.25

 

AMCCO Note, due December 2004

 

125,000

 

8.95

 

125,000

 

8.95

 

Israel Note, due 2003 and 2004

 

58,738

 

2.18

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding debt

 

1,025,246

 

 

 

986,015

 

 

 

Less:

unamortized discount

 

6,211

 

 

 

5,390

 

 

 

current installment of long-term debt

 

41,919

 

 

 

19,507

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

977,116

 

 

 

$

961,118

 

 

 

 

The Company’s total long-term debt, net of unamortized discount, at December 31, 2002, was $977 million compared to $961 million at December 31, 2001. The ratio of debt-to-book capital (defined as the Company’s total debt plus its equity) was 50 percent at December 31, 2002, and 50 percent at December 31, 2001.

 

The Company entered into a new $400 million five-year credit agreement on November 30, 2001, with certain commercial lending institutions, which exposes the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. The interest rate is based upon a Eurodollar rate plus a range of 60 to 145 basis points depending upon the percentage of utilization and credit rating. At December 31, 2002, there was $380 million borrowed against this credit agreement, which has a maturity date of November 30, 2006.

 

The Company also entered into a new $200 million 364-day credit agreement on November 27, 2002 with certain commercial lending institutions which exposes the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to changes in market interest rates. The interest rate is based upon a Eurodollar rate plus a range of 62.5 to 150 basis points depending upon the percentage of utilization and credit rating. At December 31, 2002, there were no amounts outstanding under this credit agreement. The agreement has a maturity date of November 26, 2003 for the revolving commitment and a maturity date of November 25, 2004 for the term commitment that includes any balance remaining after the revolving commitment matures.

 

43



 

Financial covenants on both the $400 million and $200 million credit facilities include the following: (a) the ratio of EBITDAX to total interest expense for any consecutive period of four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter may not be less than 4.0 to 1.0; (b) the total debt to capitalization ratio, expressed as a percentage, may not exceed 60 percent at any time; and (c) the total asset value of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries may not be less than $800 million at any time.

 

The Company had no short-term borrowings outstanding on December 31, 2002. The Company had a $25 million short-term note payable outstanding December 31, 2001, which was repaid January 28, 2002. The note was an uncommitted facility with an interest rate of 3.25 percent for the period December 28, 2001 to January 28, 2002.

 

Note 5 - Income Taxes

 

The following table details the difference between the federal statutory tax rate and the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31:

 

(amounts expressed in percentages)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Statutory rate (benefit)

 

35.0

 

35.0

 

35.0

 

Effect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State taxes, net of federal benefit

 

1.1

 

.3

 

.3

 

Difference between U.S. and foreign rates

 

24.5

 

4.9

 

.2

 

Other, net

 

(2.0

)

.4

 

.5

 

Effective rate

 

58.6

 

40.6

 

36.0

 

 

44



 

The net current deferred tax asset (liability) in the following table is classified as other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

U.S. and State Current Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

$

980

 

$

15

 

Deferred income

 

387

 

626

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

353

 

226

 

Marked to market - hedging contracts

 

7,864

 

(2,730

)

Other

 

 

 

(17

)

Net U.S. and State Current Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities)

 

9,584

 

(1,880

)

U.S. and State Non-current Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation, amortization, lease impairment and abandonments

 

(183,338

)

(177,382

)

Accrued expenses

 

4,777

 

7,125

 

Deferred income

 

4,594

 

6,029

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

5,935

 

5,767

 

Foreign and state income tax accruals

 

11,940

 

11,627

 

Post retirement benefits

 

9,668

 

2,489

 

Other

 

(245

)

(245

)

Net U.S. and State Non-current Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities)

 

(146,669

)

(144,590

)

Total Net U.S. and State Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities)

 

(137,085

)

(146,470

)

Foreign Non-current Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment of foreign operations

 

(55,270

)

(31,669

)

Foreign loss carryforward

 

4,416

 

2,745

 

Net Foreign Non-current Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities)

 

(50,854

)

(28,924

)

Valuation allowance

 

(4,416

)

(2,745

)

Total Net Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities)

 

$

(192,355

)

$

(178,139

)

 

The components of income (loss) from operations before income taxes as of December 31 for each year are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Domestic

 

$

3,067

 

$

241,479

 

$

268,489

 

Foreign

 

39,532

 

(16,869

)

30,994

 

Total

 

$

42,599

 

$

224,610

 

$

299,483

 

 

The income tax provision (benefit) relating to operations consists of the following for the years ended December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

U.S. current

 

$

(7,945

)

$

24,743

 

$

65,358

 

U.S. deferred

 

1,421

 

53,591

 

32,311

 

State current

 

895

 

652

 

917

 

State deferred

 

(212

)

359

 

334

 

Foreign current

 

14,675

 

6,200

 

8,341

 

Foreign deferred

 

16,113

 

5,490

 

625

 

Total

 

$

24,947

 

$

91,035

 

$

107,886

 

 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become

 

45



 

deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2002. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.

 

Note 6 - Common Stock, Stock Options and Stockholder Rights

 

The Company has two stock option plans, the 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (“1992 Plan”) and the 1988 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (“1988 Plan”). The Company accounts for these plans under APB Opinion No. 25.

 

Under the Company’s 1992 Plan, the Board of Directors may grant stock options and award restricted stock. No restricted stock has been issued under the 1992 Plan. Since the adoption of the 1992 Plan, stock options have been issued at the market price on the date of grant. The earliest the granted options may be exercised is over a three year period at the rate of 33 1/3% each year commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date. The options expire ten years from the grant date. The 1992 Plan was amended in 2000, by a vote of the shareholders, to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 1992 Plan to 6,500,000 shares. At December 31, 2002, the Company had reserved 5,042,040 shares of common stock for issuance, including 1,079,604 shares available for grant, under its 1992 Plan.

 

The Company’s 1988 Plan allows stock options to be issued to certain non-employee directors at the market price on the date of grant. The options may be exercised one year after issue and expire ten years from the grant date. The 1988 Plan provides for the grant of options to purchase a maximum of 550,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued common stock. The 1988 Plan was amended at the shareholders’ annual meeting on April 24, 2001 to provide for the granting of a consistent number of stock options to each non-employee director annually (10,000 stock options for the first year of service and 5,000 stock options for each year thereafter) and to change the annual grant date to February 1, commencing February 1, 2002. At December 31, 2002, the Company had reserved 321,571 shares of common stock for issuance, including 89,786 shares available for grant, under its 1988 Plan.

 

The Company adopted a stockholder rights plan on August 27, 1997, designed to assure that the Company’s stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the Company and to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive takeover tactics to gain control of the Company without paying all stockholders a fair price. The rights plan was not adopted in response to any specific takeover proposal. Under the rights plan, the Company declared a dividend of one right (“Right”) on each share of Noble Energy, Inc. common stock. Each Right will entitle the holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of a new Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, at an exercise price of $150.00. The Rights are not currently exercisable and will become exercisable only in the event a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of Noble Energy, Inc. common stock. The dividend distribution was made on September 8, 1997, to stockholders of record at the close of business on that date. The Rights will expire on September 8, 2007.

 

46



 

A summary of the status of Noble Energy’s stock option plans as of December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and changes during each of the years then ended, is presented below.

