於2023年2月21日,在南德州聯邦地方法院提起一宗標題為 Steve Silverman,代表APA Corp.提出訴訟與John J. Christmann IV等人 法定代理人並代表提名被告apa corporation對John J. Christmann IV等人提起訴訟,案件於2023年7月21日在南德州聯邦地方法院提出。 Yang-Li-Yu,代表APA Corp.提出法定代理訴訟與John J. Christmann IV等人 提出對公司高級管理層和董事對多項與 In Re APA Corporation 衍生訴訟案件號4:23-cv-00636在南德州聯邦地方法院,宣稱是針對長者管理層和公司董事針對許多與 Plymouth縣養老基金 對責任主張進行辯護,分別為(1)違反信託義務;(2)浪費企業資產;以及(3)不當受益。被告提交了一項針對合併訴訟的駁回動議,2024年9月26日,聯邦法院發布最終裁決,支持被告的動議,並駁回了針對被告的合併主張。
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion relates to APA Corporation (APA or the Company) and its consolidated subsidiaries and should be read together with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included in Part I, Item 1—Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as related information set forth in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Overview
APA is an independent energy company that owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for, develop, and produce natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The Company’s upstream business has oil and gas operations in three geographic areas: the U.S., Egypt, and offshore the U.K. in the North Sea (North Sea). APA also has active exploration and appraisal operations ongoing in Suriname, as well as interests in Uruguay and other international locations that may, over time, result in reportable discoveries and development opportunities. As a holding company, APA Corporation’s primary assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries.
APA believes energy underpins global progress, and the Company wants to be a part of the solution as society works to meet growing global demand for reliable and affordable energy. APA strives to meet those challenges while creating value for all its stakeholders.
Uncertainties in the global supply chain and financial markets, including the impact of ongoing international conflicts, inflation, and actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations, including OPEC+, impact oil supply and demand and contribute to commodity price volatility. Despite these uncertainties, the Company remains committed to its longer-term objectives: (1) to invest for long-term returns in pursuit of moderate, sustainable production growth; (2) to strengthen the balance sheet to underpin the generation of cash flow in excess of its upstream exploration, appraisal, and development capital program that can be directed to debt reduction, share repurchases, and other return of capital to its shareholders; and (3) to responsibly manage its cost structure regardless of the oil price environment.
The Company closely monitors hydrocarbon pricing fundamentals to reallocate capital as part of its ongoing planning process. APA’s diversified asset portfolio and operational flexibility provide the Company the ability to timely respond to near-term price volatility and effectively manage its investment programs accordingly. For additional detail on the Company’s forward capital investment outlook, refer to “Capital Resources and Liquidity” below.
The Company remains committed to its capital return framework for equity holders to participate more directly and materially in cash returns.
•The Company believes returning 60 percent of cash flow over capital investment creates a good balance for providing near-term cash returns to shareholders while still recognizing the importance of longer-term balance sheet strengthening.
•The Company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share on its common stock.
•Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021 and through the end of the third quarter of 2024, the Company has repurchased 80.7 million shares of the Company’s common stock.
Financial and Operational Highlights
On April 1, 2024, APA completed its acquisition of Callon Petroleum Company (Callon) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $4.5 billion, inclusive of Callon’s debt (the Callon acquisition). The acquired assets include approximately 120,000 net acres in the Delaware Basin and 25,000 net acres in the Midland Basin. The Company believes the acquisition of Callon provides opportunities to reduce costs, improve capital efficiencies, leverage economies of scale, and expand the development inventory that formed the basis of the transaction value.
Subject to the terms of the merger agreement (Merger Agreement), each share of Callon common stock was converted into the right to receive 1.0425 shares of APA common stock, with cash in lieu of fractional shares. As a result, APA issued approximately 70 million shares of APA common stock in connection with the transaction, and following the acquisition, Callon common stock is no longer listed for trading on the NYSE.
30
On September 10, 2024, APA announced it entered into an agreement to sell non-core producing properties in the Permian Basin to an undisclosed buyer for $950 million, prior to customary closing adjustments. The properties are located in the Central Basin Platform, Texas and New Mexico Shelf, and Northwest Shelf and currently represent estimated net production of 21,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, of which approximately 57 percent is oil. Proceeds from this sale are expected to be used primarily to reduce debt. The effective date of the transaction is July 1, 2024, and the transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2024.
In the third quarter of 2024, the Company reported a net loss attributable to common stock of $223 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to net income of $459 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023. The decrease in net income in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023 was primarily driven by $1.1 billion of impairments, which included $793 million of oil and gas property impairments in the North Sea, a $315 million impairment of assets held for sale in the Permian Basin, and $3 million inventory impairments in the North Sea. These impacts to net loss were partially offset by lower income tax expense compared to the same prior-year period.
