Chevron Issues Interim Update for Second Quarter 2011

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) today reported in its interim update that earnings for the second quarter 2011 are expected to be higher than in the first quarter 2011. Upstream results are projected to improve between sequential quarters, benefiting from higher crude oil prices. Downstream earnings in the second quarter are also expected to be higher, reflecting improved industry margins.

Basis for Comparison in Interim Update

The interim update contains certain industry and company operating data for the second quarter 2011. The production volumes, realizations, margins and certain other items in the report are based on a portion of the quarter and are not necessarily indicative of Chevron's full quarterly results to be reported on July 29, 2011. The reader should not place undue reliance on this data.

Unless noted otherwise, all commentary is based on two months of the second quarter 2011 versus full first quarter 2011 results.

UPSTREAM

The table that follows includes information on production and price indicators for crude oil and natural gas for specific markets. Actual realizations may vary from indicative pricing due to quality and location differentials and the effect of pricing lags. International earnings are driven by actual liftings, which may differ from production due to the timing of cargoes and other factors.

		2010			2011
		2Q	3Q	4Q	1Q	2Q thru May	2Q thru Jun
U.S. Upstream
Net Production:
Liquids	MBD	488	482	481	482	477	n/a
Natural Gas	MMCFD	1,317	1,255	1,307	1,270	1,307	n/a
Total Oil-Equivalent	MBOED	708	692	698	694	695	n/a
Pricing:
Avg. WTI Spot Price	$/Bbl	77.91	76.18	84.98	94.48	105.58	102.34
Avg. Midway Sunset Posted Price	$/Bbl	70.07	69.80	79.31	94.46	111.72	108.67
Nat. Gas-Henry Hub "Bid Week" Avg.	$/MCF	4.09	4.39	3.81	4.10	4.31	4.32
Nat. Gas-CA Border "Bid Week" Avg.	$/MCF	4.05	4.13	3.75	4.03	4.20	4.24
Nat. Gas-Rocky Mountain "Bid Week" Avg.	$/MCF	3.53	3.40	3.33	3.71	3.87	3.88
Average Realizations:
Crude	$/Bbl	74.16	72.19	79.56	93.39	111.11	n/a
Liquids	$/Bbl	70.69	68.85	76.33	89.14	105.81	n/a
Natural Gas	$/MCF	4.01	4.06	3.65	4.04	4.32	n/a
International Upstream
Net Production:
Liquids	MBD	1,422	1,422	1,465	1,428	1,379	n/a
Natural Gas	MMCFD	3,699	3,748	3,733	3,826	3,663	n/a
Total Oil Equivalent	MBOED	2,038	2,046	2,088	2,066	1,990	n/a
Pricing:
Avg. Brent Spot Price ^1	$/Bbl	78.24	76.86	86.46	105.43	118.79	117.04
Average Realizations:
Liquids	$/Bbl	71.44	69.67	79.09	95.21	108.46	n/a
Natural Gas	$/MCF	4.40	4.73	4.81	5.03	5.44	n/a

¹ The Avg. Brent Spot Price is based on Platts daily assessments, using Chevron’s internal formula to produce a quarterly average.

U.S. net oil-equivalent production during the first two months of the second quarter was in line with the first quarter 2011. International net oil-equivalent production declined 76,000 barrels per day, largely reflecting maintenance activity in Kazakhstan.

U.S. crude-oil realizations for the first two months of the second quarter increased about $18 per barrel to $111.11, and International liquids realizations improved approximately $13 to $108.46 per barrel. U.S. natural gas realizations increased $0.28 to $4.32 per thousand cubic feet, and international natural gas realizations increased $0.41 to $5.44 per thousand cubic feet.

International Upstream earnings in the second quarter are expected to reflect higher exploration expenses.

DOWNSTREAM

The table that follows includes industry benchmark indicators for refining, marketing and chemical margins. Actual margins realized by the company will differ due to crude and product mix effects, planned and unplanned shutdown activity and other company-specific and operational factors.

