Chevron Corporation (CVX)

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

þ  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

OR

 

o  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to           

 

Commission File Number 1-368-2

Chevron Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (925) 842-1000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes þ          No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes o          No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ          No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes þ          No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes o       No þ

 

Aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter — $132,865,210,015 (As of June 30, 2009)

 

Number of Shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 19, 2010 — 2,008,352,638

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(To The Extent Indicated Herein)

 

Notice of the 2010 Annual Meeting and 2010 Proxy Statement, to be filed pursuant to Rule 14a-6(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in connection with the company’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (in Part III)

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 report. 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 30 through 32 in this report. In addition, such statements could be affected by general domestic and international economic and political conditions. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this report could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

PART I

 

 

 

Summary Description of Chevron

 

Chevron Corporation,* a Delaware corporation, manages its investments in subsidiaries and affiliates and provides administrative, financial, management and technology support to U.S. and international subsidiaries that engage in fully integrated petroleum operations, chemicals operations, mining operations, power generation and energy services. Exploration and production (upstream) operations consist of exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas and also marketing natural gas. Refining, marketing and transportation (downstream) operations relate to refining crude oil and converting natural gas into finished petroleum products; marketing crude oil and the many products derived from petroleum; and transporting crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car. Chemicals operations include the manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant oil additives.

 

A list of the company’s major subsidiaries is presented on pages E-23 and E-24. As of December 31, 2009, Chevron had approximately 64,000 employees (including about 4,000 service station employees). Approximately 31,500 employees (including about 3,500 service station employees), or 49 percent, were employed in U.S. operations.

 

Overview of Petroleum Industry

 

Petroleum industry operations and profitability are influenced by many factors, and individual petroleum companies have little control over some of them. Governmental policies, particularly in the areas of taxation, energy and the environment, have a significant impact on petroleum activities, regulating how companies are structured and where and how companies conduct their operations and formulate their products and, in some cases, limiting their profits directly. Prices for crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products and petrochemicals are generally determined by supply and demand for these commodities. However, some governments impose price controls on refined products such as gasoline or diesel fuel. The members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are typically the world’s swing producers of crude oil, and their production levels are a major factor in determining worldwide supply. Demand for crude oil and its products and for natural gas is largely driven by the conditions of local, national and global economies, although weather patterns and taxation relative to other energy sources also play a significant part. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in the company’s quarterly earnings during the year.

 

Strong competition exists in all sectors of the petroleum and petrochemical industries in supplying the energy, fuel and chemical needs of industry and individual consumers. Chevron competes with fully integrated major global petroleum companies, as well as independent and national petroleum companies, for the acquisition of crude-oil and natural-gas leases and other properties and for the equipment and labor required to develop and operate those properties. In its downstream business, Chevron also competes with fully integrated major petroleum companies and other independent refining, marketing and transportation entities and national petroleum companies in the sale or acquisition of various goods or services in many national and international markets.

 

Operating Environment

 

Refer to pages FS-2 through FS-9 of this Form 10-K in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of the company’s current business environment and outlook.

 

 

* Incorporated in Delaware in 1926 as Standard Oil Company of California, the company adopted the name Chevron Corporation in 1984 and ChevronTexaco Corporation in 2001. In 2005, ChevronTexaco Corporation changed its name to Chevron Corporation. As used in this report, the term “Chevron” and such terms as “the company,” “the corporation,” “our,” “we” and “us” may refer to Chevron Corporation, one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole, but unless stated otherwise, it does not include “affiliates” of Chevron — i.e., those companies accounted for by the equity method (generally owned 50 percent or less) or investments accounted for by the cost method. All of these terms are used for convenience only and are not intended as a precise description of any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs.

Chevron Strategic Direction

 

Chevron’s primary objective is to create stockholder value and achieve sustained financial returns from its operations that will enable it to outperform its competitors. In the upstream, the company’s strategies are to grow profitably in core areas, build new legacy positions and commercialize the company’s equity natural-gas resource base while growing a high-impact global gas business. In the downstream, the strategies are to improve returns and selectively grow, with a focus on integrated value creation. The company also continues to invest in renewable-energy technologies, with an objective of capturing profitable positions.

 

 

The upstream, downstream and chemicals activities of the company and its equity affiliates are widely dispersed geographically, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Tabulations of segment sales and other operating revenues, earnings and income taxes for the three years ending December 31, 2009, and assets as of the end of 2009 and 2008 — for the United States and the company’s international geographic areas — are in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page FS-40. Similar comparative data for the company’s investments in and income from equity affiliates and property, plant and equipment are in Notes 12 and 13 on pages FS-43 through FS-45.

Capital and Exploratory Expenditures

 

Total expenditures for 2009 were $22.2 billion, including $1.6 billion for the company’s share of equity-affiliate expenditures. In 2008 and 2007, expenditures were $22.8 billion and $20 billion, respectively, including the company’s share of affiliates’ expenditures of $2.3 billion in both periods.

 

Of the $22.2 billion in expenditures for 2009, about three-fourths, or $17.1 billion, was related to upstream activities. Approximately the same percentage was also expended for upstream operations in 2008 and 2007. International upstream accounted for about 80 percent of the worldwide upstream investment in 2009 and about 70 percent in 2008 and 2007, reflecting the company’s continuing focus on opportunities available outside the United States.

 

In 2010, the company estimates capital and exploratory expenditures will be $21.6 billion, including $1.6 billion of spending by affiliates. About 80 percent of the total, or $17.3 billion, is budgeted for exploration and production activities, with $13.2 billion of that amount for projects outside the United States.

 

Refer also to a discussion of the company’s capital and exploratory expenditures on page FS-12.

Upstream — Exploration and Production

 

The table on the following page summarizes the net production of liquids and natural gas for 2009 and 2008 by the company and its affiliates.

Net Production of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas^1,2

 

 

Worldwide oil-equivalent production, including volumes from oil sands (refer to footnote 2 above), was 2.7 million barrels per day, up about 7 percent from 2008. The increase was mostly associated with the start-up of the Blind Faith and Tahiti fields in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in late 2008 and the second quarter 2009, respectively, the commencement of operations in the third quarter 2008 at the Agbami Field in Nigeria, and the expansion at Tengiz in Kazakhstan. Refer to the “Results of Operations” section beginning on page FS-6 for a detailed discussion of the factors explaining the 2007-2009 changes in production for crude oil and natural gas liquids, and natural gas.

 

The company estimates that its average worldwide oil-equivalent production in 2010 will be approximately 2.73 million barrels per day. This estimate is subject to many uncertainties, including quotas that may be imposed by OPEC, the price effect on production volumes calculated under cost-recovery and variable-royalty provisions of certain contracts, changes in fiscal terms or restrictions on the scope of company operations, delays in project start-ups, fluctuations in demand for natural gas in various markets, and production that may have to be shut in due to weather conditions, civil unrest,

changing geopolitics or other disruptions to operations. Future production levels also are affected by the size and number of economic investment opportunities and, for new large-scale projects, the time lag between initial exploration and the beginning of production. Refer to the “Review of Ongoing Exploration and Production Activities in Key Areas,” beginning on page 9, for a discussion of the company’s major crude-oil and natural-gas development projects.

Average Sales Prices and Production Costs per Unit of Production

 

Refer to Table IV on page FS-69 for the company’s average sales price per barrel of crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids and per thousand cubic feet of natural gas produced and the average production cost per oil-equivalent barrel for 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Gross and Net Productive Wells

 

The following table summarizes gross and net productive wells at year-end 2009 for the company and its affiliates:

 

Productive Oil and Gas Wells¹ at December 31, 2009

 

		Productive2,3								Productive2
		Oil Wells								Gas Wells
		Gross				Net				Gross				Net
United States			49,761				32,720				11,567				5,671
Africa			2,292				766				17				7
Asia			10,580				9,106				2,336				1,510
Other			1,605				963				275				74
Total Consolidated Companies			64,238				43,555				14,195				7,262
Equity in Affiliates			1,133				403				7				2
Total Including Affiliates			65,371				43,958				14,202				7,264
Multiple completion wells included above:			929				596				390				313

 

Reserves

 

Refer to Table V beginning on page FS-69 for a tabulation of the company’s proved net crude-oil and natural-gas reserves by geographic area, at the beginning of 2007 and each year-end from 2007 through 2009, and an accompanying discussion of major changes to proved reserves by geographic area for the three-year period ending December 31, 2009. During 2009, the company provided crude-oil and natural-gas reserves estimates for 2008 to the Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (EIA) that agree with the 2008 reserve volumes in Table V. This reporting fulfilled the requirement that such estimates be consistent with, and not differ more than 5 percent from, the information furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K. During 2010, the company will file estimates of crude-oil and natural-gas reserves with the Department of Energy, EIA, consistent with the 2009 reserve data reported in Table V.

The net proved-reserve balances at the end of each of the three years 2007 through 2009 are shown in the table below:

 

Net Proved Reserves at December 31

 

		2009				2008				2007
Liquids* — Millions of barrels
Consolidated Companies			4,610				4,735				4,665
Affiliated Companies			2,363				2,615				2,422
Natural Gas — Billions of cubic feet
Consolidated Companies			22,153				19,022				19,137
Affiliated Companies			3,896				4,053				3,003
Total Oil-Equivalent — Millions of barrels
Consolidated Companies			8,303				7,905				7,855
Affiliated Companies			3,012				3,291				2,922

 

Acreage

 

At December 31, 2009, the company owned or had under lease or similar agreements undeveloped and developed crude-oil and natural-gas properties located throughout the world. The geographical distribution of the company’s acreage is shown in the following table.