In the first nine months of 2024, the Company reported net income attributable to common stock of $450 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.1 billion, or $3.50 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2023. The decrease in net income in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023 was primarily driven by $1.1 billion of impairments recorded during the third quarter of 2024 and the related tax impacts. Net income was further impacted by higher depreciation expense, transaction and reorganization costs, and lease operating expenses, primarily a result of the Callon acquisition. These impacts to net income were partially offset by higher revenues as a result of increased drilling activity in the Permian Basin, production from the acquired Callon properties, gain from divestitures of non-core assets, and lower income tax expense compared to the same prior-year period.
The Company generated $2.6 billion of cash from operating activities during the first nine months of 2024, 23 percent higher than the first nine months of 2023. APA’s higher operating cash flows for the first nine months of 2024 were primarily driven by higher revenues as a result of increased drilling activity in the Permian Basin, production from the acquired Callon properties, and timing of working capital items. The Company repurchased 4.6 million shares of its common stock for $146 million and paid $260 million in dividends to APA common stockholders during the first nine months of 2024.
Key operational highlights include:
United States
•Daily boe production from the Company’s U.S. assets accounted for 64 percent of its total production during the third quarter of 2024 and increased 33 percent from the third quarter of 2023. Daily oil production from the Company’s U.S. assets increased 71 percent from the third quarter of 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company averaged nine drilling rigs in the Permian Basin, including five rigs in the Southern Midland Basin and four rigs in the Delaware Basin. The Company brought online 48 operated wells during the quarter, of which 21 wells were associated with the Callon assets. The Company’s core Permian Basin development program continues to represent key growth areas for the U.S. assets. The Company expects to average 8 drilling rigs in the Permian Basin for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025.
International
•In Egypt, the Company continued its drilling and workover activity with a focus on oil production. The Company averaged 12 drilling rigs and drilled 15 new productive wells during the third quarter of 2024. During the same period, the Company averaged 20 workover rigs as it continues to align its drilling and workover activity with a goal of driving improved capital efficiency. Third quarter 2024 gross production from the Company’s Egypt assets decreased 5 percent from the third quarter of 2023, and net production increased 2 percent.
•Subsequent to September 30, 2024, but prior to the date of this filing, the Company entered into a new pricing agreement for incremental gas volumes produced in Egypt, making gas exploration and development more economically competitive with oil development.
•The Company suspended all new drilling activity in the North Sea during the second quarter of 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company continued its economic assessment of its North Sea assets in light of several new regulatory guidelines and obligations surrounding significant tax levies and modernization of aging infrastructure. The Company determined the expected returns do not economically support making investments required under the combined impact of the regulations, and it will cease production at its facilities in the North Sea prior to 2030. The Company’s investment program in the North Sea is now directed toward asset safety and integrity.
31
•In October 2024, the Company announced that its subsidiary reached a positive final investment decision for the first oil development, named GranMorgu, in Block 58 offshore Suriname. This development will include production from the Krabdagu and Sapakara oil discoveries. These fields, located in water depths between 100 and 1,000 meters, will be produced through a system of subsea wells connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit located 150 km off the Suriname coast, with an oil production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day. The GranMorgu FPSO unit is designed to accommodate future tie-back opportunities that would extend its 4-year production plateau and will feature technology that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions. Total investment is estimated at $10.5 billion, with APA’s share of the investment subject to the existing agreement with TotalEnergies to carry a portion of Apache’s appraisal and development capital. First oil is anticipated in 2028.
32
Results of Operations
Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Production Revenues
Revenue
The Company’s production revenues and respective contribution to total revenues by country were as follows:
For the Quarter Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
$ Value
% Contribution
$ Value
% Contribution
$ Value
% Contribution
$ Value
% Contribution
($ in millions)
Oil Revenues:
United States
$
1,007
56
%
$
633
37
%
$
2,616
51
%
$
1,631
37
%
Egypt(1)
673
37
%
724
43
%
2,003
39
%
1,971
44
%
North Sea
117
7
%
348
20
%
517
10
%
865
19
%
Total(1)
$
1,797
100
%
$
1,705
100
%
$
5,136
100
%
$
4,467
100
%
Natural Gas Revenues:
United States
$
7
7
%
$
89
38
%
$
79
19
%
$
229
35
%
Egypt(1)
81
79
%
81
34
%
231
56
%
264
40
%
North Sea
15
14
%
66
28
%
104
25
%
165
25
%
Total(1)
$
103
100
%
$
236
100
%
$
414
100
%
$
658
100
%
NGL Revenues:
United States
$
153
97
%
$
133
96
%
$
436
95
%
$
356
95
%
North Sea
5
3
%
5
4
%
21
5
%
19
5
%
Total(1)
$
158
100
%
$
138
100
%
$
457
100
%
$
375
100
%
Oil and Gas Revenues:
United States
$
1,167
56
%
$
855
41
%
$
3,131
52
%
$
2,216
40
%
Egypt(1)
754
37
%
805
39
%
2,234
37
%
2,235
41
%
North Sea
137
7
%
419
20
%
642
11
%
1,049
19
%
Total(1)
$
2,058
100
%
$
2,079
100
%
$
6,007
100
%
$
5,500
100
%
(1) Includes revenues attributable to a noncontrolling interest in Egypt.
