EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 821189
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 821189_10-K_2024_0000821189-24-000011.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. Business
General
EOG Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation organized in 1985, together with its subsidiaries (collectively, EOG), explores for, develops, produces and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas primarily in major producing basins in the United States of America (United States or U.S.), the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) and, from time to time, select other international areas. EOG's principal producing areas are further described in "Exploration and Production" below. EOG's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports (including related exhibits and supplemental schedules) filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended) are made available, free of charge, through EOG's website, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports have been filed with, or furnished to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). EOG's website address is www.eogresources.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this report.
At December 31, 2023, EOG's total estimated net proved reserves were 4,498 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which 1,756 million barrels (MMBbl) were crude oil and condensate reserves, 1,254 MMBbl were NGLs reserves and 8,930 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 1,488 MMBoe, were natural gas reserves (see "Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements"). At such date, approximately 99% of EOG's net proved reserves, on a crude oil equivalent basis, were located in the United States and 1% in Trinidad. Crude oil equivalent volumes are determined using a ratio of 1.0 barrel of crude oil and condensate or NGLs to 6.0 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas.
EOG's operations are all crude oil and natural gas exploration and production related. For information regarding the risks associated with EOG's domestic and foreign operations, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors.
EOG is focused on being among the lowest-cost, highest-return and lowest-emissions producers, playing a significant role in the long-term future of energy. EOG operates under a consistent business and operational strategy that focuses predominantly on maximizing the rate of return on investment of capital by controlling operating costs and capital expenditures and maximizing reserve recoveries. Pursuant to this strategy, each prospective drilling location is evaluated by its estimated rate of return. This strategy is intended to enhance the generation of cash flow and earnings from each unit of production on a cost-effective basis, allowing EOG to maximize long-term growth in shareholder value and maintain a strong balance sheet. EOG is also focused on innovation and cost-effective utilization of advanced technology associated with three-dimensional seismic and microseismic data, the development of reservoir simulation models and the use of improved drilling equipment and completion technologies for horizontal drilling and formation evaluation. These advanced technologies are used, as appropriate, throughout EOG to reduce the risks and costs associated with all aspects of oil and gas exploration, development and exploitation. EOG implements its strategy primarily by emphasizing the drilling of internally generated prospects in order to find and develop low-cost reserves. Maintaining the lowest possible operating cost structure, coupled with efficient and safe operations and robust environmental stewardship practices and performance, is integral in the implementation of EOG's strategy.
With respect to information on EOG's working interest in wells or acreage, "net" oil and gas wells or acreage are determined by multiplying "gross" oil and gas wells or acreage by EOG's working interest in the wells or acreage.
Exploration and Production
United States Operations
EOG's operations are located in most of the productive basins in the United States with a focus on crude oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas plays.
At December 31, 2023, on a crude oil equivalent basis, 39% of EOG's net proved reserves in the United States were crude oil and condensate, 28% were NGLs and 33% were natural gas. The majority of these reserves are in long-lived fields with well-established production characteristics. EOG believes that opportunities exist to increase production through continued development in and around many of these fields and through the utilization of applicable technologies. EOG also maintains an active exploration program designed to extend fields and add new trends and resource plays to its already broad portfolio.
The following is a summary of wellhead volume statistics and net well completions for the year ended December 31, 2023, total net acres at December 31, 2023, and expected net well completions planned for 2024 for certain areas of EOG's United States operations.
2023 2024
Area of Operation Crude Oil & Condensate Volumes
(MBbld) (1)
Natural Gas Liquids Volumes
(MBbld) (1)
Natural Gas Volumes
(MMcfd) (1)
Total Net Acres (in thousands) Net Well Completions Expected Net Well Completions
Delaware Basin 301.9 164.0 890 395 370 360
South Texas 126.0 32.4 436 1,155 200 170
Rocky Mountain 39.4 15.3 149 801 54 40
Other Areas 7.9 12.1 76 1,015 16 30
Total 475.2 223.8 1,551 3,366 640 600
(1)Thousand barrels per day or million cubic feet per day, as applicable.
In the Delaware Basin, EOG completed 370 net wells in 2023, primarily in the Wolfcamp, Bone Spring and Leonard plays. The Delaware Basin consists of approximately 4,800 feet of oil-rich stacked pay potential offering EOG multiple co-development opportunities throughout its 395,000 net acre position.
In the Wolfcamp play, EOG completed 188 net wells in 2023. EOG continued to focus on co-development of multiple Wolfcamp targets to maximize the value of the acreage. In 2024, the Wolfcamp play will continue to be a primary area of focus.