 

 

 

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

 

 

 

Number
Outstanding

 

Exercise
Price

 

Number
Exercisable

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 1999

 

3,484,938

 

$

29.98

 

2,203,146

 

$

31.14

 

Options granted

 

774,343

 

$

24.19

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

(432,199

)

$

24.43

 

 

 

 

 

Options canceled

 

(105,977

)

$

29.11

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2000

 

3,721,105

 

$

29.44

 

2,408,522

 

$

32.08

 

Options granted

 

723,400

 

$

42.77

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

(509,161

)

$

24.97

 

 

 

 

 

Options canceled

 

(81,267

)

$

33.11

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2001

 

3,854,077

 

$

32.46

 

2,530,285

 

$

32.10

 

Options granted

 

732,500

 

$

32.66

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

(356,744

)

$

21.56

 

 

 

 

 

Options canceled

 

(35,612

)

$

37.02

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2002

 

4,194,221

 

$

33.38

 

2,871,943

 

$

32.84

 

 

The following table summarizes information about Noble Energy’s stock options which were outstanding, and those which were exercisable, as of December 31, 2002.

 

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

 

Range of
Exercise Prices

 

Number
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Number
Exercisable

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$17.28 - $21.61

 

833,264

 

6.0 Years

 

$

20.06

 

678,310

 

$

20.06

 

$21.61 - $25.93

 

185,145

 

1.9 Years

 

$

24.52

 

185,145

 

$

24.52

 

$25.93 - $30.25

 

126,834

 

2.3 Years

 

$

27.41

 

126,834

 

$

27.41

 

$30.25 - $34.57

 

785,075

 

8.5 Years

 

$

32.32

 

79,958

 

$

31.27

 

$34.57 - $38.89

 

742,924

 

4.9 Years

 

$

36.34

 

702,924

 

$

36.24

 

$38.89 - $43.21

 

1,520,979

 

5.2 Years

 

$

41.36

 

1,098,772

 

$

40.69

 

 

 

4,194,221

 

5.7 Years

 

$

33.38

 

2,871,943

 

$

32.84

 

 

Compensation expense totaling $643,170 and $781,275 was recognized in 2002 and 2000, respectively, due to the accelerated vesting of stock options as a result of the retirement of certain employees.

 

Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans

 

Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

 

The Company has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of its domestic employees. The benefits are based on an employee’s years of service and average earnings for the 60 consecutive calendar months of highest compensation. The Company also has an unfunded restoration plan to ensure payments of amounts for which employees are entitled under the provisions of the pension plan, but which are subject to limitations imposed by federal tax laws. The Company’s funding policy has been to make annual contributions equal to the actuarially computed liability to the extent such amounts are deductible for income tax purposes. Plan assets consist of equity securities and fixed income investments.

 

47



 

The Company sponsors other plans for the benefit of its employees and retirees. These plans include health care and life insurance benefits. The following table reflects the required disclosures on the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans at December 31:

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Benefits

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2002

 

2001

 

Change in benefit obligation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

89,587

 

$

76,623

 

$

2,688

 

$

2,718

 

Adjustment for contributions paid in 2000

 

 

 

(54

)

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

4,986

 

3,790

 

346

 

220

 

Interest cost

 

7,071

 

6,218

 

314

 

193

 

Amendments

 

380

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan participants’ contributions

 

 

 

 

 

90

 

71

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

8,439

 

6,882

 

2,849

 

(333

)

Benefits paid

 

(4,239

)

(3,872

)

(146

)

(181

)

Benefit obligation at year end

 

$

106,224

 

$

89,587

 

$

6,141

 

$

2,688

 

Change in plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$

53,570

 

$

55,487

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

(3,471

)

(1,541

)

 

 

 

 

Employer contribution

 

10,800

 

3,497

 

146

 

180

 

Benefits paid

 

(4,239

)

(3,873

)

(146

)

(180

)

Fair value of plan at end of year

 

$

56,660

 

$

53,570

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Fund status

 

$

(49,564

)

$

(36,017

)

$

(6,141

)

$

(2,688

)

Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)

 

23,366

 

6,826

 

2,472

 

(304

)

Unrecognized prior service cost

 

2,525

 

2,451

 

(244

)

(274

)

Unrecognized net transition obligation (assets)

 

1,167

 

1,191

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid (accrued) benefit costs

 

$

(22,506

)

$

(25,549

)

$

(3,913

)

$

(3,266

)

Components of net periodic benefit cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

4,986

 

$

3,790

 

$

346

 

$

220

 

Interest cost

 

7,071

 

6,218

 

314

 

193

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(5,474

)

(4,899

)

 

 

 

 

Transition (assets) obligation recognition

 

24

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

306

 

292

 

(30

)

(30

)

Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)

 

845

 

(66

)

73

 

(10

)

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

7,758

 

$

5,359

 

$

703

 

$

373

 

Weighted-average assumptions as of December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

6.75

%

7.25

%

6.75

%

7.25

%

Expected return on plan assets

 

8.50

%

8.50

%

 

 

 

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

4.00

%

4.75

%

4.00

%

5.50

%

 

The following table reflects the aggregate pension obligation components for the defined benefit pension plan and the restoration benefit plan, which are aggregated in the previous tables, at December 31:

 

 

 

Defined Benefit
Pension Plan

 

Restoration
Benefit Plan

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2002

 

2001

 

Aggregated pension benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate fair value of plan assets

 

$

56,660

 

$

53,570

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation

 

68,476

 

58,266

 

13,081

 

10,095

 

Fund status of net periodic benefit assets (obligation)

 

$

(11,816

)

$

(4,696

)

$

(13,081

)

$

(10,095

)

 

48



 

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following results:

 

(in thousands)

 

1-Percentage-
Point increase

 

1-Percentage-
Point decrease

 

Total service and interest cost components

 

$

733

 

$

598

 

Total postretirement benefit obligation

 

$

6,766

 

$

5,591

 

 

Employee Savings Plan (“ESP”)

 

The Company has an ESP that is a defined contribution plan. Participation in the ESP is voluntary and all regular employees of the Company are eligible to participate. The Company may match up to 100 percent of the participant’s contribution not to exceed six percent of the employee’s base compensation. The following table indicates the Company’s contribution for the years ended December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Employers’ plan contribution

 

$

2,302

 

$

2,145

 

$

1,858

 

 

Note 8 - Additional Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations Information

 

Included in accounts receivable-trade is an allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

$

1,510

 

$

638

 

 

Other current assets included the following at December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

Deferred tax asset (liability)

 

$

9,584

 

$

(1,880

)

Prepaid federal income taxes

 

 

 

$

66,131

 

 

Other current liabilities included the following at December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

Gas imbalance liabilities

 

$

1,090

 

$

1,593

 

Accrued interest payable (as Restated for 2001)

 

$

11,178

 

$

11,158

 

Louisiana workers compensation

 

$

7,611

 

$

6,433

 

 

Crude oil and natural gas operations expense included the following for the years ended December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Lease operating expense

 

$

111,055

 

$

109,626

 

$

90,478

 

Workover expense

 

8,455

 

15,094

 

21,124

 

Production taxes

 

14,316

 

8,829

 

10,264

 

Total operations expense

 

$

133,826

 

$

133,549

 

$

121,866

 

 

49



 

Crude oil and natural gas exploration expense included the following for the years ended December 31:

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Dry hole expense

 

$

81,396

 

$

99,684

 

$

38,463

 

Unproved lease amortization

 

21,254

 

17,213

 

16,075

 

Seismic

 

20,492

 

15,607

 

18,738

 

Other

 

27,559

 

19,592

 

11,592

 

Total exploration expense

 

$

150,701

 

$

152,096

 

$

84,868

 

 

During the past three years, there was no third-party purchaser that accounted for more than 10 percent of the annual total crude oil and natural gas sales and royalties.