33
Production
The Company’s production volumes by country were as follows:
For the Quarter Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024
Increase (Decrease)
2023
2024
Increase (Decrease)
2023
Oil Volume (b/d)
United States
143,299
71%
83,584
122,138
58%
77,198
Egypt(1)(2)
91,673
4%
88,521
88,725
1%
88,038
North Sea
21,334
(40)%
35,680
25,888
(28)%
36,070
Total
256,306
23%
207,785
236,751
18%
201,306
Natural Gas Volume (Mcf/d)
United States
467,615
3%
454,643
473,997
6%
448,838
Egypt(1)(2)
300,418
0%
300,326
287,953
(13)%
331,158
North Sea
18,911
(71)%
65,168
41,042
(14)%
47,665
Total
786,944
(4)%
820,137
802,992
(3)%
827,661
NGL Volume (b/d)
United States
79,474
20%
66,280
71,690
17%
61,418
North Sea
543
(64)%
1,497
1,164
(4)%
1,209
Total
80,017
18%
67,777
72,854
16%
62,627
BOE per day(3)
United States
300,709
33%
225,639
272,827
28%
213,423
Egypt(1)(2)
141,742
2%
138,575
136,718
(5)%
143,231
North Sea(4)
25,029
(48)%
48,038
33,892
(25)%
45,222
Total
467,480
13%
412,252
443,437
10%
401,876
(1) Gross oil, natural gas, and NGL production in Egypt were as follows:
For the Quarter Ended September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Oil (b/d)
136,670
144,528
138,039
141,995
Natural Gas (Mcf/d)
447,173
472,744
445,397
511,430
(2) Includes net production volumes per day attributable to a noncontrolling interest in Egypt of:
For the Quarter Ended September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Oil (b/d)
30,579
29,514
29,596
29,369
Natural Gas (Mcf/d)
100,210
100,122
96,054
110,476
(3) The table shows production on a boe basis in which natural gas is converted to an equivalent barrel of oil based on a 6:1 energy equivalent ratio. This ratio is not reflective of the price ratio between the two products.
(4) Average sales volumes from the North Sea for the third quarters of 2024 and 2023 were 19,374 boe/d and 55,283 boe/d, respectively, and 30,607 boe/d and 47,370 boe/d for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Sales volumes may vary from production volumes as a result of the timing of liftings.
34
Pricing
The Company’s average selling prices by country were as follows:
LOE increased $24 million and $140 million compared to the third quarter and the first nine months of 2023, respectively. On a per-unit basis, LOE decreased 4 percent and increased 3 percent in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024, respectively, when compared to the third quarter and the first nine months of 2023. The absolute dollar increase in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024 compared to same prior year periods was driven by higher operating and labor costs coupled with higher workover activity, primarily from the Callon acquisition.
Gathering, Processing, and Transmission (GPT)
The Company’s GPT expenses were as follows:
For the Quarter Ended
September 30,
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
(In millions)
Third-party processing and transmission costs
$
123
$
63
$
305
$
164
Midstream service costs – Kinetik
—
26
23
81
Total Gathering, processing, and transmission
$
123
$
89
$
328
$
245
GPT costs increased $34 million and $83 million in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024, respectively, when compared to the third quarter and the first nine months of 2023, primarily driven by an increase in natural gas and NGL production volumes in the U.S. when compared to the prior-year periods.
Purchased Oil and Gas Costs
Purchased oil and gas costs increased $81 million and $107 million in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024, respectively, when compared to the third quarter and the first nine months of 2023. The increase in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024 compared to same prior-year periods was primarily driven by oil purchases from activity associated with the Callon acquisition. With widening margins under third-party gas agreements, purchased oil and gas costs were more than offset by associated sales to fulfill oil and natural gas takeaway obligations and delivery commitments totaling $473 million and $1.0 billion in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2024, respectively, as discussed above.
Proceeds from Asset Divestitures The Company received $724 million and $29 million in proceeds from the divestiture of certain non-core assets during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. For more information regarding the Company’s acquisitions and divestitures, refer to Note 2—Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Proceeds from Sale of Kinetik Shares The Company received $428 million of cash proceeds from the sale of its remaining shares of Kinetik Class A Common Stock in March 2024. For more information regarding the Company’s equity method interests, refer to Note 6—Equity Method Interests in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Uses of Cash and Cash Equivalents
Additions to Upstream Oil & Gas Property Exploration and development cash expenditures were $2.2 billion and $1.7 billion during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in capital investment compared to the prior-year period is reflective of the Company’s acquisition of Callon, which increased the number of drilling rigs being operated in the Permian Basin, partially offset by the Company’s efforts to balance workover activity in Egypt and reduce drilling activity in the North Sea as it continually assesses inventory opportunities across its diverse portfolio. The Company operated an average of approximately 23 drilling rigs during the first nine months of 2024, compared to an average of approximately 24 drilling rigs during the first nine months of 2023.