 

Acreage^1,2 at December 31, 2009
(Thousands of Acres)

 

																		Developed and
		Undeveloped3								Developed3								Undeveloped
		Gross				Net				Gross				Net				Gross				Net
United States			4,679				3,708				6,139				3,769				10,818				7,477
Africa			9,663				5,705				2,499				917				12,162				6,622
Asia			38,370				18,491				5,313				2,742				43,683				21,233
Other			53,181				26,407				3,243				792				56,424				27,199
Total Consolidated Companies			105,893				54,311				17,194				8,220				123,087				62,531
Equity in Affiliates			640				300				259				104				899				404
Total Including Affiliates			106,533				54,611				17,453				8,324				123,986				62,935

 

Delivery Commitments

 

The company sells crude oil and natural gas from its producing operations under a variety of contractual obligations. Most contracts generally commit the company to sell quantities based on production from specified properties, but some natural-gas sales contracts specify delivery of fixed and determinable quantities, as discussed below.

 

In the United States, the company has no fixed and determinable delivery commitments to third-parties or affiliates.

 

Outside the United States, the company is contractually committed to deliver to third parties a total of 821 billion cubic feet of natural gas from 2010 through 2012 from Australia, Colombia, Denmark and the Philippines. The sales contracts contain variable pricing formulas that are generally referenced to the prevailing market price for crude oil, natural gas or other petroleum products at the time of delivery. The company believes it can satisfy these contracts from quantities available from production of the company’s proved developed reserves in Australia, Colombia, Denmark and the Philippines.

Development Activities

 

Refer to Table I on page FS-64 for details associated with the company’s development expenditures and costs of proved property acquisitions for 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

The table below summarizes the company’s net interest in productive and dry development wells completed in each of the past three years and the status of the company’s development wells drilling at December 31, 2009. A “development well” is a well drilled within the proved area of a crude-oil or natural-gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.

 

Development Well Activity

 

		Wells Drilling								Net Wells Completed1,2
		at 12/31/093								2009								2008								2007
		Gross				Net				Prod.				Dry				Prod.				Dry				Prod.				Dry
United States			47				22				582				3				846				4				875				5
Africa			6				2				40				—				33				—				43				—
Asia			38				22				580				—				665				1				597				—
Other			11				4				43				—				41				—				52				—
Total Consolidated Companies			102				50				1,245				3				1,585				5				1,567				5
Equity in Affiliates			1				—				6				—				16				—				3				—
Total Including Affiliates			103				50				1,251				3				1,601				5				1,570				5

 

Exploration Activities

 

The following table summarizes the company’s net interests in productive and dry exploratory wells completed in each of the last three years and the number of exploratory wells drilling at December 31, 2009. “Exploratory wells” are wells drilled to find and produce crude oil or natural gas in unproved areas and include delineation wells, which are wells drilled to find a new reservoir in a field previously found to be productive of crude oil or natural gas in another reservoir or to extend a known reservoir beyond the proved area.

 

Exploratory Well Activity

 

		Wells Drilling								Net Wells Completed1,2
		at 12/31/093								2009								2008								2007
		Gross				Net				Prod.				Dry				Prod.				Dry				Prod.				Dry
United States			3				1				4				5				8				2				4				8
Africa			6				2				2				1				2				1				6				2
Asia			1				—				9				1				9				2				13				9
Other			4				3				5				4				44				2				43				6
Total Consolidated Companies			14				6				20				11				63				7				66				25
Equity in Affiliates			—				—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Total Including Affiliates			14				6				20				11				63				7				66				25

 

 

Refer to Table I on page FS-64 for detail of the company’s exploration expenditures and costs of unproved property acquisitions for 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Review of Ongoing Exploration and Production Activities in Key Areas

 

Chevron’s 2009 key upstream activities, some of which are also discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations beginning on page FS-2, are presented below. The comments include references to “total production” and “net production,” which are defined under “Production” in Exhibit 99.1 on page E-42.

 

The discussion that follows references the status of proved reserves recognition for significant long-lead-time projects not yet on production and for projects recently placed on production. Reserves are not discussed for recent discoveries that have yet to advance to a project stage or for mature areas of production that do not have individual projects requiring significant levels of capital or exploratory investment. Amounts indicated for project costs represent total project costs, not the company’s share of costs for projects that are less than wholly owned.

 

 

Upstream activities in the United States are concentrated in California, the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Average net oil-equivalent production in the United States during 2009 was 717,000 barrels per day.

 

In California, the company has significant production in the San Joaquin Valley. In 2009, average net oil-equivalent production was 211,000 barrels per day, composed of 191,000 barrels of crude oil, 91 million cubic feet of natural gas and 5,000 barrels of natural gas liquids. Approximately 84 percent of the crude-oil production is considered heavy oil (typically with API gravity lower than 22 degrees).

 

Average net oil-equivalent production during 2009 for the company’s combined interests in the Gulf of Mexico shelf and deepwater areas, and the onshore fields in the region was 243,000 barrels per day. The daily oil-equivalent production comprised 149,000 barrels of crude oil, 484 million cubic feet of natural gas and 14,000 barrels of natural gas liquids.

 

equipment, subsea equipment and water injection wells. Tahiti has an estimated production life of 30 years. As of the end of 2009, proved reserves had been recognized for the first development phase of the Tahiti Field.

 

The company is participating in the ultra-deepwater Perdido Regional Development. The project encompasses the installation of a producing host facility to service multiple fields, including Chevron’s 33.3 percent-owned Great White, 60 percent-owned Silvertip and 57.5 percent-owned Tobago. Chevron has a 37.5 percent interest in the Perdido Regional Host. All of these fields and the production facility are partner-operated. Activities during 2009 included installation of the topsides on the spar, installation of umbilicals, hook-up and commissioning of the facility systems, and ongoing development drilling. First oil is expected in the first half of 2010, with the facility designed to handle 130,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day. The project has an expected life of approximately 25 years. Proved reserves have been recognized for the project.

The company has a 60 percent-owned and operated interest in Big Foot. Two successful appraisal wells have been drilled, the most recent in the first quarter 2009. The company also acquired the rights to an adjacent block during 2009. The project entered front-end engineering and design (FEED) in October 2009 and a final investment decision is expected in late 2010. Total maximum production from the project is expected to be 63,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized.

 

The Caesar and Tonga partnerships for properties located in a number of blocks in the Green Canyon area have formed a unit agreement for the area, with Chevron having a 20.3 percent nonoperated working interest. A final investment decision on the joint Caesar-Tonga project was made in the first quarter 2009. Development plans include four wells and a subsea tie-back to a nearby third-party production facility. Two development sidetracks were completed during the year. Proved reserves have been recognized for the project and first oil is expected in 2011.

 

The Jack and St. Malo fields are located within 25 miles of each other and are being considered for joint development. Chevron has a 50 percent-owned interest in Jack and a 51 percent-owned interest in St. Malo, following the anticipated acquisition of an additional 9.8 percent equity interest in St. Malo in March 2010. Both fields are company operated. The project entered FEED in May 2009 and a final investment decision is expected in late 2010. The facility is planned to have an initial design capacity of 150,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day and start-up is expected in 2014. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized.

 

Deepwater exploration activities in 2009 and early 2010 included participation in 10 exploratory wells — five wildcat, three appraisal and two delineation. Exploratory work included the following:

 

 

At the end of 2009, the company had not recognized proved reserves for any of the exploration projects discussed above.

 

Besides the activities connected with the development and exploration projects in the Gulf of Mexico, the company also has contracted capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day at the third-party Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in Louisiana. The 20-year capacity reservation agreement became effective in July 2009 and enables import of natural gas for the North America market. In September 2009, Chevron began to utilize a portion of the reserved capacity under this agreement.

 

Chevron has also contracted 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of capacity in a third-party pipeline system connecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal to the natural-gas pipeline grid. The new pipeline, which was placed in service in July 2009, provides access to two major salt dome storage fields and 10 major interstate pipeline systems, including an interconnect with Chevron’s Sabine Pipeline, which connects to the Henry Hub. An interconnect to Chevron’s Bridgeline Pipeline is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter 2010. The Henry Hub interconnects to nine interstate and four intrastate pipelines and is the pricing point for natural gas futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

Outside California and the Gulf of Mexico, the company manages operations across the mid-continental United States and Alaska. During 2009, the company’s U.S. production outside California and the Gulf of Mexico averaged 263,000 net oil-equivalent barrels per day, composed of 94,000 barrels of crude oil, 824 million cubic feet of natural gas and 31,000 barrels of natural gas liquids.

 

In the Piceance Basin in northwestern Colorado, additional production came on line in September 2009 from the company’s 100 percent-owned and operated natural-gas development. Development drilling, which began in 2007, surpassed 190 wells in 2009, with 81 completed wells available to supply natural gas to the central processing facility. Construction of compression and dehydration facilities to produce 65 million cubic feet per day of natural gas was completed in the third quarter 2009. Future work is expected to be completed in multiple stages. The full development plan includes drilling more than 2,000 wells from multi-well pads over the next 30 to 40 years. Proved reserves for subsequent stages of the project had not been recognized at year-end 2009.

 

In Africa, the company is engaged in exploration and production activities in Angola, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Republic of the Congo. Net oil-equivalent production in Africa averaged 433,000 barrels per day during 2009.

 

 

In the Greater Vanza/Longui Area of Block 0, development concept selection was under way and continued into 2010. FEED is planned for 2011. FEED activities continued on the south extension of the N’Dola Field development. At year-end 2009, no proved reserves had been recognized for these projects.

 

Four gas management projects in Block 0 are expected to eliminate routine flaring of natural gas by injecting excess natural gas into various reservoirs. The Takula Flare and Relief Modification Project and the Cabinda Gas Plant Project entered service in June 2009 and December 2009, respectively. These projects are expected to reduce flaring by up to 60 million cubic feet per day. Work continued on the Nemba Enhanced Secondary Recovery and Flare Reduction Project and the Malongo Flare and Relief Modification Project, which are scheduled for start-up in the fourth quarter 2010 and in 2011, respectively.

 

Also in Block 0, a successful two-well exploration and appraisal program was completed. The exploration well was completed in March 2009, and the appraisal well was completed in May 2009. Drilling began on another exploration well in November 2009 and was completed in the first quarter 2010. The results are under evaluation.