 

Note 9 - Derivatives and Hedging Activities

 

During 2002, the Company entered into various natural gas costless collars, natural gas costless collar combinations and crude oil costless collar transactions related to its production. The table below depicts the various transactions for 2002.

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

Hedge MMBTUpd

 

170,274

 

Hedge Bpd

 

5,247

 

Floor price range

 

$2.00 - $3.50

 

Floor price range

 

$23.00 - $24.00

 

Ceiling price range

 

$2.45 - $5.10

 

Ceiling price range

 

$29.30 - $30.10

 

Percent of daily production

 

44

%

Percent of daily production

 

15

%

Gain (loss) per Mcf

 

$.03

 

Gain (loss) per Bbl

 

$0

 

 

As of December 31, 2002, the Company had entered into costless collars related to its natural gas and crude oil production to support the Company’s investment program as follows:

 

Natural Gas

 

Crude Oil

 

Production
Period

 

MMBTU
Per Day

 

Price
Per MMBTU
Floor - Ceiling

 

Bbls
Per Day

 

Price
Per Bbl
Floor - Ceiling

 

1Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.87 - $4.82

 

15,000

 

$23.00 - $28.63

 

2Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.43 - $4.57

 

15,000

 

$23.00 - $28.63

 

3Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.43 - $4.60

 

10,000

 

$23.00 - $27.95

 

4Q 2003

 

185,000

 

$3.43 - $4.84

 

10,000

 

$23.00 - $27.95

 

 

The contracts entitle the Company (floating price payor) to receive settlement from the counterparty (fixed price payor) for each calculation period in amounts, if any, by which the settlement price for the last scheduled NYMEX trading day applicable for each calculation period is less than the floor price. The Company would pay the counterparty if the settlement price for the last scheduled NYMEX trading day applicable for each calculation period is more than the ceiling price. The amount payable by the floating price payor, if the floating price is above the ceiling price, is the product of the notional quantity per calculation period and the excess, if any, of the floating price over the ceiling price in respect of each calculation period. The amount payable by the fixed price payor, if the floating price is below the floor price, is the product of the notional quantity per calculation period and the excess, if any, of the floor price over the floating price in respect of each calculation period.

 

During 2001, the Company had natural gas costless collars for the fourth quarter of 2001 for 50,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day, with a floor price of $3.25 per MMBTU and a ceiling price of $4.60 per MMBTU. The net effect of this fourth quarter 2001 hedge was a $.02 per Mcf increase in the average natural gas price for the year 2001. Of the 50,000 MMBTU per day of costless collars, 25,000 MMBTU per day were terminated early, at a gain. As a result, the Company recognized an additional $.70 per MMBTU on the 25,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day in 2001.

 

50



 

In addition to the hedging arrangements pertaining to the Company’s production as described above, NEMI employs various derivative arrangements in connection with its purchases and sales of third-party production to lock in profits or limit exposure to gas price risk. Most of the purchases made by NEMI are on an index basis; however, purchasers in the markets in which NEMI sells often require fixed or NYMEX related pricing. NEMI may use a derivative to convert the fixed or NYMEX sale to an index basis thereby determining the margin and minimizing the risk of price volatility. During 2002, NEMI had derivative transactions with broker-dealers that ranged from 986,000 MMBTU to 2,085,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day. At December 31, 2002, NEMI had in place derivatives ranging from approximately 20,000 MMBTU to 909,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day for January 2003 to May 2006 for future physical transactions.

 

In 2001, NGM had derivative transactions with broker-dealers that ranged from 1,157,000 MMBTU to 1,388,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day. During 2000, NGM had derivative transactions with broker-dealers that ranged from 423,000 MMBTU to 1,023,000 MMBTU of natural gas per day. NEMI records derivative gains or losses relating to fixed term sales as gathering, marketing and processing revenues in the periods in which the related contract is completed.

 

Note 10 - Unconsolidated Subsidiary

 

The Company owns a 45 percent interest in AMPCO through its ownership in AMCCO. Prior to January 2002, AMCCO was a 50 percent owned joint venture that owned an indirect 90 percent interest in AMPCO, which completed construction of a methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea in the second quarter of 2001. During 1999, AMCCO issued $125 million Series A-1 and $125 million Series A-2 senior secured notes due December 15, 2004 to fund the remaining construction payments. The Company includes the $125 million Series A-2 senior notes in its balance sheet. On January 2, 2002, the Company’s partner in AMCCO directed AMCCO to sell 50 percent of its interest in AMPCO as a component of the partner’s sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets. The proceeds of the AMPCO sale were used to repay in full AMCCO’s $125 million Series A-1 Notes on January 28, 2002 and to make a distribution to the Company’s partner. The terms of the $125 million Series A-2 Notes remain unchanged.

 

The plant construction started during 1998 and initial production of commercial grade methanol commenced May 2, 2001. The total construction costs of the plant and supporting facilities as of December 31, 2002 were $417 million, with the Company responsible for $208.5 million. The plant is designed to produce 2,500 MTpd of methanol, which equates to approximately 20,000 Bpd. At this level of production, the plant would purchase approximately 125 MMcfpd from the 34 percent owned Alba field. The methanol plant has a 25-year contract to purchase natural gas from the Alba field.

 

AMPCO, AMPCO Marketing LLC, AMPCO Services LLC and Samedan Methanol are accounted for using the equity method.

 

51



 

The following are summarized financial statements for subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

Equity Method Subsidiaries

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

$

74,832

 

$

86,213

 

Non-current assets

 

412,134

 

431,372

 

Total Assets

 

$

486,966

 

$

517,585

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities, Minority Interest and Members’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

37,419

 

$

14,426

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

147,406

 

Minority interest

 

 

 

41,210

 

Members’ equity

 

449,547

 

314,543

 

Total Liabilities, Minority Interest and Members’ Equity

 

$

486,966

 

$

517,585

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

Equity Method Subsidiaries

 

(in thousands)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methanol sales

 

$

97,476

 

$

43,343

 

$

 

 

Other income

 

18,471

 

5,346

 

4,389

 

Total Revenue

 

$

115,947

 

$

48,689

 

$

4,389

 

Less cost of goods sold

 

71,687

 

28,548

 

 

 

Gross Margin

 

$

44,260

 

$

20,141

 

$

4,389

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

$

20,763

 

$

8,427

 

$

 

 

Other expenses

 

 

 

4,363

 

 

 

Interest (net of amount capitalized)

 

 

 

7,013

 

(11,050

)

Administrative

 

3,076

 

317

 

86

 

Total Expenses

 

$

23,839

 

$

20,120

 

$

(10,964

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Items

 

$

20,421

 

$

21

 

$

15,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extraordinary Items (1)

 

$

 

 

$

24,776

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

20,421

 

$

(24,755

)

$

15,353

 

 


(1)         During the year, a prepayment penalty was recorded in connection with the early retirement of Series A-1 Secured Notes in 2002. The charge for the extraordinary item has been allocated to the Company’s partner in AMCCO. Therefore, the Company has not recognized anything related to this loss in its financial statements.