Leasehold and Property Acquisitions During the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, in addition to the Callon acquisition, the Company completed other leasehold and property acquisitions, primarily in the Permian Basin, for total cash consideration of $64 million and $11 million, respectively.
Payments on Callon Credit Agreement During the first nine months of 2024, the Company financed Callon’s repayment in full of the $472 million outstanding under the Callon Credit Agreement upon the Callon acquisition.
Payments on Term Loan Facility During the first nine months of 2024, the Company made a payment of $500 millionon its syndicated credit agreement. For additional details of the credit agreement, see “Term Loan Credit Agreement” in the Liquidity section below. As of September 30, 2024, $1.0 billion remained outstanding under the term loan facility governed by the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
Payments on Fixed-Rate Debt During the first nine months of 2024, the Company financed Callon’s repayment pursuant to Callon’s cash tender offers for, and redemptions of all senior notes issued under Callon’s indentures for an aggregate cash payment amount of $1.6 billion, reflecting principal amounts, premium to par, and associated fees.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, Apache purchased in the open market and canceled senior notes issued under its indentures in an aggregate principal amount of $74 million for an aggregate purchase price of $65 million in cash. The Company recognized a $9 million gain on these repurchases.
The Company expects that Apache will continue to reduce debt outstanding under its indentures from time to time.
Dividends Paid to APA Common Stockholders The Company paid $260 million and $232 million during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, for dividends on its common stock.
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (Sinopec) holds a one-third minority participation interest in the Company’s oil and gas operations in Egypt. The Company paid $233 million and $154 million during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, in cash distributions to Sinopec.
Treasury Stock Activity, net In the first nine months of 2024, the Company repurchased 4.6 million shares at an average price of $31.72 per share and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $146 million, and as of September 30, 2024, the Company had remaining authorization to repurchase 39.3 million shares. In the first nine months of 2023, the Company repurchased 5.5 million shares at an average price of $37.91 per share and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $208 million.
42
Liquidity
The following table presents a summary of the Company’s key financial indicators:
September 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
64
$
87
Total debt – APA and Apache
6,372
5,188
Total equity
6,160
3,691
Available committed borrowing capacity under syndicated credit facilities
2,839
2,894
Cash and Cash Equivalents As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $64 million in cash and cash equivalents. The majority of the Company’s cash is invested in highly liquid, investment-grade instruments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.
Debt As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $6.4 billion in total debt outstanding, which consisted of notes and debentures of Apache, credit facility and commercial paper borrowings, and finance lease obligations. As of September 30, 2024, current debt included $2 million of finance lease obligations.
Unsecured 2022 Committed Credit Facilities On April 29, 2022, the Company entered into two unsecured syndicated credit agreements for general corporate purposes.
•One agreement is denominated in US dollars (the USD Agreement) and provides for an unsecured five-year revolving credit facility, with aggregate commitments of US$1.8 billion (including a letter of credit subfacility of up to US$750 million, of which US$150 million currently is committed). The Company may increase commitments up to an aggregate US$2.3 billion by adding new lenders or obtaining the consent of any increasing existing lenders. This facility matures in April 2027, subject to the Company’s two, one-year extension options.
•The second agreement is denominated in pounds sterling (the GBP Agreement) and provides for an unsecured five-year revolving credit facility, with aggregate commitments of £1.5 billion for loans and letters of credit. This facility matures in April 2027, subject to the Company’s two, one-year extension options.
Apache may borrow under the USD Agreement up to an aggregate principal amount of US$300 million outstanding at any given time. Apache has guaranteed obligations under each of the USD Agreement and GBP Agreement effective until the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness under senior notes and debentures outstanding under Apache’s existing indentures first is less than US$1.0 billion.
As of September 30, 2024, there were $232 million of borrowings under the USD Agreement and an aggregate £303 million in letters of credit outstanding under the GBP Agreement. As of September 30, 2024, there were no letters of credit outstanding under the USD Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, there were $372 million of borrowings under the USD Agreement and an aggregate £348 million in letters of credit outstanding under the GBP Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, there were no letters of credit outstanding under the USD Agreement.
Uncommitted Lines of Credit Each of the Company andApache, from time to time, has and uses uncommitted credit and letter of credit facilities for working capital and credit support purposes. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities. As of September 30, 2024, there were £461 million and $11 million in letters of credit outstanding under these facilities. As of December 31, 2023, there were £416 million and $2 million in letters of credit outstanding under these facilities.