 

In the 31 percent-owned Block 14, net production in 2009 averaged 33,000 barrels of liquids per day from the Benguela Belize — Lobito Tomboco development and the Kuito, Tombua and Landana fields. Development and production rights for the various fields in Block 14 expire between 2027 and 2029.

 

Development of the Tombua and Landana fields continued in 2009. First production occurred in August 2009 from new production facilities that were installed in late 2008. Proved developed reserves were recognized at start of production. Development drilling is expected to continue, with maximum total daily production of 100,000 barrels of crude oil anticipated in 2011.

 

During 2009, studies to evaluate development alternatives for the Lucapa Field continued. The project is expected to enter FEED in the fourth quarter 2010. A successful appraisal well was completed in the fourth quarter 2009 in the Malange area. As of the end of 2009, development of the Negage Field was suspended until cooperative arrangements between Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo could be finalized. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for these projects.

 

The 39.2 percent-owned and operated Malongo Terminal Oil Export project was completed in November 2009. The new export system more than doubled export capacity from the area, which includes Blocks 0 and 14. In the 20 percent-owned Block 2 and the 16.3 percent-owned FST areas, combined production during 2009 averaged 3,000 barrels of net liquids per day.

Equity Affiliate Operations: In addition to the exploration and producing activities in Angola, Chevron has a 36.4 percent ownership interest in the Angola LNG affiliate that began construction in early 2008 of an onshore natural gas liquefaction plant located in Soyo, Angola. The plant is designed to process more than 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Construction continued on schedule during 2009 with plant start-up scheduled for 2012. The life of the LNG plant is estimated to be in excess of 20 years. Proved reserves have been recognized for the producing operations associated with this project.

 

Angola — Republic of the Congo Joint Development Area: Chevron operates and holds a 31.3 percent interest in the Lianzi Development Area located between Angola and Republic of the Congo. In late 2008, the development project entered FEED, which continued through 2009. No proved reserves have been recognized for Lianzi.

 

Republic of the Congo: Chevron has a 31.5 percent nonoperated working interest in the Nkossa, Nsoko and Moho-Bilondo exploitation permits and a 29.3 percent nonoperated working interest in the Kitina exploitation permit, all of which are offshore. The development and production rights for Nkossa, Nsoko and Kitina expire in 2027, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Net production from the Republic of the Congo fields averaged 21,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day in 2009.

 

In May 2009, a successful exploration well was drilled in the Moho-Bilondo exploitation permit area. Development alternatives were being evaluated during 2009. The Moho-Bilondo subsea development project, which started production in 2008, is expected to achieve maximum total production of 90,000 barrels of crude oil per day in the third quarter 2010. Chevron’s development and production rights for Moho-Bilondo expire in 2030.

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Chevron has a 17.7 percent nonoperated working interest in an offshore concession. Daily net production in 2009 averaged 3,000 barrels of oil-equivalent.

 

Chad/Cameroon: Chevron participates in a project to develop crude-oil fields in southern Chad and transport the produced volumes by pipeline to the coast of Cameroon for export. Chevron has a 25 percent nonoperated working interest in the producing operations and an approximate 21 percent interest in two affiliates that own the pipeline. Average daily net production from the Chad fields in 2009 was 27,000 barrels of oil-equivalent. In September 2009, first production was achieved at the Timbre Field in the Doba area. The Chad producing operations are conducted under a concession that expires in 2030.

 

Libya: After an unsuccessful exploration well was completed, the company elected to relinquish its 100 percent interest in the onshore Block 177 exploration license in the fourth quarter 2009.

 

partners in OML 118. At the end of 2009, no proved reserves were recognized for this project.

Chevron operates and holds a 95 percent interest in the deepwater Nsiko discovery on OML 140. Development activities continued in 2009, with FEED expected to start after commercial terms are resolved. At the end of 2009, the company had not recognized proved reserves for this project.

 

The company also holds a 30 percent nonoperated working interest in the deepwater Usan project in OML 138. The development plans involve subsea wells producing to a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. Development drilling started in June 2009. Production start-up is scheduled for 2012, and maximum total production of 180,000 barrels of crude oil per day is expected to be achieved within one year of start-up. Total costs for the project are estimated at $8.4 billion. Usan has an estimated production life of 20 years. Proved reserves have been recognized for this project.

 

Chevron participated in one successful deepwater exploration well during 2009 in Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 223. The company has a 30 percent nonoperated working interest in the license. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for the exploration project.

 

In the Niger Delta, construction on the Phase 3A expansion of the Escravos Gas Plant (EGP) was completed in late 2009 and start of production is expected in March 2010. EGP Phase 3A scope includes offshore natural-gas gathering and compression infrastructure and the addition of a second natural-gas processing facility. The modifications are designed to increase processing capacity from 285 million to 680 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and increase LPG and condensate export capacity from 15,000 to 58,000 barrels per day. EGP Phase 3A is designed to process natural gas from the Meji, Delta South, Okan and Mefa fields. The anticipated life of EGP Phase 3A is 25 years. Phase 3B of the EGP project is designed to gather natural gas from eight offshore fields and to compress and transport natural gas to onshore facilities beginning in 2012. The engineering, procurement, construction, and installation contract for the pipelines was awarded and work commenced in late 2009. Proved reserves have been recognized for these projects.

 

The 40 percent-owned and operated Onshore Asset Gas Management project is designed to restore approximately 125 million cubic feet per day of natural-gas production from certain onshore fields that have been shut in since 2003 due to civil unrest. Natural gas from these fields is sold in the Nigerian domestic gas market. The main on-site construction contracts are expected to be awarded in the second quarter 2010.

 

Refer to page 25 for a discussion of the planned gas-to-liquids facility at Escravos.

 

Equity Affiliate Operations: Chevron holds a 19.5 percent interest in the OKLNG Free Zone Enterprise (OKLNG) affiliate, which will operate the Olokola LNG project. OKLNG plans to build a multi-train natural-gas liquefaction facility and marine terminal located northwest of Escravos. At the end of 2009, timing of the final investment decision remains uncertain. The company has not recognized proved reserves associated with this project.

 

Refer to “Pipelines” under “Transportation Operations” beginning on page 26 for a discussion of the West African Gas Pipeline operations.

c)  Asia

 

Major producing countries in Asia include Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the Partitioned Zone located between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and Thailand. During 2009, net oil-equivalent production averaged 1,044,000 barrels per day in Asia.

 

prices. The remaining liquids were sold into Russian markets. During 2009, work continued on a fourth train that is designed to increase total export of processed liquids by 56,000 barrels per day. The fourth train is expected to start-up in 2011.

 

During 2009, Chevron and its partners continued to evaluate alternatives for a Phase III development of Karachaganak. Timing for the recognition of Phase III proved reserves is uncertain and depends on finalizing a project design and achieving project milestones. Karachaganak operations are conducted under a 40-year PSC that expires in 2038.

 

Equity Affiliate Operations: The company holds a 50 percent interest in Tengizchevroil (TCO), which is operating and developing the Tengiz and Korolev crude-oil fields, located in western Kazakhstan, under a 40-year concession that expires in 2033. Chevron’s net oil-equivalent production in 2009 from these fields averaged 274,000 barrels per day, composed of 226,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids and 289 million cubic feet of natural gas.

 

In 2009, TCO continued ramp-up of the Sour Gas Injection (SGI) and Second Generation Plant (SGP) facilities. The SGI facility injects approximately one-third of the sour gas separated from the crude oil back into the reservoir. The injected gas maintains higher reservoir pressure and displaces oil towards producing wells. TCO is evaluating options for another expansion project based on SGI/SGP technologies.

 

During 2009, the majority of TCO’s crude-oil production was exported through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline that runs from Tengiz in Kazakhstan to tanker-loading facilities at Novorossiysk on the Russian coast of the Black Sea. The balance was shipped via other export routes, which included shipment via tanker to Baku for transport by the BTC pipeline to Ceyhan or by rail to Black Sea ports. (Refer to “Pipelines” under “Transportation Operations” beginning on page 26 for a discussion of CPC operations.)

Turkey: Chevron holds a 25 percent nonoperated working interest in the Silopi licenses in southeast Turkey, which is on trend with production in Iraq’s northern Zagros Fold Belt. An exploration well in the Lale prospect completed drilling in the first quarter 2010, and is under evaluation.

 

Bangladesh: Chevron holds interests in three operated PSCs covering onshore Blocks 12, 13 and 14 and offshore Block 7. The company has a 98 percent interest in Blocks 12, 13 and 14. Government approval of a 2009 farm-out in Block 7 was received in February 2010, reducing the company’s interest from 88 percent to 43 percent. The farm-out was to GS Caltex, a 50 percent-owned affiliate of the company. Net oil-equivalent production from these operations in 2009 averaged 66,000 barrels per day, composed of 387 million cubic feet of natural gas and 2,000 barrels of liquids. In 2009, a final investment decision was achieved after the government approved the development of a compression project that is expected to support additional production starting in 2012 from the Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulavi Bazar natural-gas fields. Proved reserves have been recognized for this project. The government also approved an amendment to the PSC for Blocks 13 and 14 that allows the company to acquire additional 3-D seismic over the Jalalabad Field. Also in 2009, the company acquired seismic data on Block 7. Evaluation and data processing is under way, and an exploration well is planned to be completed by 2011.

 

Cambodia: Chevron operates the 1.2 million-acre (4,709 sq-km) Block A, located offshore in the Gulf of Thailand, and expects to reduce its ownership to 30 percent pending government approval of the farm-out that is anticipated in the second quarter 2010. In 2009, commercial evaluation of the prospects continued. The company was granted an extension for the Block A exploration period to the third quarter 2010 in exchange for the obligation to drill three exploration wells. Information gained from the drilling program is expected to provide improved definition of the resource in the block. Proved reserves had not been recognized as of the end of 2009.

