Edgar Filing: OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 24, 2008

OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

1-9210

95-4035997

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

10889 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, California

90024

(Address of principal executive offices)

(ZIP code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(310) 208-8800

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 2 – Financial Information

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On April 24, 2008, Occidental Petroleum Corporation released information regarding its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The exhibits to this Form 8-K and the information set forth in this Item 2.02 are being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition. The full text of the press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1. The full text of the speech given by Stephen I. Chazen is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.2. Investor Relations Supplemental Schedules are attached to this report as Exhibit 99.3. Earnings Conference Call Slides are attached to this report as Exhibit 99.4.

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events

On April 24, 2008, Occidental Petroleum Corporation announced net income of $1.846 billion ($2.23 per diluted share) for the first quarter of 2008, compared with $1.212 billion ($1.43 per diluted share) for the first quarter of 2007.

Core results for the first quarter of 2008 were $1.819 billion ($2.20 per diluted share), compared with $788 million ($0.93 per diluted share) for the first quarter of 2007.

Oil and Gas

Oil and gas segment earnings were $2.888 billion for the first quarter of 2008, compared with $1.883 billion for the same period in 2007. Oil and gas core results for the first quarter of 2007 were $1.362 billion, after excluding a $412 million gain from the sale of Occidental's Russian joint venture and $109 million gain from the resolution of certain legal disputes. The $1.5 billion increase in the first quarter 2008 core results reflected $1.6 billion of increases from record crude oil and higher natural gas prices, production from the Dolphin project coming on line in the second half of 2007, partially offset by increased DD&A rates and higher operating expenses.

For the first quarter of 2008, daily oil and gas production averaged 607,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), compared with 560,000 BOE per day produced in the first quarter of 2007. The bulk of the production increase was the result of 55,000 BOE per day from the Dolphin project, which began production in the third quarter of 2007, partially offset by lower volumes from our production sharing contracts due to higher prices.

Oxy's realized price for worldwide crude oil was $86.75 per barrel for the first quarter of 2008, compared with $51.67 per barrel for the first quarter of 2007. Domestic realized gas prices increased from $6.38 per MCF in the first quarter of 2007 to $8.15 per MCF for the first quarter of 2008.

Chemicals

Chemical segment earnings for the first quarter of 2008 were $179 million, compared with $137 million for the same period in 2007. The first quarter of 2008 results reflect higher margins for caustic soda.

Midstream, Marketing and Other

Occidental's midstream, marketing and other segment gathers, processes, transports, stores, and markets crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and CO2. The transportation and storage systems primarily serve operations from New Mexico across the Permian Basin to Cushing, Oklahoma. Occidental's 24.5-percent equity interest in the Dolphin pipeline project is also included in this segment. Additionally, this segment also generates electricity at facilities in Texas, Louisiana and California.

Midstream segment preliminary earnings were approximately $123 million for the first quarter of 2008, compared with approximately $119 million for the first quarter of 2007. Prior period oil and gas segment earnings have been revised to remove these midstream results.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release that contain words such as "will," "expect" or "estimate," or otherwise relate to the future, are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Factors that could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: exploration risks, such as drilling of unsuccessful wells; global commodity pricing fluctuations and supply/demand considerations for oil, gas and chemicals; higher-than-expected costs; political risk; operational interruptions; changes in tax rates and not successfully completing (or any material delay in) any expansion, capital expenditure, acquisition, or disposition. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this release. Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. U.S. investors are urged to consider carefully the disclosure in our Form 10-K, available through the following toll-free telephone number, 1-888-OXYPETE (1-888-699-7383) or on the Internet at http://www.oxy.com. You also can obtain a copy from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

SUMMARY OF SEGMENT NET SALES AND EARNINGS

	First Quarter
(In millions, except per-share amounts)		2008			2007
SEGMENT NET SALES
Oil and Gas	$	4,518		$	2,720
Chemical		1,267			1,060
Midstream, marketing and other		405			358
Eliminations		(170	)		(123	)
Net sales	$	6,020		$	4,015
SEGMENT EARNINGS
Oil and Gas (a)	$	2,888		$	1,883
Chemical		179			137
Midstream, marketing and other		123			119
		3,190			2,139
Unallocated Corporate Items
Interest expense, net (b)		—			(181	)
Income taxes		(1,294	)		(684	)
Other (c)		(77	)		(105	)

Income from Continuing Operations		1,819			1,169
Discontinued operations, net (d)		27			43
NET INCOME	$	1,846		$	1,212
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Income from continuing operations	$	2.21		$	1.39
Discontinued operations, net		0.03			0.05
	$	2.24		$	1.44
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Income from continuing operations	$	2.20		$	1.38
Discontinued operations, net		0.03			0.05
	$	2.23		$	1.43
AVERAGE BASIC COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
BASIC		823.6			841.0
DILUTED		828.2			846.5

See footnotes on following page.