Commercial Paper Program In December 2023, the Company established a commercial paper program under which it from time to time may issue in private placements exempt from registration under the Securities Act short-term unsecured promissory notes (CP Notes) up to a maximum aggregate face amount of $1.8 billion outstanding at any time. The maturities of CP Notes may vary but may not exceed 397 days from the date of issuance. Outstanding CP Notes are supported by available borrowing capacity under the Company’s committed $1.8 billion USD Agreement.
Payment of CP Notes has been unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured basis by Apache, such guarantee effective until the first time that the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness under senior notes and debentures outstanding under Apache’s existing indentures is less than US$1.0 billion.
43
As of September 30, 2024, there was $330 million in aggregate face amount of CP Notes outstanding, which is classified as long-term debt. As of December 31, 2023, there were no CP Notes outstanding.
Term Loan Credit AgreementOn January 30, 2024, APA entered into a syndicated credit agreement under which the lenders committed an aggregate $2.0 billion for senior unsecured delayed-draw term loans to APA (Term Loan Credit Agreement), the proceeds of which could be used to refinance certain indebtedness of Callon only once upon the date of the closings under the Merger Agreement and Term Loan Credit Agreement; of such aggregate commitments, $1.5 billion was for term loans that would mature three years after the date of such closings (3-Year Tranche Loans) and $500 million was for term loans that would mature 364 days after the date of such closings (364-Day Tranche Loans). Apache has guaranteed obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement effective until the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness under senior notes and debentures outstanding under Apache’s existing indentures first is less than $1.0 billion.
On April 1, 2024, APA closed the transactions under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, electing to borrow an aggregate $1.5 billion in 3-Year Tranche Loans maturing April 1, 2027, and to allow the lender commitments for the 364-Day Tranche Loans to expire. Loan proceeds were used to refinance certain indebtedness of Callon upon the substantially simultaneous closing of APA’s acquisition of Callon pursuant to the Merger Agreement and to pay related fees and expenses. APA may at any time prepay loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2024, $1.0 billion in 3-Year Tranche Loans remained outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
Indebtedness of Callon that APA could refinance by borrowing under the Term Loan Credit Agreement included indebtedness outstanding under (i) the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated October 19, 2022, among Callon, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (Callon Credit Agreement), (ii) Callon’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (Callon’s 2026 Notes), (iii) Callon’s 8.00% Senior Notes due 2028 (Callon’s 2028 Notes), and (iv) Callon’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2030 (Callon’s 2030 Notes).
On April 1, 2024, all indebtedness under the Callon Credit Agreement and Callon’s 2026 Notes was repaid, and the aggregate principal balance remaining outstanding under Callon’s 2028 Notes and Callon’s 2030 Notes was reduced to $24 million. On May 6, 2024, all remaining indebtedness under Callon’s 2028 Notes and Callon’s 2030 Notes was repaid. Given these repayments, no guarantee by Callon of APA’s obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement is required.
On April 1, 2024, the following Callon indebtedness was repaid by borrowings under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the USD Agreement:
•Callon closed cash tender offers for Callon’s 2028 Notes and Callon’s 2030 Notes, accepting for purchase $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of notes. Callon paid holders an aggregate $1.3 billion in cash, reflecting principal, premium to par, early tender consent fee, and accrued and unpaid interest.
•Callon redeemed the outstanding $321 million principal amount of Callon’s 2026 Notes at a redemption price equal to 101.063% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
•Callon repaid the aggregate $472 million owed under the Callon Credit Agreement, including principal, accrued and unpaid interest, and certain fees.
On May 6, 2024, Callon fully redeemed the remaining outstanding $8 million principal amount of Callon’s 2028 Notes at a redemption price equal to 101.588% of their principal amount and $16 million principal amount of Callon’s 2030 Notes at a redemption price equal to 102.803% of their principal amount, in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The repayments were partially funded by borrowing under the USD Agreement.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements The Company enters into customary agreements in the oil and gas industry for drilling rig commitments, firm transportation agreements, and other obligations that may not be recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. For more information regarding these and other contractual arrangements, please refer to “Contractual Obligations” in Part II, Item 7 of APA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. There have been no material changes to the contractual obligations described therein.