 

Myanmar: Chevron has a 28.3 percent nonoperated working interest in a PSC for the production of natural gas from the Yadana and Sein fields offshore in the Andaman Sea. The company also has a 28.3 percent interest in a pipeline company that transports the natural gas from Yadana to the Myanmar-Thailand border for delivery to power plants in Thailand. Most of the natural gas is purchased by Thailand’s PTT Public Company Limited (PTT). The company’s average net natural gas production in 2009 was 76 million cubic feet per day. During 2009, the platform for a compression project was completed. Project start-up is expected in 2011.

 

Chevron has a 16 percent nonoperated working interest in Blocks 14A, 15A, 16A, G9/48 and G8/50, known collectively as the Arthit Field.

 

During 2009, construction at the 69.8 percent-owned and operated Platong Gas II project continued. The project is designed to add 420 million cubic feet per day of processing capacity in 2012. Proved reserves have been recognized for this project. Concessions for Blocks 10 through 13 expire in 2022.

 

During 2009, 14 exploration wells were drilled in the Gulf of Thailand, 13 were successful and one nonoperated well in the Arthit Field was unsuccessful. Two 3-D seismic surveys and geological studies for Block G4/50 were also completed in 2009. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for these activities. Three exploratory wells in Block G4/50 are planned for the second quarter 2010. For Blocks G6/50 and G7/50, one exploration well is scheduled in each block for completion by the third quarter 2010. In addition, Chevron holds exploration interests in a number of blocks that are currently inactive, pending resolution of border issues between Thailand and Cambodia.

Vietnam: The company operates off the southwest coast and has a 42.4 percent interest in a PSC that includes Blocks B and 48/95, and a 43.4 percent interest in another PSC for Block 52/97. In August 2009, Chevron reduced its ownership interest in a third operated PSC to 20 percent in Block B122 offshore eastern Vietnam. No production occurred in these areas during 2009.

 

In the blocks off the southwest coast, the Vietnam Gas Project is aimed at developing an area in the Malay Basin to supply natural gas to state-owned Petrovietnam. The project includes installation of wellhead and hub platforms, a floating storage and offloading vessel, field pipelines and a central processing platform. The project is expected to enter front-end engineering and design (FEED) in the first quarter 2010, and a final investment decision is expected in 2011. Maximum total production is planned to be about 500 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for this project.

 

In conjunction with the Vietnam Gas Project, a Petrovietnam-operated pipeline will be required to support the offshore development. Chevron will have a 28.7 percent interest in the pipeline, which is planned to transport natural gas from the offshore development to customers in southern Vietnam.

 

During the year, the company continued to analyze well results and seismic processing from Block B and Block 52/97. In Block 122, 2-D seismic data processing and geologic studies were completed. An exploration well is planned for 2011. Proved reserves had not been recognized as of the end of 2009. Future activity in Block 122 may be affected by an ongoing territorial dispute between Vietnam and China.

 

November 2009, a storm damaged the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel utilized by the company’s nonoperated assets in Block 11/19. Temporary and permanent recovery options are under development and production is expected to fully resume in 2012.

 

The joint development of the HZ25-3 and HZ25-1 crude-oil fields in Block 16/19 continued through the end of 2009. First production was delayed from the third quarter 2009 and is expected to be fully restored in the fourth quarter 2010 following damage to the FPSO vessel caused by a typhoon that struck the area in September 2009.

 

In 2009, Chevron relinquished its nonoperated working interest in four exploration blocks in the Ordos Basin. Government approval is expected in mid-2010.

 

The company’s net oil-equivalent production in 2009 from all of its interests in Indonesia averaged 243,000 barrels per day. The daily oil-equivalent rate comprised 199,000 barrels of liquids and 268 million cubic feet of natural gas. The largest producing field is Duri, located in the Rokan PSC. Duri has been under steamflood operation since 1985 and is one of the world’s largest steamflood developments. The North Duri Development is divided into multiple expansion areas. The first expansion in Area 12 started steam injection in June 2009. Maximum total daily production from Area 12 is estimated at 34,000 barrels of crude oil in 2012. A final investment decision regarding North Duri Area 13 is expected by year-end 2010. The Rokan PSC expires in 2021.

 

Chevron advanced its development plans for the Gendalo and Gehem deepwater natural-gas fields located in the Kutei Basin. FEED started in December 2009, with completion dependent upon achieving project milestones and receipt of government approvals. The Bangka deepwater natural-gas project was progressed during the year under a revised, lower-cost development plan. The project is expected to enter FEED in the second quarter 2010. Under the terms of the PSCs for both projects, the company’s 80 percent-owned and operated interest is expected to be reduced to 72 percent in 2010 with the farm-in of an Indonesian company. At the end of 2009, the company had not recognized proved reserves for either of these projects.

 

Also in the Kutei Basin, first production at the Seturian Field occurred in September 2009, which is providing natural gas to a state-owned refinery. During 2009, evaluation of the 50 percent-owned and operated Sadewa project in the Kutei Basin was suspended.

 

A drilling campaign continued through 2009 in South Natuna Sea Block B to provide additional supply for long-term natural-gas sales contracts with additional development drilling planned for 2010. The North Belut development project achieved first production in November 2009. The South Belut development project was under review during the year.

 

A two-well exploration program was conducted in the Central Sumatra Basin in 2009. One commercial discovery was made in the Rokan Block, and a second well in the Siak Block resulted in a dry hole. Chevron’s working interests in two exploration blocks in western Papua, West Papua I and West Papua III, are expected to be reduced to 51 percent interests in 2010. Completion of geological studies for those blocks was ongoing at year-end 2009, and 2-D seismic acquisition is planned for the second half 2010.

 

In West Java, Chevron operates the wholly owned Salak geothermal field with a total power-generation capacity of 377 megawatts. Also in West Java, Chevron holds a 95 percent interest in a power generation company that operates the Darajat geothermal contract area with a total capacity of 259 megawatts. Chevron also operates a 95 percent-owned 300-megawatt cogeneration facility in support of CPI’s operation in North Duri, Sumatra.

 

The pilot is an application of steam injection into a carbonate reservoir and, if successful, could significantly increase heavy oil recovery. The Central Gas Utilization Project was initiated in 2009 to assess alternatives to increase natural-gas utilization and eliminate routine flaring. A final investment decision is expected in 2011. No reserves have been recognized for these projects.

 

Philippines: The company holds a 45 percent nonoperated working interest in the Malampaya natural-gas field located 50 miles (80 km) offshore Palawan Island. Net oil-equivalent production in 2009 averaged 27,000 barrels per day, composed of 137 million cubic feet of natural gas and 4,000 barrels of condensate. Chevron also develops and produces geothermal resources under an agreement with the Philippine government. Chevron expects to sign a new 25-year contract with the government by the end of 2010 to operate the steam fields, which supply geothermal resources to the 637 megawatt geothermal facilities.

 

d)  Other

 

“Other” is composed of Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Canada, Greenland, Denmark, Faroe Islands, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom. Net oil-equivalent production from countries included in this section averaged 484,000 barrels per day during 2009. In addition, the company’s share of production from oil sands (for upgrading into synthetic oil) from the Athabasca Oil Sands Project in Canada was 26,000 barrels per day.

 

designed to be operated as a single integrated facility. The project is scheduled to start production in 2013. Proved reserves have been recognized for the project.

 

The NWS Venture is also advancing plans to extend the period of crude-oil production. The NWS Oil Redevelopment Project is designed to replace the present floating production, storage and offloading vessel and a portion of existing subsea infrastructure that services production from the Cossack, Hermes, Lambert and Wanaea offshore fields. In 2009, work commenced on conversion of the replacement vessel. The project is expected to start-up in early 2011 and extend production past 2020. The concession for the NWS Venture expires in 2034.

 

On Barrow and Thevenard islands off the northwest coast of Australia, Chevron operates crude-oil producing facilities that had combined net production of 4,000 barrels per day in 2009. Chevron’s interests in these operations are 57.1 percent for Barrow and 51.4 percent for Thevenard.

 

Also off the northwest coast of Australia, Chevron holds significant equity interests in the large natural-gas resource of the Greater Gorgon Area. The company initially held a 50 percent ownership interest across most of the area and is the operator of the Gorgon Project. Chevron and its joint-venture partners are proceeding with the combined development of Gorgon and nearby natural-gas fields as one large-scale project. Environmental approval from the Australian Commonwealth Government was issued in August 2009. In September 2009, the company announced the final investment decision and total estimated project costs for the first phase of development of $37 billion (AU$ 43 billion). The project’s scope includes a three-train, 15 million-metric-ton-per-year LNG facility; a carbon sequestration project; and a domestic natural-gas plant. Natural gas for the project is expected to be supplied from the Gorgon and Io/Jansz fields.

 

In 2009, long-term, binding agreements were finalized with four Asian customers for the delivery of about 4.4 million metric tons per year of LNG from the Gorgon Project. Equity sales agreements with three of the customers reduced Chevron’s interest in the project to 47.3 percent at the end of 2009. Nonbinding Heads of Agreements (HOA) for delivery of an additional 2.1 million metric tons per year of LNG were also signed with three additional Asian customers in 2009 and early 2010. Negotiations continue to finalize binding sales agreements, which would bring LNG delivery commitments to a combined total of about 90 percent of Chevron’s share of LNG from the project. During 2009, the company recognized proved reserves for the Greater Gorgon Area fields included in the project. First production of natural gas from these fields is expected in 2014. The project’s estimated economic life exceeds 40 years from the time of start-up.

 

Development of the company’s majority-owned and operated Wheatstone and Iago fields, located offshore Western Australia, continued with the project entering front-end engineering and design (FEED) in July 2009. Chevron operates the project and plans to supply natural gas to its 75 percent-owned and operated LNG facilities from two 100 percent-owned licenses comprising the majority of the Wheatstone Field and part of the nearby Iago Field. In October 2009, agreements were signed with two companies to join the Wheatstone Project as combined 25 percent LNG facility owners and suppliers of natural gas for the project’s first two LNG trains. In December 2009 and January 2010, nonbinding HOAs were signed with two Asian customers to take delivery of 4.9 million tons of LNG per year from the project, representing about 60 percent of the total LNG available from the foundation project. In addition, under these same HOAs the parties would acquire a combined 16.8 percent nonoperated working interest in the Wheatstone Field licenses and a 12.6 percent interest in the foundation natural-gas processing facilities at the final investment decision. At the end of 2009, the company had not recognized proved reserves for this project.