 

52



 

Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

(a)   The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings are subject to the inherent uncertainties in any litigation. The Company is defending itself vigorously in all such matters and does not believe that the ultimate disposition of such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

(b)   On October 15, 2002, Noble Gas Marketing, Inc., Samedan Oil Corporation and Aspect Resources L.L.C., collectively referred to as the “Noble Defendants,” filed proofs of claim in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in response to bankruptcy filings by Enron Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates, including Enron North America Corporation (“ENA”), under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The proofs of claim relate to certain natural gas sales agreements and aggregate approximately $18 million.

 

On December 13, 2002, ENA filed a complaint in which it objected to the Noble Defendants’ proofs of claim, sought recovery of approximately $60 million from the Noble Defendants under the natural gas sales agreements, sought declaratory relief in respect of the offset rights of the Noble Defendants and sought to invalidate the arbitration provisions contained in certain of the agreements in issue. The Noble Defendants intend to vigorously defend against ENA’s claims and do not believe that the ultimate disposition of the bankruptcy proceeding will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. See also Note 14 - “Subsequent Events”.

 

Note 12 - Geographical Data

 

The Company has operations throughout the world and manages its operations by country. The following information is grouped into five components that are all primarily in the business of natural gas and crude oil exploration and production: United States, North Sea, Israel, Equatorial Guinea, and Other International, Corporate and Marketing. Other International includes operations in Argentina, China, Ecuador and Vietnam.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2002

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

United States

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Other Int’l,
Corporate &
Marketing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil Sales

 

$

298,000

 

$

152,575

 

$

72,041

 

$

 

 

$

45,830

 

$

27,554

 

Gas Sales

 

402,602

 

382,946

 

19,497

 

 

 

3,052

 

(2,893

)

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

714,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

714,091

 

Electricity Sales

 

18,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,257

 

Income from Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

9,532

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,532

 

 

 

Other

 

1,246

 

100

 

389

 

(8

)

 

 

765

 

Total Revenues

 

1,443,728

 

535,621

 

91,927

 

(8

)

58,414

 

757,774

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Gas Operations

 

133,826

 

110,849

 

10,812

 

 

 

9,848

 

2,317

 

Transportation

 

16,441

 

 

 

9,618

 

 

 

 

 

6,823

 

Oil and Gas Exploration

 

150,701

 

120,695

 

5,210

 

2,625

 

1,341

 

20,830

 

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

703,556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

703,556

 

Electricity Generation

 

15,946

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,946

 

DD&A

 

285,286

 

241,113

 

28,279

 

31

 

5,849

 

10,014

 

SG&A

 

47,664

 

27,768

 

630

 

10

 

2,045

 

17,211

 

Interest Expense (net)

 

47,709

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47,709

 

Total Costs and Expenses

 

1,401,129

 

500,425

 

54,549

 

2,666

 

19,083

 

824,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

$

42,599

 

$

35,196

 

$

37,378

 

$

(2,674

)

$

39,331

 

$

(66,632

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS (PRIMARILY PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET)

As of December 31, 2002

 

$

2,139,784

 

$

1,225,501

 

$

89,316

 

$

180,267

 

$

154,231

 

$

490,469

 

 

53



 

Year Ended December 31, 2001
(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

United States

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Other Int’l,
Corporate &
Marketing

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil Sales

 

$

260,908

 

$

155,289

 

$

39,972

 

$

 

 

$

38,841

 

$

26,806

 

Gas Sales

 

610,904

 

587,483

 

22,850

 

 

 

2,201

 

(1,630

)

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

721,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

721,000

 

Electricity Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

6,981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,981

 

 

 

Other

 

953

 

(267

)

1,299

 

 

 

183

 

(262

)

Total Revenues

 

1,600,746

 

742,505

 

64,121

 

 

 

48,206

 

745,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Gas Operations

 

133,549

 

116,842

 

6,075

 

 

 

6,775

 

3,857

 

Transportation

 

16,012

 

 

 

8,772

 

 

 

 

 

7,240

 

Oil and Gas Exploration

 

152,096

 

100,492

 

34,950

 

380

 

39

 

16,235

 

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

708,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

708,292

 

Electricity Generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

284,016

 

253,232

 

16,537

 

23

 

3,889

 

10,335

 

SG&A

 

44,164

 

26,554

 

2,699

 

3

 

917

 

13,991

 

Interest Expense (net)

 

38,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,007

 

Total Costs and Expenses

 

1,376,136

 

497,120

 

69,033

 

406

 

11,620

 

797,957

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

$

224,610

 

$

245,385

 

$

(4,912

)

$

(406

)

$

36,586

 

$

(52,043

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS (PRIMARILY PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET)

As of December 31, 2001

 

$

1,953,211

 

$

1,308,504

 

$

103,781

 

$

101,407

 

$

87,461

 

$

352,058

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2000
(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

United States

 

North Sea

 

Israel

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Other Int’l,
Corporate &
Marketing

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil Sales

 

$

235,658

 

$

165,299

 

$

16,964

 

$

 

 

$

25,501

 

$

27,894

 

Gas Sales

 

564,936

 

539,868

 

24,392

 

 

 

235

 

441

 

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

589,933

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

589,933

 

Electricity Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

13,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,544

 

 

 

Other

 

7,441

 

1,144

 

273

 

 

 

 

 

6,024

 

Total Revenues

 

1,411,512

 

706,311

 

41,629

 

 

 

39,280

 

624,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Gas Operations

 

121,866

 

107,431

 

5,256

 

 

 

4,325

 

4,854

 

Transportation

 

9,241

 

 

 

6,072

 

 

 

 

 

3,169

 

Oil and Gas Exploration

 

84,868

 

80,367

 

1,396

 

581

 

62

 

2,462

 

Gathering, Marketing and Processing

 

574,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

574,266

 

Electricity Generation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DD&A

 

230,800

 

207,690

 

12,297

 

 

 

1,361

 

9,452

 

SG&A

 

47,291

 

36,781

 

2,049

 

 

 

1,107

 

7,354

 

Interest Expense (net)

 

43,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43,697

 

Total Costs and Expenses

 

1,112,029

 

432,269

 

27,070

 

581

 

6,855

 

645,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES

 

$

299,483

 

$

274,042

 

$

14,559

 

$

(581

)

$

32,425

 

$

(20,962

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS (PRIMARILY PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET)

As of December 31, 2000

 

$

1,485,123

 

$

1,047,750

 

$

90,231

 

$

69,726

 

$

76,898

 

$

200,518

 

 

54



 

Note 13 - Company Stock Repurchase Forward Program

 

The Company’s Board of Directors, in February 2000, authorized a repurchase of up to $50 million in the Company’s common stock. In the first quarter of 2000, the Company repurchased approximately $30 million of common stock. The 2000 repurchase of 1,386,400 shares at an average cost of $21.84 per share was funded from the Company’s current cash flow. On September 17, 2001 the Company’s Board of Directors approved an expansion of the original repurchase program from $50 million to $100 million. During the fourth quarter of 2001, in conjunction with the expanded repurchase program, the Board approved a stock repurchase forward program. Under the stock repurchase forward program, one of the Company’s banks purchased approximately $35 million of the Company’s stock or 1,044,454 shares on the open market during the first quarter of 2002.

