Occidental Petroleum Announces Fourth Quarter and Total Year 2001 Results


LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) announced earnings before special items for the fourth quarter 2001 were $35 million ($0.09 per share), compared with $349 million ($0.94 per share) for the same period a year ago. Results for the fourth quarter of 2001 were a loss of $247 million ($0.66 per share), compared with income of $333 million ($0.90 per share) for the same period of 2000. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2001 were $2.4 billion, compared with $3.9 billion for the same period in 2000.

For the year 2001, earnings before special items were $1.328 billion ($3.57 per share), compared with $1.326 billion ($3.60 per share) for 2000. Occidental's net income for 2001 was $1.2 billion ($3.10 per share), compared with $1.6 billion ($4.26 per share) for 2000. Sales increased to $14.0 billion for 2001 from $13.6 billion for 2000.

In announcing the results, Dr. Ray R. Irani, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Net income for 2001 was the second highest in Occidental's history, with earnings per share before special items nearly matching our record setting 2000 performance. Oil and gas operating earnings were the highest in our history. We replaced 138-percent of our worldwide oil and gas production at a cost of $4.54 per barrel of oil equivalent. We also appreciably strengthened our balance sheet by reducing our total debt to its lowest level in 15 years, increasing our equity by 18-percent and thereby bringing our debt-to-capitalization ratio down to 46-percent."

The fourth quarter 2001 included a $240 million after-tax charge, reflecting the effect of the agreement in principle to sell Occidental's interest in Equistar, a $60 million pre-tax charge for environmental remediation expenses, an $11 million pre-tax charge to idle a chemical facility in Texas, and a $5 million extraordinary loss resulting from early debt extinguishments. Also included in the fourth quarter 2001 was a $14 million benefit resulting from lower effective state tax rates. The fourth quarter 2000 included net after-tax charges of $16 million.

Oil and Gas

Oil and gas segment earnings before special items were $166 million for the fourth quarter 2001, compared with $763 million for the same period in 2000. Lower prices for worldwide crude oil and domestic natural gas accounted for approximately $500 million of the decline in earnings.

Oil and gas segment earnings for the fourth quarter of 2001 were also $166 million, compared with $770 million for 2000.

Chemicals

Chemical segment results before special items were a loss of $4 million for the fourth quarter 2001, compared with a loss of $51 million for the fourth quarter 2000. The improvement in results reflects lower feedstock and energy costs, partially offset by lower sales prices for chlorine, EDC and PVC.

Chemical segment results for the fourth quarter 2001 were a loss of $413 million and included a $412 million pre-tax charge reflecting the effect of the agreement in principle to sell Occidental's interest in Equistar and an $11 million charge to idle a chlor-alkali chemical facility in Deer Park, Texas, partially offset by a $14 million benefit resulting from lower effective state tax rates. Fourth quarter 2000 chemical results were a loss of $55 million and included net charges of $17 million mainly related to the write-down or disposition of various assets, partially offset by a $13 million after-tax gain related to the sale of a business.

Forward-looking statements and estimates regarding exploration and production activities, oil, gas and commodity chemical prices and their related earnings effects, and cost reductions, as well as pro-forma estimates in this release are based on assumptions concerning market, competitive, regulatory, environmental, operational and other conditions. Actual results could differ materially as a result of factors discussed in Occidental's Annual Report on Form 10-K.


 SUMMARY OF SEGMENT NET SALES AND EARNINGS
  (Millions, except per-share amounts)
 
                                     Fourth Quarter     Twelve Months
 Periods Ended December 31            2001     2000     2001     2000
 =========================         =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 SEGMENT NET SALES
    Oil and gas                    $ 1,796  $ 3,145  $10,893  $ 9,779
    Chemical                           584      797    3,092    3,795
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
    Net sales                      $ 2,380  $ 3,942  $13,985  $13,574
 =========================         =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS)
   Oil and gas                     $   166  $   770  $ 2,845  $ 2,417
   Chemical                           (413)     (55)    (394)     169
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
                                      (247)     715    2,451    2,586
 Unallocated Corporate Items
   Interest expense, net (a)           (56)     (80)    (263)    (380)
   Income taxes (b)                    187     (193)    (366)    (861)
   Trust preferred distributions
     & other                           (13)     (17)     (56)     (67)
   Other (c)                          (113)     (92)    (580)     291
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
 
 Income before extraordinary
  items and effect of changes in
   accounting principles              (242)     333    1,186    1,569
   Extraordinary items, net             (5)       -       (8)       1
   Cumulative effect of changes
     in accounting principles,
      net                                -        -      (24)       -
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
 Net income (loss)                    (247)     333    1,154    1,570
   Effect of repurchase of Trust
     Preferred Securities                -        -        -        1
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
 
 EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON
    STOCK                          $  (247) $   333  $ 1,154  $ 1,571
                                   =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 BASIC EARNINGS PER
  COMMON SHARE
   Income (loss) before
    extraordinary items and
     effect of changes in
      accounting principles        $ (0.65) $  0.90  $  3.18  $  4.26
   Extraordinary loss, net           (0.01)       -    (0.02)       -
   Cumulative effect of changes
     in accounting principles,
      net                                -        -    (0.06)       -
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
                                   $ (0.66) $  0.90  $  3.10  $  4.26
                                   =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 DILUTED EARNINGS PER
  COMMON SHARE
   Income (loss) before
    extraordinary items and
     effect of changes in
      accounting principles        $ (0.65) $  0.90  $  3.17  $  4.26
   Extraordinary loss, net           (0.01)       -    (0.02)       -
   Cumulative effect of
    changes in accounting
     principles, net                     -        -    (0.06)       -
                                   -------  -------  -------  -------
                                   $ (0.66) $  0.90  $  3.09  $  4.26
                                   =======  =======  =======  =======
 AVERAGE BASIC COMMON SHARES
   OUTSTANDING                       373.8    369.8    372.4    369.0
 ===========================       =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 
 
 (a)  The fourth quarter and twelve months year-to-date 2001 includes
      $17 million and $102 million, respectively, interest income on
      notes receivable from Altura partners. The fourth quarter and
      twelve months year-to-date 2000 includes $38 million and $106
      million, respectively.
 
 (b)  The fourth quarter 2001 includes a $172 million tax credit
      reflecting the effect of the agreement in principle to sell
      Occidental's interest in Equistar. Includes an offset for
      charges and credits in lieu of U.S. federal income taxes
      allocated to the divisions. Oil and gas divisional earnings have
      been impacted by credits of $1 million and $7 million in the
      fourth quarter of 2001 and 2000, respectively. The oil and gas
      fourth quarter of 2000 amount included a $7 million credit for
      the sale of an office building. Chemical divisional earnings
      have been impacted by a credit of $4 million in the fourth
      quarter of 2001 and a charge of $5 million in the fourth quarter
      of 2000. The Chemical fourth quarter of 2000 amount included a
      $21 million charge related to the sale of the Durez business and
      a $12 million credit for the shutdown and liquidation of a
      chemical operation in Thailand.
 
 (c)  The fourth quarter and twelve months year-to-date 2001 includes
      environmental remediation charges of $60 million and $109
      million, respectively. The twelve months 2001 includes a $272
      million net-of-tax loss related to the sale of Occidental's
      residual interest in Occidental Texas Pipeline Company. The
      fourth quarter and twelve months year-to-date 2001 includes
      preferred distributions to the Occidental Permian partners of
      $17 million and $104 million, respectively. The fourth quarter
      and twelve months year-to-date 2000 includes $39 million and
      $107 million, respectively. This is essentially offset by the
      interest income discussed in (a) above. The fourth quarter 2000
      includes a $17 million litigation settlement.
 
 
 SUMMARY OF OPERATING STATISTICS
 
                                      Fourth Quarter     Twelve Months
 Periods Ended December 31             2001     2000     2001     2000
 =================================  =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 NET OIL, GAS AND LIQUIDS
    PRODUCTION PER DAY
 
 United States
   Crude oil and liquids (MBBL)
     California                          82       75       76       70
     Permian                            137      136      137      101
     US Other                             -        -        -        1
                                    -------  -------  -------  -------
       Total                            219      211      213      172
 
   Natural Gas (MMCF)
     California                         297      316      303      306
     Hugoton                            153      166      159      168
     Permian                            150      162      148      119
     US Other                             -        -        -       66
                                    -------  -------  -------  -------
       Total                            600      644      610      659
 
 Latin America
   Crude oil & condensate (MBBL)
     Colombia                            17       27       18       32
     Ecuador                             13       12       13       17
                                    -------  -------  -------  -------
       Total                             30       39       31       49
 
 Eastern Hemisphere
   Crude oil and condensate (MBBL)
     Oman                                14        9       12        9
     Pakistan                             7        5        7        6
     Qatar                               43       48       43       49
     Russia                              28       27       27       26
     Yemen                               32       31       33       32
                                    -------  -------  -------  -------
       Total                            124      120      122      122
 
   Natural Gas (MMCF)
     Pakistan                            51       49       50       49
 
 Barrels of Oil Equivalent (MBOE)       482      485      476      461
 
 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (millions)    $   436  $   344  $ 1,401  $   952
                                    =======  =======  =======  =======
 
 DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND
  AMORTIZATION OF ASSETS (millions) $   245  $   214  $   971  $   901
 =================================  =======  =======  =======  =======


            

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