 

In the Browse Basin, the company continued engineering and survey work on two potential development concepts for the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa fields. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized.

 

In May 2009, the company announced the successful completion of a well at the Clio prospect to further explore and appraise the 66.7 percent-owned Block WA-205-P. In 2009 and early 2010, the company also announced natural-gas discoveries at the Kentish Knock prospect in the 50 percent-owned Block WA-365-P, the Achilles and Satyr prospects in the 50 percent-owned Block WA-374-P and the Yellowglen prospect in the 50 percent-owned WA-268-P Block. All prospects are Chevron-operated. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized.

 

final investment decision was made in January 2010. The project operator estimates total costs of $5.2 billion and expects first production in 2013. The facility is expected to be capable of producing up to 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Evaluation of design options for Maromba continued into 2010. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for these projects.

 

In the Santos Basin, evaluation of investment options continued into 2010 for the 20 percent-owned and partner-operated Atlanta and Oliva fields. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for these fields.

 

Colombia: The company operates the offshore Chuchupa and the onshore Ballena and Riohacha natural-gas fields as part of the Guajira Association contract. In exchange, Chevron receives 43 percent of the production for the remaining life of each field and a variable production volume from a fixed-fee Build-Operate-Maintain-Transfer agreement based on prior Chuchupa capital contributions. Daily net production averaged 245 million cubic feet of natural gas in 2009.

 

Trinidad and Tobago: Company interests include 50 percent ownership in three partner-operated blocks in the East Coast Marine Area offshore Trinidad, which includes the Dolphin and Dolphin Deep producing natural-gas fields and the Starfish discovery. Chevron also holds a 50 percent operated interest in the Manatee area of Block 6(d). Net production in 2009 averaged 199 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Incremental production associated with a new domestic sales agreement commenced at Dolphin in the third quarter 2009.

 

Venezuela: The company operates in two exploratory blocks offshore Plataforma Deltana, with working interests of 60 percent in Block 2 and 100 percent in Block 3. Chevron also holds a 100 percent operated interest in the Cardon III exploratory block, located north of Lake Maracaibo in the Gulf of Venezuela. Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), Venezuela’s national crude-oil and natural-gas company, has the option to increase its ownership in each of the three company-operated blocks up to 35 percent upon declaration of commerciality. In February 2010, a Chevron-led consortium was selected to participate in a heavy-oil project composed of three blocks in the Orinoco Oil Belt of eastern Venezuela. The consortium is expected to acquire a 40 percent interest in the project, with PDVSA holding the remaining interest.

 

The Loran Field in Block 2 is projected to provide the initial supply of natural gas for Delta Caribe LNG (DCLNG) Train 1, Venezuela’s first LNG train. A DCLNG framework agreement was signed in 2008, which provides Chevron with

a 10 percent nonoperated interest in the first train and the associated offshore pipeline. An interim operating agreement governing activities prior to a final investment decision was signed by Chevron and its Train 1 partners in March 2009. In May 2009, the company relinquished part of Block 3 and retained the portion containing the 2005 Macuira natural-gas discovery. An unsuccessful exploration well was drilled in the Cardon III block in 2009. The company plans to continue to evaluate exploration potential in the Cardon III block in 2010. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized in these exploratory blocks.

 

Equity Affiliate Operations: Chevron also holds interests in two affiliates located in western Venezuela and in one affiliate in the Orinoco Belt. Chevron has a 30 percent interest in the Petropiar affiliate that operates the Hamaca heavy-oil production and upgrading project located in Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt, a 39.2 percent interest in the Petroboscan affiliate that operates the Boscan Field in the western part of the country, and a 25.2 percent interest in the Petroindependiente affiliate that operates the LL-652 Field in Lake Maracaibo. The company’s share of average net oil-equivalent production during 2009 from these operations was 54,000 barrels per day, composed of 51,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids and 23 million cubic feet of natural gas.

 

In February 2010, binding agreements were signed with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on the development of the HSE unitized area, providing Chevron with a 23.6 percent nonoperated working interest in the unitized area.

 

For Hebron, agreements were reached during 2008 with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that allow development activities to begin. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for this project.

 

At AOSP, the company’s production from oil sands (for upgrading into synthetic oil) averaged 26,000 barrels per day during 2009. The first phase of an expansion project is under way and is expected to increase total production from oil sands by 100,000 barrels per day. The expansion would increase total AOSP design capacity to more than 255,000 barrels per day in late 2010. The projected cost of this expansion is $14.3 billion.

 

The Ells River project consists of heavy-oil leases of more than 85,000 acres (344 sq km). The area contains significant volumes with potential for recovery by using Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage, an industry-proven technology that employs steam and horizontal drilling to extract the production from oil sands through wells rather than through mining operations. Additional field appraisal activity is not planned in the near-term. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized.

 

The company also holds exploration leases in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea region, including a 34 percent nonoperated working interest in the offshore Amauligak discovery. Three exploration wells were drilled on company leases in the Mackenzie Delta region in 2009, and assessment of development concept alternatives for Amauligak continues. The company holds additional exploration acreage in eastern Labrador and the Orphan Basin. In 2009, the company was also successful in acquiring a western Canada lease position to explore for shale gas. At the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for any of these areas.

Greenland: Processing of the 2-D seismic survey acquired over License 2007/26 in Block 4 offshore West Greenland in 2008 continued in 2009, and evaluation will commence in the first-half 2010. Chevron has a 29.2 percent nonoperated working interest in this exploration license.

 

Norway: The company holds a 7.6 percent interest in the partner-operated Draugen Field. The company’s net production averaged 5,000 barrels of oil-equivalent per day during 2009. In 2009, Chevron was awarded a 40 percent working interest as operator of the exploration license PL 527 in the deepwater portion of the Norwegian Sea. Data acquisition was completed on a 2-D seismic survey, and evaluation is under way.

 

Poland: In December 2009, Chevron was awarded three five-year exploration licenses in the Zwierzyniec, Kransnik and Frampol concessions, and in February 2010, Chevron acquired the exploration rights to the Grabowiec concession. Chevron has a 100 percent-owned and operated interest in these four concessions to explore for shale gas.

 

United Kingdom: The company’s average net oil-equivalent production in 2009 from 10 offshore fields was 110,000 barrels per day, composed of 73,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids and 222 million cubic feet of natural gas. Most of the production was from the 85 percent-owned and operated Captain Field, the 23.4 percent-owned and operated Alba Field and the 32.4 percent-owned and jointly operated Britannia Field.

 

Evaluation of development alternatives continued during 2009 for the 19.4 percent-owned and partner-operated Clair Phase 2 project west of the Shetland Islands. In the 40 percent-owned and operated Rosebank/Lochnagar area northwest of the Shetland Islands, an exploration well in Rosebank North was completed in the second quarter 2009 and an appraisal well in Rosebank/Lochnagar was completed in the third quarter 2009. Also northwest of the Shetland Islands, a three-well exploration and appraisal drilling program was completed in 2009 at the Cambo prospect. Technical studies have commenced to select a preferred development alternative. Additional exploration drilling in the region is expected to occur in the second-half 2010. As of the end of 2009, proved reserves had not been recognized for any of these prospects.

 

In February 2010, the company sold its 10 percent nonoperated interest in the Laggan/Tormore discovery.

Sales of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids

 

The company sells natural gas and natural gas liquids from its producing operations under a variety of contractual arrangements. In addition, the company also makes third-party purchases and sales of natural gas and natural gas liquids in connection with its trading activities.

During 2009, U.S. and international sales of natural gas were 5.9 billion and 4.1 billion cubic feet per day, respectively, which includes the company’s share of equity affiliates’ sales. Outside the United States, substantially all of the natural-gas sales from the company’s producing interests are from operations in Australia, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Latin America, the Philippines, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

 

U.S. and international sales of natural gas liquids were 161 thousand and 111 thousand barrels per day, respectively, in 2009. Substantially all of the international sales of natural gas liquids are from company operations in Africa, Australia and Indonesia.

 

Refer to “Selected Operating Data,” on page FS-10 in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for further information on the company’s sales volumes of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Refer also to “Delivery Commitments” on page 8 for information related to the company’s delivery commitments for the sale of crude oil and natural gas.

 

 

Refining Operations

 

At the end of 2009, the company had a refining network capable of processing more than 2 million barrels of crude oil per day. Operable capacity at December 31, 2009, and daily refinery inputs for 2007 through 2009 for the company and affiliate refineries were as follows:

 

Petroleum Refineries: Locations, Capacities and Inputs
(Crude-unit capacities and crude-oil inputs in thousands of barrels per day; includes equity share in affiliates)

 

				December 31, 2009
								Operable				Refinery Inputs
Locations				Number				Capacity				2009				2008				2007
Pascagoula		Mississippi			1				330				345				299				285
El Segundo		California			1				269				247				263				222
Richmond		California			1				243				218				237				192
Kapolei		Hawaii			1				54				49				46				51
Salt Lake City		Utah			1				45				40				38				42
Perth Amboy1		New Jersey			1				80				—				8				20
Total Consolidated Companies — United States					6				1,021				899				891				812
Pembroke		United Kingdom			1				210				205				203				212
Cape Town2		South Africa			1				110				72				75				72
Burnaby, B.C.		Canada			1				55				49				36				49
Total Consolidated Companies — International					3				375				326				314				333
Affiliates3		Various Locations			8				762				653				653				688
Total Including Affiliates — International					11				1,137				979				967				1,021
Total Including Affiliates — Worldwide					17				2,158				1,878				1,858				1,833

 

 

Average crude oil distillation capacity utilization during 2009 was 91 percent, compared with 87 percent in 2008, largely a result of improved utilization at the refineries in Mississippi, Canada and Thailand. At the U.S. fuel refineries, crude oil distillation capacity utilization averaged 96 percent in 2009, compared with 95 percent in 2008, and cracking and coking capacity utilization averaged 85 percent and 86 percent in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Cracking and coking units are the primary facilities used in fuel refineries to convert heavier feedstocks into gasoline and other light products.