44
Potential Decommissioning Obligations on Sold Properties
In 2013, Apache sold its Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Shelf operations and properties and its GOM operating subsidiary, GOM Shelf LLC (GOM Shelf) to Fieldwood Energy LLC (Fieldwood). Fieldwood assumed the obligation to decommission the properties held by GOM Shelf and the properties acquired from Apache and its other subsidiaries (collectively, the Legacy GOM Assets). On February 14, 2018, Fieldwood filed for (and subsequently emerged from) Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On August 3, 2020, Fieldwood filed for (and subsequently emerged from) Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time. Upon emergence from this second bankruptcy, the Legacy GOM Assets were separated into a standalone company, which was subsequently merged into GOM Shelf. Under GOM Shelf’s limited liability company agreement, the proceeds of production of the Legacy GOM Assets are to be used to fund the operation of GOM Shelf and the decommissioning of Legacy GOM Assets.Pursuant to the terms of the original transaction, as amended in the first bankruptcy, the securing of the asset retirement obligations for the Legacy GOM Assets as and when Apache is required to perform or pay for any such decommissioning was accomplished through the posting of letters of credit in favor of Apache (Letters of Credit), the provision of two bonds (Bonds) in favor of Apache, and the establishment of a trust account of which Apache was a beneficiary and which was funded by net profits interests (NPIs) depending on future oil prices. In addition, after such sources have been exhausted, Apache agreed upon resolution of GOM Shelf’s second bankruptcy to provide a standby loan to GOM Shelf of up to $400 million to perform decommissioning, with such standby loan secured by a first and prior lien on the Legacy GOM Assets.
By letter dated April 5, 2022 (replacing two earlier letters) and by subsequent letter dated March 1, 2023, GOM Shelf notified the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) that it was unable to fund the decommissioning obligations that it was obligated to perform on certain of the Legacy GOM Assets. As a result, Apache and other current and former owners in these assets have received orders from BSEE and demands from third parties to decommission certain of the Legacy GOM Assets included in GOM Shelf’s notifications to BSEE. Apache expects to receive similar orders and demands on the other Legacy GOM Assets included in GOM Shelf’s notification letters. Apache has also received orders to decommission other Legacy GOM Assets that were not included in GOM Shelf’s notification letters. Further, Apache anticipates that GOM Shelf may send additional such notices to BSEE in the future and that it may receive additional orders from BSEE requiring it to decommission other Legacy GOM Assets.
On June 21, 2023, two sureties that issued Bonds directly to Apache and two sureties that issued bonds to the issuing bank on the Letters of Credit filed suit against Apache in a case styled Zurich American Insurance Company, HCC International Insurance Company PLC, Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company and Everest Reinsurance Company (Insurers) v. Apache Corporation, Cause No. 2023-38238 in the 281st Judicial District Court, Harris County Texas. The sureties sought to prevent Apache from drawing on the Bonds and Letters of Credit and further alleged that they are discharged from their reimbursement obligations related to decommissioning costs and are entitled to other relief. On July 20, 2023, the 281st Judicial District Court denied the Insurers’ request for a temporary injunction. On July 26, 2023, Apache removed the suit to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division). Since the time the sureties filed their state court lawsuit, Apache has drawn down the entirety of the Letters of Credit. Apache has also sought to draw down on the Bonds; however, the sureties refuse to pay such Bond draws. On September 12, 2024, the bankruptcy court issued its opinion (1) finding that the sureties’ state court lawsuit against Apache was void; (2) holding that Apache’s claims against the sureties for unpaid amounts may proceed in bankruptcy court; and (3) holding the sureties in civil contempt and awarding attorneys’ fees to Apache as a sanction in an amount to be determined in a future hearing. Apache is vigorously pursuing its claims against the sureties.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company has recorded a $188 million asset, which represents the remaining amount the Company expects to be reimbursed from security related to these decommissioning costs.
The Company has recorded contingent liabilities in the amounts of $853 million and $824 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, representing the estimated costs of decommissioning it may be required to perform on the Legacy GOM Assets. The Company recognized $83 million in the first nine months of 2024 of “Loss on previously sold Gulf of Mexico properties.” Amounts recorded in the first nine months of 2024 included $50 million related to orders received from BSEE during the period to decommission properties previously sold to Cox Operating LLC and to decommission a property operated and produced by Fieldwood Energy Offshore and Dynamic Offshore Resources NS, LLC. The Company recognized no losses for decommissioning previously sold properties during the third quarter and the first nine months of 2023. There have been no other changes in estimates from December 31, 2023 that would have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
45
Critical Accounting Estimates
The Company prepares its financial statements and accompanying notes in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., which require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect reported amounts in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. The Company identifies certain accounting policies involving estimation as critical accounting estimates based on, among other things, their impact on the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity, as well as the degree of difficulty, subjectivity, and complexity in their deployment. Critical accounting estimates address accounting matters that are inherently uncertain due to unknown future resolution of such matters. Management routinely discusses the development, selection, and disclosure of each critical accounting estimate. For a discussion of the Company’s most critical accounting estimates, please see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company notes the following additional critical accounting estimate:
Long-Lived Asset Impairments
Long-lived assets used in operations, including proved oil and gas properties and GPT assets, are assessed for impairment whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate a possible significant deterioration in future cash flows expected to be generated by an asset. Individual assets are grouped for impairment purposes based on a judgmental assessment of the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. If there is an indication that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recovered, the asset is assessed by management through an established process in which changes to significant assumptions such as prices, volumes, and future development plans are reviewed. If, upon review, the sum of the undiscounted pre-tax cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset group, the carrying value is written down to estimated fair value. Because there usually is a lack of quoted market prices for long-lived assets, the fair value of impaired assets is assessed by management using the income approach.