In the Bone Spring play, EOG has three main sub-plays: the First, Second and Third Bone Spring. In 2023, EOG completed 140 total net Bone Spring wells within the three sub-plays. Of the three sub-plays, the Second Bone Spring had the majority of the activity in 2023 with EOG completing 89 net wells. The Bone Spring play continues to be an integral part of EOG's Delaware Basin plans and portfolio.
In the Leonard play, EOG executed its development plan with 42 net wells completed in 2023. EOG continued co-development of multiple Leonard zones simultaneously, and expects the Leonard play to become a more active part of EOG's program in the next several years.
Activity in 2024 will remain focused on the Wolfcamp, Bone Spring, and Leonard plays, where EOG expects to complete approximately 360 net wells.
The South Texas area includes our Eagle Ford play and our Dorado gas play. EOG holds approximately 535,000 total net acres in the Eagle Ford play and approximately 160,000 net acres in the Dorado gas play. In the Dorado gas play, EOG has continued to delineate the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk formations with excellent results. In 2023, EOG completed 172 net wells in the Eagle Ford play, and 28 net wells in the Dorado gas play. In addition, key infrastructure was added in order to lower operating costs and increase price realizations. In 2024, EOG expects to complete approximately 145 net Eagle Ford play wells and 25 net Dorado wells, as well as completing major infrastructure projects to connect the Dorado gas play to the Agua Dulce gas market near Corpus Christi, Texas.
Activity in the Rocky Mountain area in 2023 was focused on the Wyoming Powder River Basin. In the Powder River Basin, EOG operated a two-rig program and completed 35 net wells in the Niobrara, Mowry, Turner and Parkman formations. In addition, key infrastructure was added in order to lower operating costs and increase price realizations. In addition, in the DJ Basin, EOG completed eight net wells in the Codell formation and, in the Williston Basin, EOG completed 11 net wells in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. In 2024, activity in the Rockies is expected to decrease. EOG plans to complete approximately 10 net Williston Basin wells, five net DJ Basin wells and 25 net wells in the Powder River Basin.
Activity in the Other Areas include EOG's newest play, the Utica play. EOG holds approximately 435,000 total net acres, including 135,000 net mineral acres in the Utica. In the Utica play, EOG has continued to test with excellent results. In 2023, EOG completed six net Utica wells. In 2024, EOG expects to complete approximately 20 net Utica wells.
Operations Outside the United States
EOG has operations offshore Trinidad and is making preparations to drill offshore Australia, as well as evaluating additional exploration, development and exploitation opportunities in these and other select international areas. In addition, EOG exited Block 36 and Block 49 in the Sultanate of Oman (Oman) and is executing an abandonment and reclamation program in Canada.
Trinidad. EOG, through its subsidiaries, including EOG Resources Trinidad Limited, holds interests in (i) the exploration and production licenses covering the South East Coast Consortium (SECC) Block, Pelican and Banyan Fields, Sercan Area and each of their related platforms and facilities and the Ska, Mento and Reggae and deep Teak, Saaman and Poui (TSP) Areas, all of which are offshore Trinidad; and (ii) two production sharing contracts with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the Modified U(a) and 4(a) Blocks.
Several fields in the SECC, Modified U(a) Block, 4(a) Block, Banyan Field and Sercan Area have been developed and are producing natural gas and crude oil and condensate.
In March 2021, EOG signed a farmout agreement with Heritage Petroleum Company Limited (Heritage), which allows EOG to earn a 65% working interest in a portion of the contract area (EOG Area) governed by the Trinidad Northern Area License. The EOG Area is located offshore the southwest coast of Trinidad.
In 2023, EOG's net production in Trinidad averaged approximately 160 MMcfd of natural gas and approximately 0.6 MBbld of crude oil and condensate. In 2023, EOG successfully drilled and completed two developmental wells and one exploratory well in the Modified U(a) Block from the recently installed Osprey B platform. Additionally, EOG completed the design phase and commenced construction of the platform and related facilities in the Mento Area. Also, EOG sold its equity interest in its ammonia plant investments in the first quarter of 2023.
In 2024, EOG plans to complete the remaining wells in the current drilling program in the Modified U(a) Block. EOG also expects to drill and, if successful, complete two exploratory wells in the SECC Block. Additionally, EOG expects to recomplete two wells in the Sercan Area and drill one exploratory well in the TSP Area. Also, EOG plans to complete construction and installation of the platform and related facilities in the Mento Area.
Australia. In April 2021, a subsidiary of EOG entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the WA-488-P Block, located offshore Western Australia. In November 2021, the petroleum exploration permit for that block was transferred to that subsidiary.
In 2023, EOG continued preparing for the drilling of an exploration well, the timing of which will depend on obtaining regulatory approvals and subsequent equipment availability.