 

The company’s refineries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and Australia produce low-sulfur fuels. During 2009, GS Caltex, the company’s 50 percent-owned affiliate, continued construction on a new heavy-oil hydrocracker designed to increase high-value product yield and lower feedstock costs at the Yeosu, South Korea

complex. Project completion is expected in 2010. Modifications were completed in 2009 that enable the company’s 50 percent-owned Singapore Refining Company’s refinery to meet regional specifications for clean diesel fuels.

 

At the Pascagoula Refinery, construction progressed on a continuous catalytic reformer that is expected to improve refinery reliability. Planning continued for a premium base-oil facility at the company’s Pascagoula Refinery. The facility is being designed to produce approximately 25,000 barrels per day of premium base oil for use in manufacturing high-performance lubricants, such as motor oils for consumer and commercial applications. At the refinery in El Segundo, California, design, engineering and construction work advanced during 2009 on projects that will reduce feedstock costs and improve yields.

 

At the beginning of 2009, Chevron held a 5 percent interest in Reliance Petroleum Limited, a company formed by Reliance Industries Limited to construct a new refinery in Jamnagar, India. During the year, the company sold its 5 percent interest to Reliance Industries Limited.

 

Chevron processes imported and domestic crude oil in its U.S. refining operations. Imported crude oil accounted for about 85 percent and 88 percent of Chevron’s U.S. refinery inputs in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Gas-to-Liquids

 

In Nigeria, Chevron and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation are developing a 33,000 barrel-per-day gas-to-liquids facility at Escravos designed to process 325 million cubic feet per day of natural gas supplied from the Phase 3A expansion of the Escravos Gas Plant (EGP). At the end of 2009, construction was under way with two gas-to-liquids reactors and the process modules delivered to the site. Chevron has a 75 percent interest in the plant, which is expected to be operational by 2012. The estimated cost of the plant is $5.9 billion. Refer also to page 14 for a discussion on the EGP Phase 3A expansion.

Marketing Operations

 

The company markets petroleum products under the principal brands of “Chevron,” “Texaco” and “Caltex” throughout much of the world. The table below identifies the company’s and affiliates’ refined products sales volumes, excluding intercompany sales, for the three years ended December 31, 2009.

 

Refined Products Sales Volumes
(Thousands of Barrels per Day)

 

		2009				2008				2007
United States
Gasolines			720				692				728
Jet Fuel			254				274				271
Gas Oils and Kerosene			226				229				221
Residual Fuel Oil			110				127				138
Other Petroleum Products1			93				91				99
Total United States			1,403				1,413				1,457
International2
Gasolines			555				589				581
Jet Fuel			264				278				274
Gas Oils and Kerosene			647				710				730
Residual Fuel Oil			209				257				271
Other Petroleum Products1			176				182				171
Total International			1,851				2,016				2,027
Total Worldwide2			3,254				3,429				3,484

 

 

In the United States, the company markets under the Chevron and Texaco brands. At year-end 2009, the company supplied directly or through retailers and marketers approximately 9,600 Chevron- and Texaco-branded motor vehicle service stations, primarily in the mid-Atlantic, southern and western states. Approximately 500 of these outlets are company-owned or -leased stations. The company plans to discontinue, by mid-2010, sales of Chevron- and Texaco-branded motor fuels in the mid-Atlantic and other eastern states, where the company sold to retail customers through approximately 1,100 stations and to commercial and industrial customers through supply arrangements. Sales in these markets represent approximately 8 percent of the company’s total U.S. retail fuels sales volumes. Additionally, in January 2010, the company sold the rights to the Gulf trademark in the United States and its territories that it had previously licensed for use in the U.S. Northeast and Puerto Rico.

 

Outside the United States, Chevron supplied directly or through retailers and marketers approximately 12,400 branded service stations, including affiliates. In British Columbia, Canada, the company markets under the Chevron brand. The company markets in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America and the Caribbean using the Texaco brand. In the Asia-Pacific region, southern Africa, Egypt and Pakistan, the company uses the Caltex brand.

 

The company also operates through affiliates under various brand names. In South Korea, the company operates through its 50 percent-owned affiliate, GS Caltex, and in Australia through its 50 percent-owned affiliate, Caltex Australia Limited.

 

In 2009, the company completed the sale of businesses in Brazil, Haiti, Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Kenya, Uganda, India, Italy, Peru and Chile. The company retained its lubricants business in Brazil. In addition, the company sold its interest in about 465 individual service-station sites in various other countries, including the United States. The majority of these sites continue to market company-branded gasoline through new supply agreements.

 

The company also manages other marketing businesses globally. Chevron markets aviation fuel at more than 875 airports. The company also markets an extensive line of lubricant and coolant products under brand names that include Havoline, Delo, Ursa, Meropa and Taro.

Transportation Operations

 

Pipelines: Chevron owns and operates an extensive network of crude-oil, refined-product, chemicals, natural-gas-liquids (NGL) and natural-gas pipelines and other infrastructure assets in the United States. The company also has direct or indirect interests in other U.S. and international pipelines. The company’s ownership interests in pipelines are summarized in the following table.

 

Pipeline Mileage at December 31, 2009

 

		Net Mileage1,2
United States:
Crude Oil			2,803
Natural Gas			2,255
Petroleum Products3			5,768
Total United States			10,826
International:
Crude Oil			700
Natural Gas			613
Petroleum Products3			438
Total International			1,751
Worldwide			12,577

 

 

During 2009, work progressed on a project that is designed to expand capacity by about 2 billion cubic feet at the Keystone natural-gas storage facility near Midland, Texas, which would bring the total capacity of the facility to nearly 7 billion cubic feet. The project completion is anticipated in the second quarter 2010.

Work commenced in late 2009 to bring the Cal-Ky Pipeline, which was decommissioned in 2002, back into crude-oil service as a supply line for the Pascagoula Refinery. This crude-oil pipeline is also expected to provide additional outlets for the company’s equity production. The pipeline is expected to return to service in 2011. The company is also leading the evaluation and negotiations associated with a 136 mile, 24-inch pipeline from the proposed Jack and St. Malo production facility to Green Canyon 19 in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. In December 2009, the company sold its interest in the western portion of the Texaco Expanded NGL Distribution System and its 64 percent ownership interest in Southcap Pipeline Company, which included Chevron’s 13.4 percent ownership interest in the Capline Pipeline.

 

Chevron has a 15 percent interest in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) affiliate. CPC operates a crude-oil export pipeline from the Tengiz Field in Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. During 2009, CPC transported an average of approximately 743,000 barrels of crude oil per day, including 597,000 barrels per day from Kazakhstan and 146,000 barrels per day from Russia. In December 2009, partners approved the Expansion Project Implementation Plan, which is expected to increase the pipeline capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day. A final investment decision is expected in late 2010.

 

The company has an 8.9 percent interest in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) affiliate that owns and operates a pipeline that primarily transports crude oil produced by Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) (owned 10.3 percent by Chevron) from Baku, Azerbaijan, through Georgia to deepwater port facilities in Ceyhan, Turkey. The BTC pipeline has a crude-oil capacity of 1.2 million barrels per day and transports the majority of the AIOC production. Another production export route for crude oil is the Western Route Export Pipeline, wholly owned by AIOC, with capacity to transport 145,000 barrels per day from Baku, Azerbaijan, to the marine terminal at Supsa, Georgia.

 

Chevron is the largest shareholder, with a 37 percent interest, in the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited affiliate, which constructed, owns and operates the 421-mile (678-km) West African Gas Pipeline. The pipeline is designed to supply Nigerian natural gas to customers in Benin, Ghana and Togo for industrial applications and power generation. Compression facilities are expected to be installed in the second quarter 2010 that are designed to increase capacity to 170 million cubic feet per day.

 

Tankers: All tankers in Chevron’s controlled seagoing fleet were utilized during 2009. At any given time during 2009, the company had 42 deep-sea vessels chartered on a voyage basis, or for a period of less than one year. Additionally, the following table summarizes the capacity of the company’s controlled fleet.

 

Controlled Tankers at December 31, 2009¹

 

		U.S. Flag								Foreign Flag
						Cargo Capacity								Cargo Capacity
		Number				(Millions of Barrels)				Number				(Millions of Barrels)
Owned			3				0.8				1				1.1
Bareboat-Chartered			2				0.7				18				27.1
Time-Chartered2			—				—				17				12.4
Total			5				1.5				36				40.6

 

 

Federal law requires that cargo transported between U.S. ports be carried in ships built and registered in the United States, owned and operated by U.S. entities, and manned by U.S. crews. The company’s U.S.-flagged fleet is engaged primarily in transporting refined products between the Gulf Coast and the East Coast and from California refineries to terminals on the West Coast and in Alaska and Hawaii. As part of its fleet modernization program, the company has two U.S.-flagged tankers scheduled for delivery in 2010 and plans to retire three U.S.-flagged product tankers between 2010 and 2011. The new tankers are expected to bring improved efficiencies to Chevron’s U.S.-flagged fleet.

 

The foreign-flagged vessels are engaged primarily in transporting crude oil from the Middle East, Asia, the Black Sea, Mexico and West Africa to ports in the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia. The company’s foreign-flagged vessels also transport refined products to and from various locations worldwide.

In addition to the vessels described above, the company owns a one-sixth interest in each of seven liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) tankers transporting cargoes for the North West Shelf (NWS) Venture in Australia. The NWS project also has two LNG tankers under long-term time charter.

 

The Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires the phase-out by year-end 2010 of all single-hull tankers trading to U.S. ports or transferring cargo in waters within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. As of the end of 2009, the company’s owned and chartered fleet was completely double-hulled. The company is a member of many oil-spill-response cooperatives in areas in which it operates around the world.