Under the income approach, the fair value of each asset group is estimated based on the present value of expected future cash flows. The income approach is dependent on a number of factors including estimates of forecasted revenue and operating costs, proved reserves, the success of future exploration for and development of unproved reserves, expected throughput volumes for GPT assets, discount rates, and other variables. Key assumptions used in developing a discounted cash flow model described above include estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas reserves; estimates of market prices considering forward commodity price curves as of the measurement date; and estimates of operating, administrative, and capital costs adjusted for inflation. The Company discounts the resulting future cash flows using a discount rate believed to be consistent with those applied by market participants.
To assess the reasonableness of our fair value estimate, when available, management uses a market approach to compare the fair value to similar assets. This requires management to make certain judgments about the selection of comparable assets, recent comparable asset transactions, and transaction premiums.
Although the fair value estimate of each asset group is based on assumptions believed to be reasonable, those assumptions are inherently unpredictable and uncertain, and actual results could differ from the estimate. Negative revisions of estimated reserves quantities, increases in future cost estimates, divestiture of a significant component of the asset group, or sustained decreases in crude oil or natural gas prices could lead to a reduction in expected future cash flows and possibly an additional impairment of long-lived assets in future periods.
The Company has recorded material impairments of certain proved oil and gas properties and gathering, processing, and transmission facilities in the third quarter of 2024. For discussion of these impairments, see “Fair Value Measurements” of Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Purchase Price Allocation
Accounting for the acquisition of a business requires the allocation of the purchase price to the various assets and liabilities of the acquired business and recording deferred taxes for any differences between the allocated values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Any excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities would be recorded as goodwill.
The purchase price allocation is accomplished by recording each asset and liability at its estimated fair value. Estimated deferred taxes are based on available information concerning the tax basis of the acquired company’s assets and liabilities and tax-related carryforwards at the merger date, although such estimates may change in the future as additional information becomes known. The amount of goodwill recorded in any particular business combination can vary significantly depending upon the values attributed to assets acquired and liabilities assumed relative to the total acquisition cost.
46
In estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the Company has made various assumptions. The most significant assumptions relate to the estimated fair values assigned to proved and unproved crude oil and natural gas properties. To estimate the fair values of these properties, the Company prepared estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves as described in the “Reserves Estimates” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Estimated fair values assigned to assets acquired can have a significant effect on results of operations in the future.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2024-03, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40),” which expands disclosures around a public entity’s costs and expenses of specific items (i.e. employee compensation, DD&A), requires the inclusion of amounts that are required to be disclosed under GAAP in the same disclosure as other disaggregation requirements, requires qualitative descriptions of amounts remaining in expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively, and requires disclosure of total selling expenses, and in annual periods, the definition of selling expenses. The amendment does not change or remove existing disclosure requirements. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendment can be adopted prospectively or retrospectively to any or all periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting this standard.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about the Company’s exposure to market risk. The term market risk relates to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in oil, gas, and NGL prices, interest rates, or foreign currency and adverse governmental actions. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. The forward-looking information provides indicators of how the Company views and manages its ongoing market risk exposures.
Commodity Price Risk
The Company’s revenues, earnings, cash flow, capital investments and, ultimately, future rate of growth are highly dependent on the prices the Company receives for its crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, which have historically been very volatile because of unpredictable events such as economic growth or retraction, weather, political climate, and global supply and demand. The Company continually monitors its market risk exposure, as oil and gas supply and demand are impacted by uncertainties in the commodity and financial markets associated with the conflict in Ukraine, the conflict in Israel and Gaza, actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations, including OPEC+, global inflation, and other current events.
The Company’s average crude oil price realizations decreased 9 percent from $86.15 per barrel to $78.06 per barrel during the third quarters of 2023 and 2024, respectively. The Company’s average natural gas price realizations decreased 54 percent from $3.12 per Mcf to $1.43 per Mcf during the third quarters of 2023 and 2024, respectively. The Company’s average NGL price realizations decreased 4 percent from $22.26 per barrel to $21.29 per barrel during the third quarters of 2023 and 2024, respectively. Based on average daily production for the third quarter of 2024, a $1.00 per barrel change in the weighted average realized oil price would have increased or decreased revenues for the quarter by approximately $24 million, a $0.10 per Mcf change in the weighted average realized natural gas price would have increased or decreased revenues for the quarter by approximately $7 million, and a $1.00 per barrel change in the weighted average realized NGL price would have increased or decreased revenues for the quarter by approximately $7 million.