 

The program was scheduled to mature in January 2003 but has been extended to January 2004. Under the provisions of the agreement with the bank, the Company could choose to either purchase the shares from the bank, issue additional shares to the bank to the extent that the share price has decreased, pay the bank a net amount of cash to the extent that the share price has decreased, or receive from the bank a net amount of cash to the extent that the share price has increased. The bank has the right to terminate the agreement prior to the maturity date if the Company’s share price decreases by 50 percent (to $16.77 per share) or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded below BBB- (S&P) or Baa3 (Moody’s). If either event occurs and the bank exercises its right to terminate, the Company still retains the right to settle in cash or additional shares. The agreement limits the number of shares to be issued by the Company to 14,000,000 additional shares. Amounts paid or received related to the change in share price will be an addition or reduction to the Company’s capital in excess of par value. As of December 31, 2002, the fair value of the Company’s obligation under the contract would be an obligation to pay approximately $36.1 million to the bank (and hold the shares as treasury stock), or the bank would return 81,946 shares of Company stock to the Company, or the bank would pay $3.1 million to the Company.

 

In June 2003, the Company and the bank amended the agreement to delete the provisions that allowed the Company to net settle the contract, and in December 2003, the Company paid the obligation in full. See also Note 14 – “Subsequent Events”.

 

Note 14 – Subsequent Events

 

ACCOUNTING FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL RIGHTS: During 2003 a reporting issue arose regarding the application of certain provisions of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” to companies in the extractive industries, including oil and gas companies. The issue is whether SFAS No. 142 requires registrants to classify the costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as intangible assets in the balance sheet, apart from other capitalized oil and gas property costs, and provide specific footnote disclosures. Historically, the Company has included the costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as a component of oil and gas properties. If it is ultimately determined that SFAS No. 142 requires oil and gas companies to classify costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as a separate intangible assets line item on the balance sheet, excluding amortization, the Company would be required to reclassify certain amounts out of oil and gas properties and into a separate intangible assets line item. The Company has not yet determined fully the impact of this change; however, it is expected to significantly impact the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s cash flows and results of operations would not be affected since such intangible assets would continue to be depleted and assessed for impairment in accordance with successful efforts accounting rules. Further, the Company does not believe the classification of the costs of mineral rights associated with extracting oil and gas as intangible assets would have any impact on compliance with covenants under the Company’s debt agreements.

 

2003 PROPERTY SALES: During 2003, the Company identified five property packages for disposition. Bids have now been received on all five packages. Year-to-date, property sales have closed on four of the five packages, with the remaining property package expected to close during the first quarter of 2004. Total pretax proceeds on all five packages, before closing adjustments, are expected to be in excess of $110 million.

 

55



 

During the third quarter 2003, closed property sales resulted in a pretax gain of $9.9 million. Also during the third quarter 2003, certain properties in two packages were classified as held for sale, written down by $18.3 million to fair value, pretax, and reported in discontinued operations.

 

Subsequent to September 30, 2003, the remaining asset package met the criteria to be classified as held for sale. During the fourth quarter 2003, Noble Energy has closed sales on properties located in California, Oklahoma and Wyoming. A package of Gulf of Mexico properties is expected to close during the first quarter 2004. The transfer of the remaining property package to discontinued operations and the timing of completed sales will result in an expected non-cash, pretax write-down to fair value and realized loss of approximately $40 million ($26 million after tax) (unaudited). The total non-cash charge will appear in discontinued operations for the fourth quarter 2003.

 

CREDIT FACILITY: The Company entered into a new 364-day credit facility in the amount of $300 million effective November 3, 2003 that replaced the $200 million credit facility that would have expired November 26, 2003. The interest rate on the new credit facility is LIBOR plus a range of 62.5 to 150 basis points, depending upon the percentage of utilization.

 

ADOPTION OF SFAS NO. 150: During the second quarter of 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity.” As a result, the Company recorded an additional 1.04 million shares of treasury stock at a cost of $36.6 million and an obligation of $36.6 million. During 2003 the Company paid the obligation of $36.6 million in full.

 

DIVIDEND PAYMENT: On October 28, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of five cents per common share payable November 24, 2003 to the shareholders of record on November 10, 2003. This payment represents an increase of one cent per share, or 25 percent, over the Company’s previous quarterly payment of four cents per share.

 

LEGAL UPDATE: On January 13, 2003, the Noble Defendants each filed an answer to ENA’s complaint. On January 29, 2003, the Noble Defendants filed the Motion of Noble Energy Marketing, Inc., as Successor to Noble Gas Marketing, Inc., Aspect Resources L.L.C., and Noble Energy, Inc., as Successor to Samedan Oil Corporation, to Compel Arbitration. On March 4, 2003, the Court issued its Order Governing Mediation of Trading Cases and Appointing the Honorable Allan L. Gropper as Mediator (the “Mediation Order”) which, among other things, abated this case and referred it to mediation along with other pending adversary proceedings in the Enron bankruptcy cases which involve disputes arising from or in connection with commodity trading contracts. Pursuant to the Mediation Order, the Honorable Allan L. Gropper (United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York) is acting as mediator for this case and the other trading cases which have been referred to him. The mediation for this case was held on December 17, 2003 and no resolution was reached.

 

56



 

Supplemental Oil and Gas Information

(Unaudited)

 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves. Crude oil and natural gas reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be precisely measured, and estimates of engineers other than Noble Energy’s might differ materially from the estimates set forth herein. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. The procedures and methods used to estimate approximately 80 percent of the Company’s proved reserves have been audited by a third party. This audit of procedures and methods included all of the Company’s major international properties, whose reserves were also estimated by third parties. Results of drilling, testing and production subsequent to the date of the estimate may justify revision of such estimate. Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. China, Ecuador and Equatorial Guinea are subject to production sharing contracts.

 

Proved Gas Reserves (Unaudited)

 

The following reserve schedule was developed by the Company’s reserve engineers and sets forth the changes in estimated quantities of proved gas reserves of the Company during each of the three years presented.

 

 

 

Natural Gas and Casinghead Gas (MMcf)

 

 

 

United
States

 

Argentina

 

Ecuador

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Israel

 

North
Sea

 

Total

 

Proved reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2002

 

751,283

 

4,348

 

87,500

 

438,214

 

378,001

 

20,661

 

1,680,007

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(37,566

)

(37

)

281

 

(245

)

 

 

18

 

(37,549

)

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

42,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72,306

 

 

 

115,112

 

Production

 

(119,664

)

(424

)

(2,788

)

(12,549

)

 

 

(6,201

)

(141,626

)

Sale of minerals in place

 

(20,290

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20,290

)

Purchase of minerals in place

 

5,147

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,147

 

December 31, 2002

 

621,716

 

3,887

 

84,993

 

425,420

 

450,307

 

14,478

 

1,600,801

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2001

 

752,387

 

4,544

 

87,500

 

383,292

 

218,154

 

28,752

 

1,474,629

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(46,886

)

36

 

 

 

(2,550

)

159,847

 

(1,583

)

108,864

 

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

129,172

 

371

 

 

 

66,410

 

 

 

 

 

195,953

 

Production

 

(134,507

)

(603

)

 

 

(8,938

)

 

 

(6,508

)

(150,556

)

Sale of minerals in place

 

(246

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(246

)

Purchase of minerals in place

 

51,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51,363

 

December 31, 2001

 

751,283

 

4,348

 