Oman. In 2023, EOG completed the exit of Block 36 and Block 49 located in Oman.
Canada. EOG continues the process of exiting its Canada operations in the Horn River area in Northeast British Columbia.
Marketing
In 2023, EOG continued its diversified approach to marketing its wellhead crude oil and condensate production. The majority of EOG's United States wellhead crude oil and condensate production was transported by pipeline to downstream markets with the remainder sold into local markets. Major U.S. sales areas accessed by EOG were at various locations along the U.S. Gulf Coast, including Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas; Cushing, Oklahoma; the Permian Basin and the Midwest. In 2023, EOG also sold crude oil at the Port of Corpus Christi for export to foreign destinations. In each case, the price received was based on market prices at that specific sales point or based on the price index applicable for that location. In 2024, the pricing mechanism for such production is expected to remain the same. At December 31, 2023, EOG was committed to deliver to multiple parties fixed quantities of crude oil of 7 MMBbls in 2024 and 1 MMBbls in 2025, all of which is expected to be sourced from future production of available reserves.
In 2023, EOG processed certain of its United States wellhead natural gas production, either at EOG-owned facilities or at third-party facilities, extracting NGLs. NGLs were sold at prevailing market prices, into either local markets or downstream locations. In certain instances, EOG exchanged its NGLs production for purity products received downstream, which were sold at prevailing market prices. In 2024, such pricing mechanisms are expected to remain the same. In 2023, EOG also sold purity products at the Houston Ship Channel. In each case, the price received was based on market prices for that location and purity product. In 2024, such pricing mechanism is expected to remain the same. At December 31, 2023, EOG was not committed to deliver fixed quantities of NGLs in 2024.
In 2023, consistent with its diversified marketing strategy, the majority of EOG's United States wellhead natural gas production was transported by pipeline to various locations, including Katy, Texas; East Texas; the Agua Dulce Hub in South Texas; the Cheyenne Hub in Weld County, Colorado; and Chicago, Illinois. Remaining natural gas production was sold into local markets. In each case, pricing was based on the spot market price at the ultimate sales point. In 2024, the pricing mechanism for such production is expected to remain the same. Additionally, EOG sells natural gas to a liquefaction facility near Corpus Christi, Texas, and receives pricing based on the Platts Japan Korea Marker; such pricing mechanism is expected to remain the same in 2024. At December 31, 2023, EOG was committed to deliver to multiple parties fixed quantities of natural gas of 371 Bcf in 2024, 282 Bcf in 2025, 297 Bcf in 2026, 293 Bcf in 2027, 263 Bcf in 2028 and 3,277 Bcf thereafter, all of which is expected to be sourced from future production of available reserves.
In 2023, natural gas volumes from Trinidad were sold under a fixed price contract. In July 2022, EOG amended the natural gas sales contract with the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited and its subsidiary (NGC) to (i) extend the term to 2026 and (ii) effective September 1, 2020, provide for an increase in price realization if index prices for certain commodities exceed specified levels. Additionally in 2023, EOG entered into a separate fixed price contract with NGC to cover the volumes associated with an exploratory well to be drilled in 2024.
In certain instances, EOG purchases and sells third-party crude oil and natural gas in order to balance firm capacity at third-party facilities with production in certain areas and to utilize excess capacity at EOG-owned facilities.
During 2023, three purchasers each accounted for more than 10% of EOG's total wellhead crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas revenues and gathering, processing and marketing revenues. The purchasers are in the crude oil refining industry. EOG does not believe that the loss of any single purchaser would have a materially adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
Wellhead Volumes and Prices
The following table sets forth certain information regarding EOG's wellhead volumes of, and average prices for, crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas. The table also presents crude oil equivalent volumes which are determined using a ratio of 1.0 barrel of crude oil and condensate or NGLs to 6.0 Mcf of natural gas for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. See ITEM 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations, for wellhead volumes on a per-day basis.