Chemicals

 

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC (CPChem) is equally owned with ConocoPhillips Corporation. At the end of 2009, CPChem owned or had joint-venture interests in 34 manufacturing facilities and five research and technical centers in Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea and the United States.

 

During 2009, CPChem completed construction of the 22 million-pounds-per-year Ryton^® polyphenylene-sulfide (PPS) manufacturing facility at Borger, Texas. Ryton^® PPS is an engineering thermoplastic used in a variety of applications, including automotives and electronics.

 

Outside the United States, CPChem’s 35 percent-owned Saudi Polymers Company continued construction during 2009 on a petrochemical project in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The joint-venture project includes an olefins unit and downstream polyethylene, polypropylene, 1-hexene and polystyrene units. Project completion is expected in 2011.

 

CPChem continued construction during 2009 on the 49 percent-owned Q-Chem II project, located in both Mesaieed and Ras Laffan, Qatar. The project includes a 350,000-metric-ton-per-year high-density polyethylene plant and a 345,000-metric-ton-per-year normal alpha olefins plant, each utilizing CPChem proprietary technology. These plants are located adjacent to the existing Q-Chem I complex. The Q-Chem II project also includes a separate joint venture to develop a 1.3 million-metric-ton-per-year ethylene cracker in Ras Laffan, in which Q-Chem II owns 54 percent of the capacity rights. Start-up for the ethylene cracker is expected in March 2010, and start-up for the polyethylene and alpha olefins plants is anticipated in the third quarter 2010.

 

Chevron’s Oronite brand lubricant and fuel additives business is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of performance additives for lubricating oils and fuels. The company owns and operates facilities in Brazil, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United States and has equity interests in facilities in India and Mexico. Oronite lubricant additives are blended into refined base oil to produce finished lubricant packages used in most engine applications, such as passenger car, heavy-duty diesel, marine, locomotive and motorcycle engines, and additives for fuels to improve engine performance and extend engine life. During 2009, production began at the detergent expansion facility in Palau Sakra, Singapore. This additional capacity enhances the company’s ability to produce detergent components for applications in marine and automotive engines.

Mining

 

Chevron’s U.S.-based mining company produces and markets coal and molybdenum. Sales occur in both U.S. and international markets.

 

The company owns and is the operator of a surface coal mine in Kemmerer, Wyoming, an underground coal mine, North River, in Alabama, and a surface coal mine in McKinley, New Mexico. The company continues to actively market for sale its coal reserves at the North River Mine and elsewhere in Alabama. The decision was made in late 2009 to suspend production at the McKinley Mine, and conduct reclamation activities in 2010. The company also owns a 50 percent interest in Youngs Creek Mining Company LLC, which was formed to develop a coal mine in northern Wyoming. Coal sales from wholly owned mines in 2009 were 10 million tons, down about 1 million tons from 2008.

 

At year-end 2009, Chevron controlled approximately 193 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves in the United States, including reserves of low-sulfur coal. The company is contractually committed to deliver between 7 million and 9 million tons of coal per year through the end of 2012 and believes it will satisfy these contracts from existing coal reserves.

In addition to the coal operations, Chevron owns and operates the Questa molybdenum mine in New Mexico. At year-end 2009, Chevron controlled approximately 53 million pounds of proven molybdenum reserves at Questa. Underground development and production plans at Questa were scaled back in 2009 in response to weakening prices for molybdenum.

Power Generation

 

Chevron’s power generation business has interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of more than 3,100 megawatts, primarily through joint ventures in the United States and Asia. Twelve of these are efficient combined-cycle and gas-fired cogeneration facilities that utilize waste heat recovery to produce electricity and support industrial thermal hosts. The thirteenth facility is a wind farm, located in Casper, Wyoming, that began operating in late 2009. The 100 percent-owned and operated Casper Wind Farm is a small-scale wind power facility designed to optimize the efficient use of a decommissioned refinery site for delivery of clean, renewable energy to the local utility provider.

 

The company has major geothermal operations in Indonesia and the Philippines and is investigating several advanced solar technologies for use in oil-field operations as part of its renewable-energy strategy. For additional information on the company’s geothermal operations and renewable energy projects, refer to page 18 and “Research and Technology” below.

Chevron Energy Solutions

 

Chevron Energy Solutions (CES) is a wholly owned subsidiary that designs and implements sustainable solutions for public institutions and businesses to increase energy efficiency and reliability, reduce energy costs, and utilize renewable and alternative-power technologies. Since 2000, CES has developed hundreds of projects that help governments, educational institutions and other customers reduce their energy costs and environmental impact. Major projects completed by CES in 2009 included solar and energy-efficiency installations for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the San Jose Unified School District, which were the largest projects of their kind for a U.S. transit authority and school district.

Research and Technology

 

The company’s energy technology organization supports Chevron’s upstream and downstream businesses by providing technology, services and competency development in earth sciences; reservoir and production engineering; drilling and completions; facilities engineering; manufacturing; process technology; catalysis; technical computing; and health, environment and safety. The information technology organization integrates computing, telecommunications, data management, security and network technology to provide a standardized digital infrastructure and enable Chevron’s global operations and business processes.

 

Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) manages investments and projects in emerging energy technologies and their integration into Chevron’s core businesses. As of the end of 2009, CTV continued to explore technologies such as next-generation biofuels and advanced solar.

 

Chevron’s research and development expenses were $603 million, $702 million and $510 million for the years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Some of the investments the company makes in the areas described above are in new or unproven technologies and business processes, and ultimate technical or commercial successes are not certain. The company’s overall investment in this area is not significant to the company’s consolidated financial position.

Environmental Protection

 

Virtually all aspects of the company’s businesses are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and to similar laws and regulations in other countries. These regulatory requirements continue to change and increase in both number and complexity and to govern not only the manner in which the company conducts its operations, but also the products it sells. Most of the costs of complying with the many laws and regulations pertaining to its operations are, or are expected to become, embedded in the normal costs of conducting business.

 

In 2009, the company’s U.S. capitalized environmental expenditures were approximately $887 million, representing approximately 15 percent of the company’s total consolidated U.S. capital and exploratory expenditures. These environmental expenditures include capital outlays to retrofit existing facilities as well as those associated with new

facilities. The expenditures relate mostly to air- and water-quality projects and activities at the company’s refineries, oil and gas producing facilities, and marketing facilities. For 2010, the company estimates U.S. capital expenditures for environmental control facilities will be approximately $831 million. The future annual capital costs are uncertain and will be governed by several factors, including future changes to regulatory requirements.

 

Chevron expects an increase in environment-related regulations, including those that are intended to address concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change, in the countries where it has operations. For instance, under California’s Global Warming Solutions Act enacted in 2006, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), charged with implementing the law, has adopted a new low-carbon fuel standard intended to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels, which is expected to apply beginning in 2011. Additionally, CARB is expected to propose regulations to implement the “cap and trade” emissions regulation provisions of the law, for adoption in the second half 2010. The effect of any such regulation on the company’s business is uncertain.

 

Refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages FS-16 through FS-17 for additional information on environmental matters and their impact on Chevron and on the company’s 2009 environmental expenditures, remediation provisions and year-end environmental reserves. Refer also to Item 1A. Risk Factors on pages 30 through 32 for a discussion of greenhouse gas regulation and climate change.

Web Site Access to SEC Reports

 

The company’s Internet Web site is at www.chevron.com. Information contained on the company’s Internet Web site is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge on the company’s Web site soon after such reports are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The reports are also available at the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov.

 

 

Chevron is a major fully integrated petroleum company with a diversified business portfolio, a strong balance sheet, and a history of generating sufficient cash to fund capital and exploratory expenditures and to pay dividends. Nevertheless, some inherent risks could materially impact the company’s financial results of operations or financial condition.

 

Chevron is exposed to the effects of changing commodity prices.

 

Chevron is primarily in a commodities business with a history of price volatility. The single largest variable that affects the company’s results of operations is the price of crude oil, which can be influenced by general economic conditions and geopolitical risk.

 

During extended periods of historically low prices for crude oil, the company’s upstream earnings and capital and exploratory expenditure programs will be negatively affected. Upstream assets may also become impaired. The impact on downstream earnings is dependent upon the supply and demand for refined products and the associated margins on refined-product sales.

 

The scope of Chevron’s business will decline if the company does not successfully develop resources.

 

The company is in an extractive business; therefore, if Chevron is not successful in replacing the crude oil and natural gas it produces with good prospects for future production or through acquisitions, the company’s business will decline. Creating and maintaining an inventory of projects depends on many factors, including obtaining and renewing rights to explore, develop and produce hydrocarbons; drilling success; ability to bring long-lead-time, capital-intensive projects to completion on budget and schedule; and efficient and profitable operation of mature properties.

 

The company’s operations could be disrupted by natural or human factors.

 

Chevron operates in both urban areas and remote and sometimes inhospitable regions. The company’s operations and facilities are therefore subject to disruption from either natural or human causes, including hurricanes, floods and other forms of severe weather, war, civil unrest and other political events, fires, earthquakes, explosions and system failures, any of which could result in suspension of operations or harm to people or the natural environment.

Chevron’s business subjects the company to liability risks from litigation or government action.

 

The company produces, transports, refines and markets materials with potential toxicity, and it purchases, handles and disposes of other potentially toxic materials in the course of the company’s business. Chevron operations also produce byproducts, which may be considered pollutants. Often these operations are conducted through joint ventures over which the company may have limited influence and control. Any of these activities could result in liability arising from private litigation or government action, either as a result of an accidental, unlawful discharge or as a result of new conclusions on the effects of the company’s operations on human health or the environment. In addition, to the extent that societal pressures or political or other factors are involved, it is possible that such liability could be imposed without regard to the company’s causation of or contribution to the asserted damage or to other mitigating factors.

 

Political instability could harm Chevron’s business.

