據今日石油2020年9月26日報道，美國能源信息署(EIA)表示，其最新分析發現，今年第二季度全球勘探和生產(E&P)公司的債務水平出現了大幅飆升，這說明石油需求和原油價格下降對該行業造成的直接影響。

EIA從其對第二季度全球102家E&P公司的分析中還發現，經營現金流量同比下降了54%；在102家E&P公司中，25%的公司自由現金流為正；只有14%的公司報告上游盈利為正；10家資本規模最大的公司的現金余額同比增加了340億美元，但其他公司的現金余額減少了60億美元。

EIA稱，“全球油氣E&P公司在第二季度新增長期和短期債務總計720億美元”，平均債務與權益比率攀升至近60%。

Evaluate能源公司總經理克里斯?威爾遜表示，“這些數據是至少自2015年初以來的最高記錄，顯示出近期壓力在多大程度上、多快地迫使上游生產商改變圍繞資本結構的戰略。”

美國埃克森美孚公司在圭亞那的業務基本上沒有受到行業低迷的影響，這家美國石油巨頭即將做出在斯塔布魯克區塊進行第三次海上開發的最終投資決定，等待圭亞那政府的批準，預計很快就會獲得批準。

到目前為止，埃克森美孚公司已在斯塔布魯克區塊獲得了18個石油發現，總油氣儲量超過80億桶油當量，勘探活動仍在繼續。

美國石油學會（API）首席經濟學家迪安·福爾曼博士說，這樣的一種繼續說明，埃克森美孚公司在圭亞那的支出沒有倒退。

福爾曼博士說，“特別是石油和天然氣，以及它對圭亞那的意義，我認為你們已經看到了資源積累良好，投資繼續…在這一點上，我認為這是一個好消息，也是一個好的跡象，表明圭亞那到目前為止還沒有出現倒退。”

李峻 編譯自 今日石油

原文如下：

E&P companies took up combined debt of $72 billion in Q2 2020 – EIA analysis

The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) said its latest analysis has found that debt levels among Exploration and Production (E&P) companies spiked during the second quarter of 2020 illustrating the immediate impact of reduced oil demand and prices on the sector.

From its Q2 analysis of 102 E&P companies globally, the EIA also found that cash from operations fell 54% year-over-year; 25% of 102 producers recorded positive free cash flow; only 14% of companies reported positive upstream earnings; and cash balances increased $34 billion year-over-year for the 10 largest capitalized companies but decreased $6 billion for others.

“Companies took on a combined $72 billion in new long and short-term debt in the second quarter,” said the EIA, with average debt to equity ratios climbing to almost 60%.

“These figures are by far the highest recorded since at least the start of 2015, showing just how much and how quickly recent pressures have forced upstream producers to alter strategy around capital structure,” said Chris Wilson, Managing Director of Evaluate Energy.

ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyana have largely been unaffected by the industry downturn and the company is on the verge of making a final investment decision fir its 3rd offshore development at Stabroek Block, pending government approval which is expected soon.

The company has so far made 18 discoveries totaling over 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent and exploration activities continue.

Chief Economist of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Dr. Dean Foreman has said that such a continuation demonstrates that there is no backtracking of spending by ExxonMobil in Guyana.

“With oil and gas specifically and what it means for Guyana, I think you have seen that the resource stacks up well, the investment has continued…. At this point I think it’s good news and a good indication that Guyana has not seen backtracking so far,” he said.