Property, Plant and Equipment

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

3.  Property, Plant and Equipment

Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs:  

The following table discloses the net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs pending determination of proved reserves during the three months ended March 31, 2023 (in millions):

Balance at January 1, 2023	$	886
Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending the determination of proved reserves	49
Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense	(2)
Balance at March 31, 2023	$	933

In the first quarter, additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending determination of proved reserves primarily related to wells drilled on the Stabroek Block (Hess 30%), offshore Guyana. At March 31, 2023, 38 exploration and appraisal wells on the Stabroek Block, with a total cost of $776 million, were capitalized pending determination of proved reserves. The preceding table excludes well costs of $29 million that were incurred and expensed during the first three months of 2023.

At March 31, 2023, exploratory well costs capitalized for greater than one year following completion of drilling of $615 million was comprised of the following:

Guyana: Approximately 92% of the capitalized well costs in excess of one year relate to successful exploration wells where hydrocarbons were encountered on the Stabroek Block.  In April 2023, the Government of Guyana and the partners sanctioned the development of the Uaru Field, the fifth sanctioned project on the block. Approximately $80 million of capitalized exploratory well costs at March 31, 2023 related to the Uaru Field will be reclassified to wells, facilities and equipment in the second quarter of 2023. The operator also plans further appraisal drilling on the block and is conducting pre-development planning for additional phases of development.

Joint Development Area (JDA):  Approximately 6% of the capitalized well costs in excess of one year relate to the JDA (Hess 50%) in the Gulf of Thailand, where hydrocarbons were encountered in three successful exploration wells drilled in the western part of Block A-18. The operator has submitted a development plan concept to the regulator to facilitate ongoing commercial negotiations for an extension of the existing gas sales contract to include development of the western part of the block.

Malaysia:  Approximately 2% of the capitalized well costs in excess of one year relate to the North Malay Basin (Hess 50%), offshore Peninsular Malaysia, where hydrocarbons were encountered in one successful exploration well.  Pre-development studies are ongoing.