 

The company’s operations, particularly exploration and production, can be affected by changing economic, regulatory and political environments in the various countries in which it operates. As has occurred in the past, actions could be taken by governments to increase public ownership of the company’s partially or wholly owned businesses or to impose additional taxes or royalties.

 

In certain locations, governments have imposed restrictions, controls and taxes, and in others, political conditions have existed that may threaten the safety of employees and the company’s continued presence in those countries. Internal unrest, acts of violence or strained relations between a government and the company or other governments may affect the company’s operations. Those developments have, at times, significantly affected the company’s related operations and results and are carefully considered by management when evaluating the level of current and future activity in such countries. At December 31, 2009, 26 percent of the company’s net proved reserves were located in Kazakhstan. The company also has significant interests in Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)-member countries including Angola, Nigeria and Venezuela and in the Partitioned Zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Twenty-two percent of the company’s net proved reserves, including affiliates, were located in OPEC countries at December 31, 2009.

 

Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions could increase Chevron’s operational costs and reduce demand for Chevron’s products.

 

Continued political attention to issues concerning climate change, the role of human activity in it and potential mitigation through regulation could have a material impact on the company’s operations and financial results.

 

International agreements and national or regional legislation and regulatory measures to limit greenhouse emissions are currently in various stages of discussion or implementation. For instance, the Kyoto Protocol, Australia’s proposed legislation and California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, along with other actual or pending federal, state and provincial regulations, envision a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through market-based regulatory programs, technology-based or performance-based standards or a combination of them. The company is subject to existing greenhouse gas emissions limits in jurisdictions where such regulation is currently effective, including the European Union and New Zealand.

 

In December 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final endangerment finding for greenhouse gases, which specifically found that emissions of six greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare and that greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles and engines also contribute to such pollution. These findings do not themselves impose regulatory requirements. However, the agency is currently in the process of promulgating greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty vehicles and regulations that would require certain stationary source facilities that exceed an as-yet undetermined threshold to obtain permits in advance, which permits could require implementation of so-called “best available control technologies.” In June 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This is known as the Waxman-Markey bill, which includes provisions for a cap-and-trade program, aimed at controlling and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States. At this time it is not possible to predict whether or when the U.S. Senate may act on climate change legislation, how any bill approved by the Senate will be reconciled with the Waxman-Markey legislation or whether any federal legislation will supersede the EPA’s regulatory actions.

 

These and other greenhouse gas emissions-related laws, policies and regulations, may result in substantial capital, compliance, operating and maintenance costs. The level of expenditure required to comply with these laws and regulations is uncertain and is expected to vary by jurisdiction depending on the laws enacted in each jurisdiction, the company’s activities in it and market conditions. The company’s exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas and

various minerals such as coal; the upgrading of production from oil sands into synthetic oil; power generation; the conversion of crude oil and natural gas into refined products; the processing, liquefaction and regasification of natural gas; the transportation of crude oil, natural gas and related products and consumers’ or customers’ use of the company’s products result in greenhouse gas emissions that could well be regulated. Some of these activities, such as consumers’ and customers’ use of the company’s products, as well as actions taken by the company’s competitors in response to such laws and regulations, are beyond the company’s control.

 

The effect of regulation on the company’s financial performance will depend on a number of factors, including, among others, the sectors covered, the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required by law, the extent to which Chevron would be entitled to receive emission allowance allocations or need to purchase compliance instruments on the open market or through auctions, the price and availability of emission allowances and credits, and the impact of legislation or other regulation on the company’s ability to recover the costs incurred through the pricing of the company’s products. Material price increases or incentives to conserve or use alternative energy sources could reduce demand for products the company currently sells and adversely affect the company’s sales volumes, revenues and margins.

 

Changes in management’s estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on the company’s consolidated financial statements and financial or operations performance in any given period.

 

In preparing the company’s periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including its financial statements, Chevron’s management is required under applicable rules and regulations to make estimates and assumptions as of a specified date. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and experience as of that date and are subject to substantial risk and uncertainty. Materially different results may occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known. Areas requiring significant estimates and assumptions by management include measurement of benefit obligations for pension and other postretirement benefit plans; estimates of crude oil and natural gas recoverable reserves; accruals for estimated liabilities, including litigation reserves; and impairments to property, plant and equipment. Changes in estimates or assumptions or the information underlying the assumptions, such as changes in the company’s business plans, general market conditions or changes in commodity prices, could affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities or expenses.

 

 

None.

 

 

The location and character of the company’s crude oil, natural gas and mining properties and its refining, marketing, transportation and chemicals facilities are described on page 3 under Item 1. Business. Information required by Subpart 1200 of Regulation S-K (“Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Oil and Gas Producing Activities”) is also contained in Item 1 and in Tables I through VII on pages FS-64 through FS-77. Note 13, “Properties, Plant and Equipment,” to the company’s financial statements is on page FS-45.

 

 

Ecuador Chevron is a defendant in a civil lawsuit before the Superior Court of Nueva Loja in Lago Agrio, Ecuador, brought in May 2003 by plaintiffs who claim to be representatives of certain residents of an area where an oil production consortium formerly had operations. The lawsuit alleges damage to the environment from the oil exploration and production operations, and seeks unspecified damages to fund environmental remediation and restoration of the alleged environmental harm, plus a health monitoring program. Until 1992, Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet), a subsidiary of Texaco Inc., was a minority member of this consortium with Petroecuador, the Ecuadorian state-owned oil company, as the majority partner; since 1990, the operations have been conducted solely by Petroecuador. At the conclusion of the consortium and following an independent third-party environmental audit of the concession area, Texpet entered into a formal agreement with the Republic of Ecuador and Petroecuador for Texpet to remediate specific sites assigned by the government in proportion to Texpet’s ownership share of the consortium. Pursuant to that agreement, Texpet conducted a three-year remediation program at a cost of $40 million. After certifying that the sites were properly remediated, the government granted Texpet and all related corporate entities a full release from any and all environmental liability arising from the consortium operations.

 

Based on the history described above, Chevron believes that this lawsuit lacks legal or factual merit. As to matters of law, the company believes first, that the court lacks jurisdiction over Chevron; second, that the law under which plaintiffs

bring the action, enacted in 1999, cannot be applied retroactively; third, that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations in Ecuador; and, fourth, that the lawsuit is also barred by the releases from liability previously given to Texpet by the Republic of Ecuador and Petroecuador. With regard to the facts, the company believes that the evidence confirms that Texpet’s remediation was properly conducted and that the remaining environmental damage reflects Petroecuador’s failure to timely fulfill its legal obligations and Petroecuador’s further conduct since assuming full control over the operations.

 

In April 2008, a mining engineer appointed by the court to identify and determine the cause of environmental damage, and to specify steps needed to remediate it, issued a report recommending that the court assess $8 billion, which would, according to the engineer, provide financial compensation for purported damages, including wrongful death claims, and pay for, among other items, environmental remediation, health care systems, and additional infrastructure for Petroecuador. The engineer’s report also asserted that an additional $8.3 billion could be assessed against Chevron for unjust enrichment. The engineer’s report is not binding on the court. Chevron also believes that the engineer’s work was performed and his report prepared in a manner contrary to law and in violation of the court’s orders. Chevron submitted a rebuttal to the report in which it asked the court to strike the report in its entirety. In November 2008, the engineer revised the report and, without additional evidence, recommended an increase in the financial compensation for purported damages to a total of $18.9 billion and an increase in the assessment for purported unjust enrichment to a total of $8.4 billion. Chevron submitted a rebuttal to the revised report, which the court dismissed. In September 2009, following the disclosure by Chevron of evidence that the judge participated in meetings in which businesspeople and individuals holding themselves out as government officials discussed the case and its likely outcome, the judge presiding over the case petitioned to be recused. In late September 2009, the judge was recused, and in October 2009, the full chamber of the provincial court affirmed the recusal, resulting in the appointment of a new judge. Chevron filed motions to annul all of the rulings made by the prior judge, but the new judge denied these motions. The court has completed most of the procedural aspects of the case and could render a judgment at any time. Chevron will continue a vigorous defense of any attempted imposition of liability.

 

In the event of an adverse judgment, Chevron would expect to pursue its appeals and vigorously defend against enforcement of any such judgment; therefore, the ultimate outcome — and any financial effect on Chevron — remains uncertain. Management does not believe an estimate of a reasonably possible loss (or a range of loss) can be made in this case. Due to the defects associated with the engineer’s report, management does not believe the report has any utility in calculating a reasonably possible loss (or a range of loss). Moreover, the highly uncertain legal environment surrounding the case provides no basis for management to estimate a reasonably possible loss (or a range of loss).

 

Government Proceedings

In November 2008, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposed a civil penalty against the company’s Sacramento, California, terminal for alleged violations between August and December 2007 of CARB’s regulations governing the minimum concentration of additives in gasoline. Due to a computer programming error, the Sacramento terminal’s automatic dispensers had failed to inject additive detergent into a gasoline line.

 

In November 2008, CARB proposed a civil penalty against the company’s Richmond, California, refinery for a notice of violation relating to gasoline that was not properly certified as to composition. The company corrected the composition certificates for the gasoline without requiring any change to the composition of the gasoline. In July 2009, CARB issued the refinery a notice of violation relating to an error in gasoline blending that caused the product composition certifications to be in error. The composition certifications were corrected without requiring any change to the gasoline. Discussions with CARB officials relating to all of these matters took place in the fourth quarter 2009 and continue in 2010.

 

In July 2009, the Hawaii Department of Health (“DOH”) alleged that Chevron is obligated to pay stipulated civil penalties exceeding $100,000 in conjunction with commitments the company undertook to install and operate certain air pollution abatement equipment at its Hawaii Refinery pursuant to Clean Air Act settlement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and DOH. The company has disputed many of the allegations.

 

 

None.

Item 5.    Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The information on Chevron’s common stock market prices, dividends, principal exchanges on which the stock is traded and number of stockholders of record is contained in the Quarterly Results and Stock Market Data tabulations, on page FS-24.

 

CHEVRON CORPORATION
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES