Noble Energy Inc. (NBL) said it expects to spend $4.8 billion on capital
investments next year, almost $1 billion more than this year's target, and also
boosted its fourth-quarter volume estimate as the oil and gas company posted
improved sales in the U.S., West Africa and Israel.
Noble said it expects to spend 70%, or $3.2 billion, of its capital allotment
on
U.S.
onshore development, and the remainder on global deepwater activities. The
company expects total sales volumes of 302,000 to 322,000 barrels of oil
equivalent per day, compared with sales volumes of 270,000 to 282,000 barrels
expected this year.
Noble said it didn't adjust for the potential sale of remaining noncore assets.
This year's capital spending target was initially $3.9 billion.
The company expects production to grow for the third year in a row at
double-digit rates as it focuses horizontal drilling and infrastructure
development in the DJ Basin, Chief Executive Charles D. Davidson said. The
northern Colorado-based onshore field is projected to account for 28% of
U.S.
sales
volume.
Globally, the company will invest in projects in the
Eastern
Mediterranean
and
Israel
, as
well as in the deepwater
Gulf of Mexico
and
West
Africa
.
Noble Energy raised its estimate for fourth-quarter sales volumes to a range of
286,000 to 288,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day from a range of 280,000 to
285,000 as a result of better-than-expected sales in the
U.S.
onshore,
West Africa
and
Israel
.
The company also expects lower exploration expenses because of successful
exploration drilling in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and
Eastern
Mediterranean
. The updated range is $200 million to $225
million.
Noble shares closed Monday at $69.40 and were inactive premarket. The stock is up 38% in the
past 12 months.