The Company periodically enters into derivative positions on a portion of its projected crude oil and natural gas production through a variety of financial and physical arrangements intended to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in commodity prices. Such derivative positions may include the use of futures contracts, swaps, and/or options. The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had open natural gas derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges in an asset position with a fair value of $1 million. A 10 percent increase in natural gas prices would increase the liability by approximately $1 million, while a 10 percent decrease in prices would decrease the liability by approximately $1 million. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had open NGL derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges in a liability position with a fair value of $1 million. The impact of a 10 percent movement in NGL prices would be immaterial to the fair value of the commodity derivatives. These fair value changes assume volatility based on prevailing market parameters at September 30, 2024. Refer to Note 4—Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for notional volumes and terms with the Company’s derivative contracts.
47
Interest Rate Risk
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $4.8 billion, net, in outstanding notes and debentures, all of which was fixed-rate debt, with a weighted average interest rate of 5.34 percent. Although near-term changes in interest rates may affect the fair value of fixed-rate debt, such changes do not expose the Company to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss associated with that debt.
The Company is also exposed to interest rate risk related to its interest-bearing cash and cash equivalents balances and amounts outstanding under its term loan facility, commercial paper program, and syndicated credit facilities. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $64 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately 86 percent of which was invested in money market funds and short-term investments with major financial institutions. As of September 30, 2024, there were $1.6 billion of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s term loan facility, commercial paper program, and syndicated revolving credit facilities. Changes in the interest rate applicable to short-term investments, term loan facility, commercial paper program, and credit facility borrowings are expected to have an immaterial impact on earnings and cash flows but could impact interest costs associated with future debt issuances or any future borrowings.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
The Company’s cash activities relating to certain international operations is based on the U.S. dollar equivalent of cash flows measured in foreign currencies. The Company’s North Sea production is sold under U.S. dollar contracts, while the majority of costs incurred are paid in British pounds. The Company’s Egypt production is sold under U.S. dollar contracts, and the majority of costs incurred are denominated in U.S. dollars. Transactions denominated in British pounds are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents based on the average exchange rates during the period. The Company monitors foreign currency exchange rates of countries in which it is conducting business and may, from time to time, implement measures to protect against foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Foreign currency gains and losses also arise when monetary assets and monetary liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the end of each month. Foreign currency gains and losses are included as either a component of “Other” under “Revenues and Other” or, as is the case when the Company re-measures its foreign tax liabilities, as a component of the Company’s provision for income tax expense on the statement of consolidated operations. Foreign currency net gain or loss of $5 million would result from a 10 percent weakening or strengthening, respectively, in the British pound as of September 30, 2024.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
John J. Christmann IV, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, in his capacity as principal executive officer, and Stephen J. Riney, the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer, in his capacity as principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024, the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation and as of the date of that evaluation, these officers concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, providing effective means to ensure that the information the Company is required to disclose under applicable laws and regulations is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company periodically reviews the design and effectiveness of its disclosure controls, including compliance with various laws and regulations that apply to its operations, both inside and outside the United States. The Company makes modifications to improve the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls, and may take other corrective action, if the Company’s reviews identify deficiencies or weaknesses in its controls.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
As a result of the Callon acquisition on April 1, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, subsequent to the date of acquisition, includes certain additional internal controls relating to Callon. There were no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
48
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Refer to Part I, Item 3—Legal Proceedings of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and Note 11—Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (which is hereby incorporated by reference herein), for a description of material legal proceedings.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A—Risk Factors of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Given the nature of its business, Apache Corporation may be subject to different or additional risks than those applicable to the Company. For a description of these risks, refer to the disclosures in Apache Corporation’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024, and September 30, 2024 and Apache Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table presents information on shares of common stock repurchased by the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2024:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1)
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1)
July 1 to July 31, 2024
102,305
$
29.33
102,305
39,326,125
August 1 to August 31, 2024
—
—
—
39,326,125
September 1 to September 30, 2024
—
—
—
39,326,125
Total
102,305
$
29.33
(1) During the third quarter of 2022, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 40 million shares of the Company's common stock. Shares may be purchased either in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company is not obligated to acquire any specific number of shares.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, none of the Company’s officers or directors adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” (as such term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act).
The following financial statements from the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Statement of Consolidated Operations, (ii) Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iii) Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows, (iv) Consolidated Balance Sheet, (v) Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity and Noncontrolling Interests and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and including detailed tags.
*101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document.
*101.CAL
Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.
*101.DEF
Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.
*101.LAB
Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document.
*101.PRE
Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
*104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
50
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
APA CORPORATION
Dated:
November 7, 2024
/s/ STEPHEN J. RINEY
Stephen J. Riney
President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Dated:
November 7, 2024
/s/ REBECCA A. HOYT
Rebecca A. Hoyt
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Controller