(a)	Oil and Gas - Prior period oil and gas segment results have been revised to remove midstream results. The first quarter of 2007 includes after-tax gains of $412 million from the sale of Occidental's Russian joint venture and $109 million resulting from the resolution of certain legal disputes.

(b)	Interest Expense, net - The first quarter of 2008 includes $3 million pre-tax interest charges for the defeasance of various debt issues. The first quarter of 2007 includes $172 million of pre-tax interest charges for the purchase of various debt issues in the open market.

(c)	Unallocated Corporate Items - Other - The first quarter of 2007 includes a $47 million pre-tax charge for a plant closure and related environmental remediation reserve.

(d)	Discontinued Operations, net - In the first quarter of 2008, Occidental received payment from Ecuador for disputed tax refunds. In 2007, Occidental completed an exchange of oil and gas interests in Horn Mountain with BP p.l.c. (BP) for oil and gas interests in the Permian Basin and a gas processing plant in Texas. Occidental also sold its oil and gas interests in Pakistan to BP.

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND DD&A EXPENSE

	First Quarter
($ millions)		2008		2007
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES	$	868	$	780
DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND
AMORTIZATION OF ASSETS	$	653	$	574

SUMMARY OF OPERATING STATISTICS

	First Quarter
	2008		2007
NET OIL, GAS AND LIQUIDS
PRODUCTION PER DAY
United States
Crude Oil and Liquids (MBBL)
California	87		85
Permian	170		165
Hugoton and other	4		4
Total	261		254
Natural Gas (MMCF)
California	245		232
Hugoton and other	158		150
Permian	177		198
Total	580		580
Latin America
Crude Oil (MBBL)
Argentina	37		33
Colombia	42		42
Total	79		75
Natural Gas (MMCF)
Argentina	22		21
Bolivia	21		14
Total	43		35
Middle East/North Africa
Crude Oil (MBBL)
Oman	20		22
Dolphin	22		—
Qatar	46		46
Yemen	25		32
Libya	17		26
Total	130		126
Natural Gas (MMCF)
Oman	23		26
Dolphin	200		—
	223		26
Barrels of Oil Equivalent (MBOE)
Subtotal consolidated subsidiaries	611		562
Colombia-minority interest	(6	)	(5	)
Yemen-Occidental net interest	2		3
Total Worldwide Production (MBOE)	607		560

SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTIONS AND EVENTS AFFECTING EARNINGS

Occidental's results of operations often include the effects of significant transactions and events affecting earnings that vary widely and unpredictably in nature, timing and amount. Therefore, management uses a measure called "core results," which excludes those items. This non-GAAP measure is not meant to disassociate those items from management's performance, but rather is meant to provide useful information to investors interested in comparing Occidental's earnings performance between periods. Reported earnings are considered representative of management's performance over the long term. Core results is not considered to be an alternative to operating income in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

	First Quarter
($ millions, except				Diluted					Diluted
per-share amounts)		2008			EPS		2007			EPS
TOTAL REPORTED EARNINGS	$	1,846		$	2.23	$	1,212		$	1.43
Oil and Gas
Segment Earnings	$	2,888				$	1,883
Less:
Russia joint venture		—					412
Legal settlements**		—					109
Segment Core Results		2,888					1,362
Chemicals
Segment Earnings		179					137
No significant items affecting earnings		—					—
Segment Core Results		179					137
Midstream, marketing and other
Segment Earnings		123					119
No significant items affecting Earnings		—					—
Segment Core Results		123					119
Total Segment Core Results		3,190					1,618
Corporate
Corporate Results — Non Segment*		(1,344	)				(927	)
Less:
Debt purchase expense		—					(172	)
Facility closure		—					(47	)
Tax effect of pre-tax adjustments		—					79
Discontinued operations, net**		27					43
Corporate Core Results — Non Segment		(1,371	)				(830	)
TOTAL CORE RESULTS	$	1,819		$	2.20	$	788		$	0.93

*	Interest expense, income taxes, G&A expense and other, and non-core items.
**	Amounts shown after tax.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

	99.1	Press release dated April 24, 2008.

	99.2	Full text of speech given by Stephen I. Chazen.

	99.3	Investor Relations Supplemental Schedules.

	99.4	Earnings Conference Call Slides.

SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
	(Registrant)




DATE: April 24, 2008	/s/ JIM A. LEONARD
	Jim A. Leonard, Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting and Duly Authorized Officer)

EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1		Press release dated April 24, 2008.

99.2		Full text of speech given by Stephen I. Chazen.

99.3		Investor Relations Supplemental Schedules.

99.4		Earnings Conference Call Slides.