The writedown of oil and gas properties included non-shale operations in the Permian Basin, the top U.S. oilfield, offshore Gulf of Mexico fields, and undefined properties outside the United States, he said.
“We would need to see sustained economic recovery and much lower inventory levels before we would add capital back to the Permian or other basins,” said Breber. “We’re in a lower for longer world where demand is down and there’s ample supply.”
Chevron’s cash flow from operations was negative $643 million in the quarter, “and we expect this to weigh on shares in the near term,” said analyst Biraj Borkhataria of RBC Europe Limited.
Despite this, the company “exited the worst quarter in recent history with a strong balance sheet and well-positioned to support its dividend even if the macro environment remains challenging,” said Jennifer Rowland, analyst with Edward Jones.
The writedowns pushed Chevron’s loss to $8.27 billion, or $4.44 a share, compared with a profit of $4.3 billion, or $2.27 a share, a year ago. Adjusted loss was $3 billion, or $1.59 per share, compared with a profit of $3.4 billion, or $1.77 per share, last year, it reported.
The loss reflects an average 65% reduction in the prices received for its petroleum produced last quarter as demand plummeted amid COVID-19 travel restrictions and declining industrial demand for fuels.
Pre-market trading in the company’s stock was indicated 3.6% lower on Friday. It closed at $86.27 on Thursday, down 29% from the start of the year.
Chevron has resisted leaving Venezuela, arguing its presence was a stabilizing presence and supported local workers. Any exit would hand over its assets to Russian or Chinese oil companies, it has said. Chevron has operated in the country for nearly 100 years, mostly recently through joint ventures with Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.
But the Trump administration gave Chevron until December to wind down its business there amid U.S. sanctions designed to oust the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Chevron wrote off the $2.6 billion value of Venezuelan assets, which in June produced 7,000 barrels per day, Breber said.
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