		2010			2011
		2Q	3Q	4Q	1Q	2Q thru May	2Q thru Jun
Downstream
Market Indicators:	$/Bbl
Refining Margins
U.S. West Coast – Blended 5-3-1-1		16.30	16.95	15.10	17.68	21.46	19.41
U.S. Gulf Coast – Maya 5-3-1-1		21.65	17.24	18.44	24.48	29.60	27.72
Singapore – Dubai 3-1-1-1		4.97	5.65	5.49	7.91	9.16	9.00
N.W. Europe – Brent 3-1-1-1		5.41	4.32	3.70	2.48	4.19	4.22
Marketing Margins
U.S. West – Weighted DTW to Spot		6.12	5.87	4.33	3.87	6.96	7.26
U.S. East – Houston Mogas Rack to Spot		3.84	3.97	3.74	4.09	4.48	4.49
Asia-Pacific / Middle East / Africa		5.71	6.48	5.02	4.40	5.60	n/a
Actual Volumes:
U.S. Refinery Input	MBD	917	880	876	879	865	n/a
Int’l Refinery Input	MBD	954	1,027	1,040	1,032	1,017	n/a
U.S. Branded Mogas Sales	MBD	605	575	530	503	505	n/a
Chemicals (Source: CMAI )	Cents/lb
Ethylene Industry Cash Margin		19.64	11.32	12.01	16.83	27.22	26.14
HDPE Industry Contract Sales Margin		24.55	28.13	24.81	25.04	21.25	22.30

Note: Prices, economics, and views expressed by CMAI are strictly the opinion of CMAI and Purvin & Gertz and are based on information collected within the public domain and on assessments by CMAI and Purvin & Gertz staff utilizing reasonable care consistent with normal industry practice. CMAI and Purvin & Gertz make no guarantee or warranty and assume no liability as to their use.

For the second quarter, worldwide refining and marketing margins improved relative to the first quarter. During the first two months of the second quarter, U.S. and international refinery crude-input volumes decreased 14,000 and 15,000 barrels per day respectively, due to maintenance activity across multiple refineries. This maintenance activity, plus higher fuel costs, is expected to negatively affect earnings in the second quarter.

Chemical indicator margins were mixed between quarters.

ALL OTHER

The company’s general guidance for the quarterly net after-tax charges related to corporate and other activities is between $250 million and $350 million. Due to foreign currency effects and the potential for irregularly occurring accruals related to income taxes and other matters, actual results may significantly differ from the guidance range.

NOTICE

Chevron’s discussion of second quarter 2011 earnings with security analysts will take place on Friday, July 29, 2011, at 8:00 a.m. PDT. A webcast of the meeting will be available in a listen-only mode to individual investors, media, and other interested parties on Chevron’s website at www.chevron.com under the “Investors” section. Additional financial and operating information will be contained in the Earnings Supplement that will be available under “Events & Presentations” in the “Investors” section on the website.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF "SAFE HARBOR'' PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This interim update of Chevron Corporation contains forward-looking statements relating to Chevron’s operations that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the petroleum, chemicals and other energy-related industries. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” “schedules,” “estimates,” “budgets” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company’s control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this interim update. Unless legally required, Chevron undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: changing crude oil and natural gas prices; changing refining, marketing and chemical margins; actions of competitors or regulators; timing of exploration expenses; timing of crude oil liftings; the competitiveness of alternate-energy sources or product substitutes; technological developments; the results of operations and financial condition of equity affiliates; the inability or failure of the company’s joint-venture partners to fund their share of operations and development activities; the potential failure to achieve expected net production from existing and future crude oil and natural gas development projects; potential delays in the development, construction or start-up of planned projects; the potential disruption or interruption of the company’s net production or manufacturing facilities or delivery/transportation networks due to war, accidents, political events, civil unrest, severe weather or crude oil production quotas that might be imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; the potential liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future environmental regulations and litigation; significant investment or product changes under existing or future environmental statutes, regulations and litigation; the potential liability resulting from other pending or future litigation; the company’s future acquisition or disposition of assets and gains and losses from asset dispositions or impairments; government-mandated sales, divestitures, recapitalizations, industry-specific taxes, changes in fiscal terms or restrictions on scope of company operations; foreign currency movements compared with the U.S. dollar; the effects of changed accounting rules under generally accepted accounting principles promulgated by rule-setting bodies; and the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 32 through 34 of the company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, such statements could be affected by general domestic and international economic and political conditions. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this interim update could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.