Year Ended December 31 2023 2022 2021
Crude Oil and Condensate Volumes (MMBbl) (1)
United States:
Delaware Basin 110.2 101.1 84.3
Eagle Ford Play 43.9 46.6 51.8
Other 19.4 20.3 25.7
United States 173.5 168.0 161.8
Trinidad 0.2 0.3 0.5
Other International (2)
- - -
Total 173.7 168.3 162.3
Natural Gas Liquids Volumes (MMBbl) (1)
United States:
Delaware Basin 59.8 50.7 30.9
Eagle Ford Play 10.5 10.5 9.0
Other 11.4 10.9 12.8
United States 81.7 72.1 52.7
Total 81.7 72.1 52.7
Natural Gas Volumes (Bcf) (1)
United States:
Delaware Basin 325 279 238
Eagle Ford Play 50 52 55
Other 191 149 149
United States 566 480 442
Trinidad 59 66 79
Other International (2)
- - 3
Total 625 546 524
Crude Oil Equivalent Volumes (MMBoe) (3)
United States:
Delaware Basin 224.2 198.3 154.9
Eagle Ford Play 62.7 65.8 70.0
Other 62.6 56.0 63.3
United States 349.5 320.1 288.2
Trinidad 9.9 11.4 13.7
Other International (2)
- - 0.6
Total 359.4 331.5 302.5
Year Ended December 31 2023 2022 2021
Average Crude Oil and Condensate Prices ($/Bbl) (4)
United States $ 79.18 $ 97.22 $ 68.54
Trinidad 68.58 86.16 56.26
Other International (2)
- - 42.36
Composite 79.17 97.21 68.50
Average Natural Gas Liquids Prices ($/Bbl) (4)
United States $ 23.07 $ 36.70 $ 34.35
Composite 23.07 36.70 34.35
Average Natural Gas Prices ($/Mcf) (4)
United States $ 2.70 $ 7.27 $ 4.88
Trinidad 3.65 4.43 (5) 3.40
Other International (2)
- - 5.67
Composite 2.79 6.93 4.66
(1)Million barrels or billion cubic feet, as applicable.
(2)Other International includes EOG's China and Canada operations. The China operations were sold in the second quarter of 2021. EOG is continuing the process of exiting its Canada operations.
(3)Million barrels of oil equivalent; includes crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas.
(4)Dollars per barrel or per thousand cubic feet, as applicable. Excludes the impact of financial commodity derivative instruments (see Note 12 to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(5)Includes positive revenue adjustment of $0.76 per Mcf ($0.09 per Mcf of EOG's composite wellhead natural gas price) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, related to a price adjustment per a provision of the natural gas sales contract with NGC amended in July 2022 for natural gas sales during the period from September 2020 through June 2022.
Human Capital Management
As of December 31, 2023, EOG employed approximately 3,050 persons, including foreign national employees. EOG's approach to human capital management includes oversight by the Board of Directors (Board) and the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board and focuses on various areas, including the following:
Culture; Recruiting; Retention. EOG's culture is key to its sustainable success. By providing employees with a quality work environment and maintaining a consistent college recruiting and internship program and experienced talent recruiting program, EOG is able to attract and retain many of the industry's best and brightest. To help assess the effectiveness of its approach to human capital management, EOG conducts an annual employee engagement and satisfaction survey. Based on the results of the survey, EOG has received "top workplace" recognition in various office locations.
Compensation, Benefits, Health & Wellness. EOG values attracting and retaining talent, and so it provides competitive salaries, bonuses and a subsidized, comprehensive benefits package. EOG also offers a holistic wellness program, a matching gifts program, a flexible work schedule, paid family care leave, paid leave for illness or injury and an employee assistance program to support the mental well-being of employees and their dependents. In addition, new-hire stock grants, annual stock grants and an employee stock purchase plan give every employee the opportunity to be a participant in EOG's success.
Training and Development. EOG supports employees' professional development and provides training in leadership, management skills, communication, team effectiveness, technical skills and use of EOG systems and applications. EOG's leadership training, in particular, is focused on providing continuity of leadership at EOG by further developing the skills needed to lead a multi-disciplined, diverse and decentralized workforce. In addition, EOG holds several internal technical conferences each year designed to share best practices and technical advances across the company, including safety and environmental topics. EOG also offers its employees a tuition reimbursement program as well as reimbursement for the costs of professional certifications.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. EOG values gender, racial, ethnic and cultural diversity and works to foster a collaborative work environment of different talents, perspectives and experiences. EOG believes such diversity in background and experience, as well as an inclusive work environment, promotes diversity of thought, which helps foster creativity and drive innovation. EOG continues to raise employee awareness and provide leadership support to help advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within EOG. Further, as reflected in its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees, EOG is committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and to hiring, evaluating and promoting employees based on skills and performance.
Safety. EOG's safety management programs and processes provide a framework for assessing safety performance in a systematic way. To foster accountability for conducting operations in a safe manner, EOG's safety performance is also considered in evaluating employee performance and compensation. EOG provides initial, periodic and refresher safety training to employees and contractors. These training programs address various topics, including operating procedures, safe work practices and emergency and incident response procedures. EOG also collects and tracks safety data and metrics to identify trends and enhance our understanding, identification and implementation of proactive safety management practices.
