Statoil to Complete 50 Exploration Wells in 2013

Norway’s Statoil today announced fourth quarter 2012 net operating income of NOK 45.8 billion. In 2012, net operating income was NOK 206.6 billion.  According to Reuters, the numbers beat market expectations.

“2012 was a year of strong strategic and operational progress for Statoil. We grew our production by 8% in 2012, in line with the target we announced in 2011, and we deliver strong earnings growth. We are well underway to deliver profitably on our ambition of producing more than 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalents per day in 2020,” says Helge Lund, Statoil’s president and CEO.

“Statoil’s strategy remains firm. We continue our strong exploration performance, adding more than 1.5 billion barrels in new resources, and we are maturing our high quality project portfolio, including the Johan Sverdrup and Skrugard fields. We continue to manage our balance sheet and enter 2013 from a robust financial position,” says Lund.

Statoil’s Board of Directors will propose to increase the dividend to NOK 6.75 per share for 2012. This is in line with the company’s dividend policy and an increase from NOK 6.50 in 2011.

50 Wells

Statoil maintains its ambition of producing more than 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalents per day by 2020 and estimates organic capital expenditures for 2013 at around USD 19 billion. The company will complete around 50 exploration wells in 2013 with a total exploration activity level at around USD 3.5 billion.

Terror attack in Algeria

On 16 January 2013, Statoil together with their partners BP and Sonatrach, were hit by a terror attack on the In Amenas gas production facility in Algeria. Five Statoil employees lost their lives in the attack. Twelve employees managed to escape to safety.

“What happened in Algeria is brutal, international terrorism of the worst kind. This affects innocent people from a variety of nations and innocent victims from a number of companies and countries have been subjected to senseless violence. The whole of Statoil is strongly affected by the terror attack. We continue to assist and support the families, friends and colleagues who have lost those dear to them. The safety of our staff and partners will remain our highest priority,” says Lund.

Statoil will conduct an investigation to determine the relevant chain of events before, during and after the In Amenas terror attack in order to enable Statoil to further improve within the areas of security, risk-assessment and emergency preparedness.

Capital Markets Update

Today, Statoil presents the Capital Markets Update, focusing on their position as the leading oil and gas operator in Norway and the second largest gas supplier to Europe.

“On the Norwegian continental shelf, we announce that we are on track to meet our ambition of producing more than 1.4 million barrels of oil equivalents per day in 2020,” says Lund.

“We also announce that Statoil’s gas sales in the European markets were all time high in 2012, at solid prices. We see a strong outlook for the European gas markets and are well positioned to capture value as the markets develop,” says Lund.

Statoil also announces today increased gas volumes for the Block 2 discoveries offshore Tanzania to 7-9 Tcf in total recoverable resources.

Fourth quarter results 2012

Statoil’s net operating income was NOK 45.8 billion compared to NOK 60.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Adjusted earnings were NOK 48.3 billion, compared to NOK 45.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Adjusted earnings after tax were NOK 15.1 billion, up from NOK 14.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income was NOK 13.0 billion compared to NOK 25.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

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February 7, 2013