87,500

 

438,214

 

378,001

 

20,661

 

1,680,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2000

 

759,781

 

5,221

 

87,500

 

384,102

 

 

 

26,452

 

1,263,056

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(7,022

)

44

 

 

 

131

 

 

 

7,864

 

1,017

 

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

135,844

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

218,154

 

3,101

 

357,099

 

Production

 

(136,010

)

(721

)

 

 

(941

)

 

 

(8,665

)

(146,337

)

Sale of minerals in place

 

(4,840

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,840

)

Purchase of minerals in place

 

4,634

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,634

 

December 31, 2000

 

752,387

 

4,544

 

87,500

 

383,292

 

218,154

 

28,752

 

1,474,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved developed gas reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2003

 

576,378

 

3,664

 

34,436

 

425,419

 

 

 

14,478

 

1,054,375

 

January 1, 2002

 

721,926

 

3,996

 

 

 

438,213

 

 

 

20,662

 

1,184,797

 

January 1, 2001

 

690,301

 

4,544

 

 

 

383,292

 

 

 

25,652

 

1,103,789

 

January 1, 2000

 

703,166

 

5,221

 

 

 

11,687

 

 

 

26,452

 

746,526

 

 

57



 

Proved Oil Reserves (Unaudited)

 

The following reserve schedule was developed by the Company’s reserve engineers and sets forth the changes in estimated quantities of proved oil reserves of the Company during each of the three years presented.

 

 

 

Crude Oil and Condensate (Bbls in thousands)

 

 

 

United
States

 

Argentina

 

China

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

North
Sea

 

Total

 

Proved reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2002

 

71,672

 

10,277

 

9,768

 

79,790

 

11,114

 

182,621

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(5,331

)

36

 

 

 

(34

)

(27

)

(5,356

)

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

2,929

 

 

 

1,162

 

33,182

 

 

 

37,273

 

Production

 

(6,652

)

(1,030

)

 

 

(1,919

)

(2,864

)

(12,465

)

Sale of minerals in place

 

(732

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(732

)

Purchase of minerals in place

 

137

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

137

 

December 31, 2002

 

62,023

 

9,283

 

10,930

 

111,019

 

8,223

 

201,478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2001

 

69,700

 

9,437

 

9,768

 

47,446

 

12,418

 

148,769

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

324

 

(6

)

 

 

(272

)

407

 

453

 

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

7,453

 

1,846

 

 

 

34,303

 

 

 

43,602

 

Production

 

(7,363

)

(1,000

)

 

 

(1,687

)

(1,711

)

(11,761

)

Sale of minerals in place

 

(37

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37

)

Purchase of minerals in place

 

1,595

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,595

 

December 31, 2001

 

71,672

 

10,277

 

9,768

 

79,790

 

11,114

 

182,621

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2000

 

65,523

 

10,285

 

9,768

 

30,684

 

5,786

 

122,046

 

Revisions of previous estimates

 

(1,493

)

68

 

 

 

185

 

(366

)

(1,606

)

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

 

12,788

 

 

 

 

 

17,491

 

5,731

 

36,010

 

Production

 

(7,309

)

(916

)

 

 

(914

)

(654

)

(9,793

)

Sale of minerals in place

 

(935

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(229

)

(1,164

)

Purchase of minerals in place

 

1,126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,150

 

3,276

 

December 31, 2000

 

69,700

 

9,437

 

9,768

 

47,446

 

12,418

 

148,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved developed oil reserves as of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2003

 

52,847

 

8,331

 

10,930

 

78,746

 

8,223

 

159,077

 

January 1, 2002

 

64,534

 

8,866

 

9,768

 

61,897

 

11,114

 

156,179

 

January 1, 2001

 

58,903

 

9,437

 

9,768

 

47,446

 

5,728

 

131,282

 

January 1, 2000

 

60,618

 

10,285

 

9,768

 

14,743

 

3,986

 

99,400

 

 

Proved Reserves. Proved reserves are estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and condensate liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.

 

Proved Developed Reserves. Proved developed reserves are proved reserves that are expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.

 

58



 

Oil and Gas Operations (Unaudited)

 

Aggregate results of operations for each period ended December 31, in connection with the Company’s crude oil and natural gas producing activities, are shown below.

 

(in thousands)

 

United
States

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Israel

 

North
Sea

 

Other
Int’l

 

Total

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

535,697

 

$

45,830

 

$

 

 

$

91,538

 

$

27,537

 

$

700,602

 

Production costs

 

142,578

 

8,840

 

10

 

21,061

 

13,093

 

185,582

 

Exploration expenses

 

102,323

 

1,341

 

1,725

 

5,032

 

20,733

 

131,154

 

DD&A and valuation provision

 

258,310

 

5,835

 

909

 

28,350

 

9,606

 

303,010

 

Income (loss)

 

32,486

 

29,814

 

(2,644

)

37,095

 

(15,895

)

80,856

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

11,705

 

13,825

 

 

 

17,346

 

666

 

43,542

 

Result of operations from producing activities (excluding corporate overhead and interest costs)

 

$

20,781

 

$

15,989

 

$

(2,644

)

$

19,749

 

$

(16,561

)

$

37,314

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

742,909

 

$

38,841

 

$

 

 

$

54,051

 

$

19,999

 

$

855,800

 

Production costs

 

146,254

 

5,381

 

3

 

8,774

 

7,675

 

168,087

 

Exploration expenses

 

86,619

 

39

 

5

 

33,224

 

17,021

 

136,908

 

DD&A and valuation provision

 

266,805

 

3,830

 

382

 

18,171

 

8,679

 

297,867

 

Income (loss)

 

243,231

 

29,591

 

(390

)

(6,118

)

(13,376

)

252,938

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

85,498

 

14,429

 

 

 

(2,721

)

(700

)

96,506

 

Result of operations from producing activities (excluding corporate overhead and interest costs)

 

$

157,733

 

$

15,162

 

$

(390

)

$

(3,397

)

$

(12,676

)

$

156,432

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

705,270

 

$

25,501

 

$

 

 

$

35,284

 

$

25,298

 

$

791,353

 

Production costs

 

129,359

 

5,010

 

 

 

5,962

 

6,952

 

147,283

 

Exploration expenses

 

78,955

 

121

 

581

 

2,739

 

2,169

 

84,565

 

DD&A and valuation provision

 

222,161

 

1,355

 

 

 

12,231

 

8,292

 

244,039

 

Income (loss)

 

274,795

 

19,015

 

(581

)

14,352

 

7,885

 

315,466

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

96,675

 

8,978

 

 

 

4,316

 

5,033

 

115,002

 

Result of operations from producing activities (excluding corporate overhead and interest costs)

 

$

178,120

 

$

10,037

 

$

(581

)

$

10,036

 

$

2,852

 

$

200,464

 

 

59



 

Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Activities (Unaudited)

 

Costs incurred in connection with the Company’s crude oil and natural gas acquisition, exploration and development activities for each of the years are shown below.

 

(in thousands)

 

United
States

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Israel

 

North
Sea

 

Other
Int’l

 

Total

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved

 

$

7,873

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

115

 

$

 

 

$

7,988

 

Unproved

 

28,023

 

 

 

 

 

(238

)

2,730

 

30,515

 

Total

 

$

35,896

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(123

)

$

2,730

 

$

38,503

 

Exploration costs

 

$

153,437

 

$

1,351

 

$

1,725

 

$

5,062

 

$

20,935

 

$

182,510

 

Development costs

 

$

131,244

 

$

51,839

 

$

14,767

 

$

9,892

 

$

60,934

 

$

268,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved

 

$

91,251

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

6,318

 

$

 

 

$

97,569

 

Unproved

 

76,808

 

 

 

 

 

2,167

 

2,310

 

81,285

 

Total

 

$

168,059

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

8,485

 

$

2,310

 

$

178,854

 

Exploration costs

 

$

134,247

 

$

4,003

 

$

131

 

$

34,766

 

$

19,233

 

$

192,380

 

Development costs

 

$

279,297

 

$

10,364

 

$

11,163

 

$

17,338

 

$

75,910

 

$

394,072

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved

 

$

6,822

 

$

 

 

$

50,861

 

$

41,284

 

$

 

 

$

98,967

 

Unproved

 

12,559

 

 

 

1,927

 

2,218

 

858

 

17,562

 

Total

 

$

19,381

 

$

 

 

$

52,788

 

$

43,502

 

$

858

 

$

116,529

 

Exploration costs

 

$

115,728

 

$

62

 

$

11,387

 

$

1,396

 

$

2,135

 

$

130,708

 

Development costs

 

$

180,339

 

$

36,820

 

$

1,502

 

$

2,219

 

$

44,648

 

$

265,528

 

 

Aggregate Capitalized Costs (Unaudited)

 

Aggregate capitalized costs relating to the Company’s crude oil and natural gas producing activities, and related accumulated DD&A, as of December 31 are shown below:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

(in thousands)

 

U. S.

 

Int’l

 

Total

 

U. S.

 

Int’l

 

Total

 

Unproved oil and gas properties

 

$

138,319

 

$

16,532

 

$

154,851

 

$

142,232

 

$

14,041

 

$

156,273

 

Proved oil and gas properties

 

3,053,256

 

1,069,914

 

4,123,170

 

3,007,757

 

757,885

 

3,765,642

 

 

 

3,191,575

 

1,086,446

 

4,278,021

 

3,149,989

 

771,926

 

3,921,915

 

Accumulated DD&A

 

(1,972,282

)

(189,540

)

(2,161,822

)

(1,855,352

)

(138,425

)

(1,993,777

)

Net capitalized costs

 

$

1,219,293

 

$

896,906

 

$

2,116,199

 

$

1,294,637

 

$

633,501

 

$

1,928,138

 

 

60



 

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves (Unaudited)

 

The following information is based on the Company’s best estimate of the required data for the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows as of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 in accordance with SFAS No. 69. The Standard requires the use of a 10 percent discount rate. This information is not the fair market value nor does it represent the expected present value of future cash flows of the Company’s proved oil and gas reserves.

 

 

 

United
States

 

Ecuador

 

Equatorial
Guinea

 

Israel

 

North
Sea

 

Other
Int’l

 

Total

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions of dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future cash inflows

 

$

4,743

 

$

268

 

$

3,111

 

$

1,181

 

$

294

 

$

648

 

$

10,245

 

Future production and development costs

 

1,506

 

73

 

661

 

301

 

110

 

238

 

2,889

 

Future income tax expenses

 

985

 

33

 

860

 

263

 

68

 

111

 

2,320

 

Future net cash flows

 

2,252

 

162

 

1,590

 

617

 

116

 

299

 

5,036

 

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows

 

877

 

59

 

953

 

301

 

21

 

93

 

2,304

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

 

$

1,375

 

$

103

 

$

637

 

$

316

 

$

95

 

$

206

 

$

2,732

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions of dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future cash inflows

 

$

3,399

 

$

264

 

$

1,576

 

$

900

 

$

281

 

$

317

 

$

6,737

 

Future production and development costs

 

1,618

 

103

 

381

 

150

 

84

 

168

 

2,504

 

Future income tax expenses

 

437

 

26

 

598

 

193

 

49

 

24

 

1,327

 

Future net cash flows

 

1,344

 

135

 

597

 

557

 

148

 

125

 

2,906

 

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows

 

562

 

56

 

406

 

364

 

25

 

65

 

1,478

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

 

$

782

 

$

79

 

$

191

 

$

193

 

$

123

 

$

60

 

$

1,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions of dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future cash inflows

 

$

8,825

 

$

305

 

$

1,125

 

$

524

 

$

379

 

$

462

 

$

11,620

 

Future production and development costs

 

1,759

 

90

 

178

 

92

 

89

 

186

 

2,394

 

Future income tax expenses

 

1,909

 

58

 

256

 

117

 

78

 

74

 

2,492

 

Future net cash flows

 

5,157

 

157

 

691

 

315

 

212

 

202

 

6,734

 

10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows

 

2,037

 

62

 

273

 

124

 

84

 

80

 

2,660

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

 

$

3,120

 

$

95

 

$

418

 

$

191

 

$

128

 

$

122

 

$

4,074

 

 

The future net cash inflows for 2002, 2001 and 2000 do not include cash flows relating to the Company’s anticipated future methanol or power sales.

 

Future cash inflows are computed by applying year-end prices (with a weighted average price of $29.48 per Bbl of crude oil and $3.95 per Mcf of natural gas, after adjusting for differentials on a property-by-property basis) to year-end quantities of proved reserves, except in those instances where fixed and determinable price changes are provided by contractual arrangements at year-end.

 

61



 

The Company estimates that a $1.00 per Bbl change or a $.10 per Mcf change in the average crude oil price or the average natural gas price, respectively, from the year-end price would change the discounted future net cash flows before income taxes by approximately $105 million or $64 million, respectively.

 

Future production and development costs, which include dismantlement and restoration expense, are computed by estimating the expenditures to be incurred in developing and producing the Company’s proved crude oil and natural gas reserves at the end of the year, based on year-end costs, and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions.

 

Future income tax expenses are computed by applying the appropriate year-end statutory tax rates to the estimated future pretax net cash flows relating to the Company’s proved crude oil and natural gas reserves, less the tax bases of the properties involved. The future income tax expenses give effect to tax credits and allowances, but do not reflect the impact of general and administrative costs and exploration expenses of ongoing operations relating to the Company’s proved crude oil and natural gas reserves.

 

At December 31, 2002, the Company estimated natural gas imbalance receivables of $20.1 million and estimated natural gas imbalance liabilities of $15.4 million; at year-end 2001, $20.9 million in receivables and $15.5 million in liabilities; and at year-end 2000, $18.5 million in receivables and $14.2 million in liabilities. Neither the natural gas imbalance receivables nor natural gas imbalance liabilities have been included in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows as of each of the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000.

 

62



 

Sources of Changes in Discounted Future Net Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

Principal changes in the aggregate standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows attributable to the Company’s proved crude oil and natural gas reserves, as required by SFAS No. 69, at year-end are shown below.

 

(in millions)

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows at the beginning of the year

 

$

1,428

 

$

4,074

 

$

1,493

 

Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery, less related costs

 

486

 

448

 

1,462

 

Revisions of previous quantity estimates

 

(158

)

114

 

(20

)

Changes in estimated future development costs

 

(243

)

(128

)

(52

)

Purchases (sales) of minerals in place

 

(13

)

108

 

69

 

Net changes in prices and production costs

 

1,636

 

(3,376

)

2,448

 

Accretion of discount

 

208

 

564

 

185

 

Sales of oil and gas produced, net of production costs

 

(553

)

(713

)

(662

)

Development costs incurred during the period

 

254

 

220

 

172

 

Net change in income taxes

 

(667

)

908

 

(1,207

)

Change in timing of estimated future production, and other

 

354

 

(791

)

186

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows at the end of the year

 

$

2,732

 

$

1,428

 

$

4,074

 

 

63



 

Supplemental Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

 

Supplemental quarterly financial information for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 is as follows:

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

Mar. 31,

 

June 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

Dec. 31,

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

317,650

 

$

330,292

 

$

339,666

 

$

456,120

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(15,098

)

$

17,119

 

$

(1,190

)

$

16,821

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

$

(.26

)

$

.30

 

$

(.02

)

$

.29

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

$

(.26

)

$

.30

 

$

(.02

)

$

.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues (As Restated) (1)

 

$

565,967

 

$

419,609

 

$

311,065

 

$

304,105

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

105,910

 

$

51,334

 

$

3,808

 

$

(27,477

)

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

$

1.88

 

$

.91

 

$

.07

 

$

(.48

)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

$

1.84

 

$

.89

 

$

.07

 

$

(.48

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues (As Restated) (1)

 

$

275,421

 

$

309,354

 

$

365,308

 

$

461,429

 

Net income

 

$

26,880

 

$

36,861

 

$

57,217

 

$

70,639

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

.48

 

$

.66

 

$

1.02

 

$

1.26

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

.47

 

$

.65

 

$

1.01

 

$

1.24

 

 


(1)   See “Note 2 – Restatement - Structured Financing of Methanol Plant”, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

PART III

 

 Item 14.        Controls and Procedures.

 

Based on the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures by Charles D. Davidson, the Company’s principal executive officer, and James L. McElvany, the Company’s principal financial officer, as of the end of the period covered by this report, each of them has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

64



 

PART IV

 

Item 15.         Financial Statement Schedules, Exhibits and Reports on Form 10-K.

 

(a)                The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

 

(1)          Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules and Supplementary Data: These documents are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 hereof.

 

(2)          Exhibits: The exhibits required to be filed by this Item 15 are set forth in the Index to Exhibits accompanying this report.

 

(b)     The Registrant made no filings on Form 8-K during the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: January 16, 2004

 By: /s/ James L. McElvany

 

 

James L. McElvany

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

 

65



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit **

 

 

 

 3.1

Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Registrant as currently in effect (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1987 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 3.2

Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant dated August 27, 1997 (filed Exhibit A of Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 28, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 3.3

Composite copy of Bylaws of the Registrant as currently in effect (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: January 29, 2002) dated February 8, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 3.4

Certificate of Designations of Series B Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant dated November 9, 1999 (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 4.1

Indenture dated as of October 14, 1993 between the Registrant and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as Trustee, relating to the Registrant’s 7 1/4% Notes Due 2023, including form of the Registrant’s 7 1/4% Notes Due 2023 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 4.2

Indenture relating to Senior Debt Securities dated as of April 1, 1997 between the Registrant and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 4.3

First Indenture Supplement relating to $250 million of the Registrant’s 8% Senior Notes Due 2027 dated as of April 1, 1997 between the Registrant and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 4.4

Second Indenture Supplement, between the Company and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A. as trustee, relating to $100 million of the Registrant’s 7 1/4% Senior Debentures Due 2097 dated as of August 1, 1997 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 4.5

Rights Agreement, dated as of August 27, 1997, between the Registrant and Liberty Bank and Trust Company of Oklahoma City, N.A., as Right’s Agent (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 28, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

 4.6

Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated as of December 8, 1998, between the Registrant and Bank One Trust Company, as successor Rights Agent to Liberty Bank and Trust Company of Oklahoma City, N.A. (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A (Amendment No. 1) filed on December 14, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.1*

Restoration of Retirement Income Plan for Certain Participants in the Noble Affiliates Retirement Plan dated September 21, 1994, effective as of May 19, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.2*

Amendment No. 1 to the Restoration of Retirement Income Plan for Certain Participants in the Noble Affiliates Retirement Plan executed March 26, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

66



 

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit **

 

 

 

10.3*

Noble Energy, Inc. Restoration Trust effective August 1, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.4*

Noble Affiliates, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (formerly known as the Noble Affiliates Thrift Restoration Plan dated May 9, 1994) as restated effective August 1, 2001(filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.5*

Noble Affiliates, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, as amended, dated January 27, 2003 (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.6*

1982 Stock Option Plan of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 2-81590) and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.7*

Amendment No. 1 to the 1982 Stock Option Plan of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 2-81590) and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.8*

Amendment No. 2 to the 1982 Stock Option Plan of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.9*

1988 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors of the Registrant, as amended and restated, effective as of April 23, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.10*

Non-Employee Director Fee Deferral Plan dated April 25, 2002 and effective as of April 23, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.11*

Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into between the Registrant and each of the Registrant’s directors and bylaw officers (filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.12

Guaranty of the Registrant dated October 28, 1982, guaranteeing certain obligations of Samedan (filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.13

Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of July 1, 1996, between Samedan Oil Corporation and Enterprise Diversified Holdings Incorporated (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event:  July 31, 1996) dated August 13, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.14

Noble Preferred Stock Remarketing and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 10, 1999 by and among the Registrant, Noble Share Trust, The Chase Manhattan Bank, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation (filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.15*

Letter agreement dated February 1, 2002 between the Registrant and Charles D. Davidson, terminating Mr. Davidson’s employment agreement and entering into the attached Change of Control Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

67



 

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit **

 

 

 

10.16*

Form of Change of Control Agreement entered into between the Registrant and each of the Registrant’s officers, with schedule setting forth differences in Change of Control Agreements (filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.17

Five-year Credit Agreement dated as of November 30, 2001 among the Registrant, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as the administrative agent for the lenders, Societe Generale, as the syndication agent for the lenders, Mizuho Financial Group, Credit Lyonnais, New York Branch, The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, and Deutsche Bank Ag New York Branch, as co-documentation agents, and certain commercial lending institutions, as lenders (filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.18

364-day Credit Agreement dated as of November 30, 2001 among the Registrant, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as the administrative agent for the lenders, Societe Generale, as the syndication agent for the lenders, Mizuho Financial Group, Credit Lyonnais, New York Branch, The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, and Deutsche Bank Ag New York Branch, as co-documentation agents, and certain commercial lending institutions, as lenders (filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.19

364-day Credit Agreement dated as of November 27, 2002 among the Registrant, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as the administrative agent for the lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the syndication agent for the lenders, Societe Generale, Citibank, N.A., Deutsche Bank Ag New York Branch, and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as co-documentation agents, and certain commercial lending institutions, as lenders (filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

21

Subsidiaries (filed as Exhibit 21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

23.1

Consent of KPMG LLP  (filed as Exhibit 23.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

23.2

Consent of KPMG LLP, filed herewith.

 

 

 

31.1

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).

 

 

 

31.2

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 7241).

 

 

 

32.1

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).

 

 

 

32.2

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).

 

 


 

*      Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit hereto.

 

 

 

**   Copies of exhibits will be furnished upon prepayment of 25 cents per page. Requests should be addressed to the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Noble Energy, Inc., 100 Glenborough Drive, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77067.

 

68