Competition
EOG competes with major integrated oil and gas companies, government-affiliated oil and gas companies and other independent oil and gas companies for the acquisition of licenses and leases, properties and reserves and access to the facilities, equipment, materials, services, and employees and other personnel (including geologists, geophysicists, engineers and other specialists) required to explore for, develop, produce, market and transport crude oil, NGLs and natural gas. Certain of EOG's competitors have financial and other resources substantially greater than those EOG possesses and have established strategic long-term positions or strong governmental relationships in countries or areas in which EOG may seek new or expanded entry. As a consequence, EOG may be at a competitive disadvantage in certain respects, such as in bidding for drilling rights or in accessing necessary services, facilities, equipment, materials and personnel. In addition, EOG's larger competitors may have a competitive advantage when responding to factors that affect demand for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, such as changing worldwide prices and levels of production and the cost and availability of alternative fuels. EOG also faces competition from competing energy sources, such as renewable energy sources. See ITEM 1A, Risk Factors.
Regulation
General. New or revised rules, regulations and policies may be issued, and new legislation may be proposed, that could impact the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Such rules, regulations, policies and legislation may affect, among other things, (i) permitting for oil and gas drilling on state, tribal and federal lands, (ii) the leasing of state, tribal and federal lands for oil and gas development, (iii) the regulation and disclosure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or other climate change-related matters associated with oil and gas operations (e.g., the development, implementation and carrying out of carbon capture and storage activities, including associated financial or tax incentives), (iv) the use of hydraulic fracturing on state, tribal and federal lands, (v) the calculation of royalty payments in respect of oil and gas production from state, tribal and federal lands (including, but not limited to, an increase in applicable royalty percentages), (vi) U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to oil and gas exploration and production companies and (vii) the use of financial derivative instruments to hedge the financial impact of fluctuations in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices. For additional discussion regarding the regulatory-related risks to which EOG's operations, financial condition and results of operations are or may be subject, see the below discussion and ITEM 1A, Risk Factors.
United States Regulation of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production. Crude oil and natural gas production operations are subject to various types of regulation, including regulation by federal and state agencies.
United States legislation affecting the oil and gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion. In addition, numerous departments and agencies, both federal and state, are authorized by statute to issue, and have issued, rules and regulations applicable to the oil and gas industry. Such rules and regulations, among other things, require permits for the drilling of wells, regulate the spacing of wells, prevent the waste of natural gas through restrictions on flaring, require surety bonds for various exploration and production operations and regulate the calculation and disbursement of royalty payments (for federal and state leases), production taxes and ad valorem taxes.
A portion of EOG's oil and gas leases in New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, as well as in other areas, are granted by the federal government and administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and/or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), both federal agencies. Operations conducted by EOG on federal oil and gas leases must comply with numerous additional statutory and regulatory restrictions and, in the case of leases relating to tribal lands, certain tribal environmental and permitting requirements and employment rights regulations. In addition, the U.S. Department of the Interior (via various of its agencies, including the BLM, the BIA and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue) has certain authority over our calculation and payment of royalties, bonuses, fines, penalties, assessments and other revenues related to our federal and tribal oil and gas leases. In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) requires that all leases granted and administered by the BLM and entered into on or after August 16, 2022 include a royalty rate of 16.67 percent in respect of the associated oil and gas production.
BLM and BIA leases contain relatively standardized terms requiring compliance with detailed regulations. Under certain circumstances, the BLM or BIA may require operations on federal leases to be suspended or terminated. Any such suspension or termination could materially and adversely affect EOG's interests on federal lands. From time to time, the U.S. Department of the Interior has also considered limiting or pausing new oil and natural gas leases on federal lands. Any limitation or ban on permitting for oil and gas exploration and production activities on federal lands could have a material and adverse effect on EOG's operations, financial condition and results of operations. EOG's interests in offshore leases are de minimis.
The transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce are regulated pursuant to the Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended (NGA), and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. These statutes are administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Effective January 1993, the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 deregulated natural gas prices for all "first sales" of natural gas, which includes all sales by EOG of its own production. All other sales of natural gas by EOG, such as those of natural gas purchased from third parties, remain jurisdictional sales subject to a blanket sales certificate under the NGA, which has flexible terms and conditions. Consequently, all of EOG's sales of natural gas currently may be made at unregulated market prices, subject to applicable contract provisions. EOG's jurisdictional sales, however, may be subject in the future to greater federal oversight, including the possibility that the FERC might prospectively impose more restrictive conditions on such sales. Conversely, sales of crude oil and condensate and NGLs by EOG are made at unregulated market prices.
EOG owns certain gathering and/or processing facilities supporting EOG's operations in the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, the Utica Shale in Ohio, the Fort Worth Basin Barnett Shale in North Texas, the Williston Basin Bakken and Three Forks plays in North Dakota, and the Eagle Ford play and Dorado gas play in South Texas. State regulation of gathering and processing facilities generally includes various safety, environmental and, in some circumstances, nondiscrimination requirements with respect to the provision of gathering and processing services, but does not generally entail rate regulation. EOG's gathering and processing operations could be materially and adversely affected should they be subject in the future to the application of state or federal regulation of rates and services.
EOG's gathering and processing operations also may be, or become, subject to safety and operational regulations relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of such facilities. Additional rules and legislation pertaining to these matters are considered and/or adopted from time to time. Although EOG cannot predict what effect, if any, such legislation might have on its operations and financial condition, EOG could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased compliance and operating costs depending on the nature and extent of such future legislative and regulatory changes.
EOG also owns crude oil truck unloading facilities in certain of its U.S. plays. Regulation of such facilities is conducted at the state and federal levels and generally includes various safety, environmental and permitting requirements. Additional regulation pertaining to these matters is considered and/or adopted from time to time. Although EOG cannot predict what effect, if any, any such new regulations might have on the transportation of its crude oil production by truck, EOG could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased compliance and operating costs depending on the nature and extent of such future regulatory changes. EOG did not transport any crude oil by rail during 2023.
Proposals and proceedings that might affect the oil and gas industry are considered from time to time by Congress, the state legislatures, the FERC and other federal, state and local regulatory commissions, agencies, councils and courts. EOG cannot predict when or whether any such proposals or proceedings may become effective. It should also be noted that the oil and gas industry historically has been very heavily regulated; therefore, there is no assurance that the approach currently being followed by such legislative bodies and regulatory commissions, agencies, councils and courts will remain unchanged.
Environmental Regulation Generally - United States. EOG is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations covering the discharge or release of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations affect EOG's operations and costs as a result of their effect on crude oil and natural gas exploration, development and production operations and related activities (e.g., carbon capture and storage). Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of investigatory and remedial obligations, the suspension or revocation of necessary permits, licenses and authorizations, the requirement that additional pollution controls be installed and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations or imposing additional compliance requirements.
In addition, EOG has acquired certain oil and gas properties from third parties whose actions with respect to the management and disposal or release of hydrocarbons or other wastes were not under EOG's control. Under environmental laws and regulations, EOG could be required to remove or remediate wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators. EOG also could incur costs related to the clean-up of third-party sites to which it sent regulated substances for disposal or to which it sent equipment for cleaning, and for damages to natural resources or other claims related to releases of regulated substances at such third-party sites. In addition, EOG could be responsible under environmental laws and regulations for oil and gas properties in which EOG previously owned or currently owns an interest, but was or is not the operator. Moreover, EOG is subject to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) rule requiring annual reporting of GHG emissions and, as discussed further below, is also subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing and other aspects of our operations.
Compliance with environmental laws and regulations increases EOG's overall cost of business, but has not had, to date, a material adverse effect on EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations or capital expenditures (for environmental control facilities or otherwise). In addition, it is not anticipated, based on current laws and regulations, that EOG will be required in the near future to expend amounts (whether for environmental control facilities or otherwise) that are material in relation to its total exploration and development expenditure program in order to comply with such laws and regulations. However, EOG is unable to predict (i) the timing, scope and effect of any currently proposed or future laws or regulations regarding the environment and (ii) the ultimate cost of compliance or the ultimate effect on EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures relating to such future laws and regulations. The direct and indirect cost of such laws and regulations (if enacted) could materially and adversely affect EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures.
Climate Change - United States. Local, state, federal and international regulatory bodies have been increasingly focused on GHG emissions and climate change issues in recent years. The U.S. Congress has, from time to time, proposed legislation for imposing restrictions on, or requiring fees or carbon taxes in respect of, GHG emissions. Further, the IRA imposes a methane emissions charge on certain oil and gas facilities, including onshore and offshore petroleum and natural gas production facilities, that exceed certain emissions thresholds. The charge will be levied annually based on emissions reported under the U.S. EPA's GHG reporting program. The U.S. EPA published proposed regulations specific to the calculation of such annual charge in January 2024. EOG does not currently expect such annual methane emissions charges to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, capital expenditures or operations.
In addition to the U.S. EPA's rule requiring annual reporting of GHG emissions from covered facilities (which is amended from time to time and under which EOG reports), the U.S. EPA has adopted regulations for certain large sources regulating GHG emissions as pollutants under the federal Clean Air Act. Further, the U.S. EPA, in May 2016, issued regulations that require operators to reduce methane emissions and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from new, modified and reconstructed crude oil and natural gas wells and equipment located at natural gas production gathering and booster stations, gas processing plants and natural gas transmission compressor stations. In November 2021, the U.S. EPA proposed a rule to further reduce methane and VOC emissions from new and existing sources in the oil and natural gas sector and, in November 2022, the U.S. EPA issued a supplemental proposal to expand its November 2021 proposed rule, including proposed regulation of additional sources of methane and VOC emissions, such as abandoned and unplugged wells. In addition, in December 2023, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28 Conference), the U.S. EPA announced its final methane rules, which impose new methane emission requirements on the oil and gas industry, including our operations.
At the international level, the U.S., in December 2015, participated in the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France. The Paris Agreement (adopted at the conference) calls for nations to undertake efforts with respect to global temperatures and GHG emissions. The Paris Agreement went into effect in November 2016; the United States formally rejoined the Paris Conference in February 2021. The United States has established economy-wide targets of (i) reducing its net GHG emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and (ii) achieving net zero GHG emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050. In December 2023, the first global stocktake, also known as the “UAE Consensus,” was issued at the COP 28 Conference. The UAE Consensus is an assessment of members’ collective efforts and achievements to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The UAE Consensus calls on parties, including the U.S., to contribute to the transitioning away from fossil fuels, reduce methane emissions, and increase renewable energy capacity, among other things, to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In addition, many state and local officials have stated their intent to intensify efforts to uphold the commitments set forth in the international accord.
EOG believes that its strategy to continue to improve its emissions performance is important for environmental, operational and economic reasons. EOG’s approach to reducing emissions from its operations remains operationally focused. For example, EOG has developed an environmental data collection and analysis system that is utilized in calculating GHG emissions from the facilities it operates. This system calculates emissions based on recognized regulatory methodologies, where applicable, and on commonly accepted engineering practices.
In addition, EOG has developed, and will continue to develop, targets and ambitions related to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, including, but not limited to, its emissions reduction targets and its ambition to reach net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2040. See ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, for additional discussion regarding EOG’s initiatives, targets and ambitions related to emissions and other ESG matters.
EOG is unable to predict the timing, scope and effect of any currently proposed or future investigations, laws, regulations, treaties or policies regarding climate change and GHG emissions (including any laws and regulations that may be enacted in the U.S.), but the direct and indirect costs of such investigations, laws, regulations, treaties or policies (if enacted, issued or applied) could materially and adversely affect EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures. The potential increase in the costs of our operations could include costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emissions controls on our facilities, acquire allowances or credits to cover our GHG emissions, pay taxes, charges or fees related to our GHG emissions, or administer and manage a GHG emissions program. In addition, changes in regulatory policies that result in a reduction in the demand for hydrocarbon products that are deemed to contribute to GHG emissions, or restrictions on their use, could also adversely affect market demand for, and in turn the prices we receive for our production of, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas. Further, the increasing attention to global climate change risks has created the potential for a greater likelihood of governmental investigations and private and public litigation, which could increase our costs or otherwise adversely affect our business. See ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, for additional discussion regarding climate change-related developments.
Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Operations - United States. Substantially all of the onshore crude oil and natural gas wells drilled by EOG are completed and stimulated through the use of hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing technology, which has been used by the oil and gas industry for more than 60 years and is constantly being enhanced, enables EOG to produce crude oil and natural gas that otherwise would not be recovered. Specifically, hydraulic fracturing is a process in which pressurized fluid is pumped into underground formations to create tiny fractures or spaces that allow crude oil and natural gas to flow from the reservoir into the well so that it can be brought to the surface. Hydraulic fracturing generally takes place thousands of feet underground, a considerable distance below any drinking water aquifers, and there are impermeable layers of rock between the area fractured and the water aquifers. The makeup of the fluid used in EOG’s hydraulic fracturing process includes water and sand, and typically less than 0.5% of highly diluted chemical additives; lists of the chemical additives used in fracturing fluids are available to the public via internet websites and in other publications sponsored by industry trade associations and through state agencies in those states that require the reporting of the components of fracturing fluids. While the majority of the sand remains underground to hold open the fractures, a significant amount of the water and chemical additives flow back and are then either reused or safely disposed of at sites that are approved and permitted by the appropriate regulatory authorities. EOG periodically conducts regulatory assessments of these disposal facilities to monitor compliance with applicable regulations.
The regulation of hydraulic fracturing is primarily conducted at the state and local level through permitting and other compliance requirements. In April 2012, however, the U.S. EPA issued regulations specifically applicable to the oil and gas industry that require operators to significantly reduce VOC emissions from natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured through the use of "green completions" to capture natural gas that would otherwise escape into the air. The U.S. EPA has also issued regulations that establish standards for VOC emissions from several types of equipment, including storage tanks, compressors, dehydrators, and valves and sweetening units at gas processing plants. In addition, and as further discussed above under “Climate Change - United States,” the U.S. EPA has issued regulations with respect to the reduction of methane and VOC emissions, including its final methane rules announced in December 2023. From time to time, there have been various other proposals to regulate hydraulic fracturing at the federal level.
In addition to the above-described federal regulations, some state and local governments have imposed, or have considered imposing, various conditions and restrictions on drilling and completion operations, including requirements regarding casing and cementing of wells; testing of nearby water wells; restrictions on access to, and usage of, water; disclosure of the chemical additives used in hydraulic fracturing operations; restrictions on the type of chemical additives that may be used in hydraulic fracturing operations; and restrictions on drilling or injection activities on certain lands lying within wilderness wetlands, ecologically or seismically sensitive areas, and other protected areas. Such federal, state and local permitting and disclosure requirements, operating restrictions, conditions or prohibitions could lead to operational delays and increased operating and compliance costs and, moreover, could delay or effectively prevent the development of crude oil and natural gas from formations which would not be economically viable without the use of hydraulic fracturing.
Compliance with laws and regulations relating to hydraulic fracturing and other aspects of our operations increases EOG's overall cost of business, but has not had, to date, a material adverse effect on EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations or capital expenditures (for environmental control facilities or otherwise). In addition, it is not anticipated, based on current laws and regulations, that EOG will be required in the near future to expend amounts that are material in relation to its total exploration and development expenditure program in order to comply with such laws and regulations. However, EOG is unable to predict (i) the timing, scope and effect of any currently proposed or future laws or regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing in the United States or other aspects of our operations and (ii) the ultimate cost of compliance or the ultimate effect on EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures relating to such future laws and regulations. The direct and indirect costs of such laws and regulations (if enacted) could materially and adversely affect EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures.
Other International Regulation. EOG's exploration and production operations outside the United States are subject to various types of regulations, including environmental regulations, imposed by the respective governments of the countries in which EOG's operations are conducted, and may affect EOG's operations and costs of compliance within those countries. EOG is unable to predict the timing, scope and effect of any currently proposed or future laws, regulations or treaties, including those regarding climate change and hydraulic fracturing, but the direct and indirect costs of such laws, regulations and treaties (if enacted) could materially and adversely affect EOG's operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures. EOG will continue to review the risks to its business and operations outside the United States associated with all environmental matters, including climate change and hydraulic fracturing regulation. In addition, EOG will continue to monitor and assess any new policies, legislation, regulations and treaties in the areas outside the United States where it operates to determine the impact on its operations and take appropriate actions, where necessary.
Further, EOG will continue to monitor and assess the impact on its business of any environmental, climate change or other policies, legislation and regulations enacted by foreign governments - for example, the European Union’s November 2023 approval of methane emissions limits on crude oil and natural gas imports beginning in 2030.
Other Matters
Energy Prices. EOG is a crude oil and natural gas producer and is impacted by changes in the prices for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas. During the last three years, average United States commodity prices have fluctuated, at times rather dramatically. Average crude oil and condensate prices received by EOG for production in the United States decreased 19% in 2023, increased 42% in 2022 and increased 77% in 2021, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. Average NGLs prices received by EOG for production in the United States decreased 37% in 2023, increased 7% in 2022 and increased 156% in 2021, each as compared to the immediately preceding year. Fluctuations in average natural gas prices received by EOG for production in the United States resulted in a 63% decrease in 2023, a 49% increase in 2022, and a 203% increase in 2021, each as compared to the immediately preceding year.
Due to the many uncertainties associated with the world political and economic environment (for example, the actions of other crude oil exporting nations, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or the global impacts of wars or military conflicts involving such nations or regions), the global supply of, and demand for, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and the availability of other energy supplies, the relative competitive relationships of the various energy sources in the view of consumers and other factors, EOG is unable to predict what changes may occur in the prices of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas in the future. For additional discussion regarding changes in crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas prices, the potential impacts on EOG and the risks that such changes may present to EOG, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors.
Based on EOG's tax position, EOG's price sensitivity in 2024 for each $1.00 per barrel increase or decrease in wellhead crude oil and condensate price, combined with the estimated change in NGLs price, is approximately $151 million for net income and $193 million for pretax cash flows from operating activities. Including the impact of EOG's natural gas financial derivative contracts and based on EOG's tax position and the portion of EOG's anticipated natural gas volumes for 2024 for which prices have not been determined under long-term marketing contracts, EOG's price sensitivity for each $0.10 per Mcf increase or decrease in wellhead natural gas price is approximately $27 million for net income and $35 million for pretax cash flows from operating activities. For a summary of EOG's financial commodity derivative contracts through February 16, 2024, see ITEM 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Capital Resources and Liquidity - