ConocoPhillips, dubbed the world’s largest independent exploration and production company, has said it would scale down its deepwater activity.

In a statement issued Thursday, the company said it would reduce future deepwater exploration spending, with the most significant reductions coming from the operated Gulf of Mexico program.

“Since the start of the oil and gas price downturn last year, we have moved decisively to position ConocoPhillips for lower, more volatile prices by exercising capital flexibility and reducing operating costs across our business,” said ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance. “Our decision to reduce spending in deepwater will further increase our capital flexibility and reduce expenses without impacting our growth targets. This strengthens our ability to achieve cash flow neutrality in 2017 even if lower commodity prices persist.”

“We have achieved some notable success in our deepwater program, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico Lower Tertiary play and offshore Senegal,” Lance said. “We are committed to delivering the value we have created from these discoveries, while reducing the number of deepwater exploratory prospects we drill in the future.”

As reported on Offshore Energy Today earlier Friday, together with the company’s plan to cut future capital expenditures in deepwater exploration, ConocoPhillips has provided notice that it will terminate its contract for the Ensco DS-9 deepwater drillship.

The DS-9 was scheduled for delivery to the Gulf of Mexico in late 2015 to begin drilling the company’s operated deepwater inventory on a three-year contract. Under the terms of the contract, the company is subject to a termination fee that represents up to two years of contract day rates. Details of the termination are under discussion, but the company expects to take a special item charge for termination in the third quarter, ConocoPhillips said.

Lance further noted, “Our actions reflect a decision to reduce exposure to programs with greater resource risk and longer cycle times. However, we will continue to pursue organic growth through more focused exploration programs. Furthermore, with increased capital flexibility, we can direct more investment to our captured resource base of 44 billion barrels of oil equivalent, which includes significant identified inventory in the highest value areas of the Eagle Ford, Bakken, Permian and Western Canada unconventional plays, as well as our legacy businesses around the world. We believe this will accelerate value for shareholders by shortening the cycle time on our overall investment program.”

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

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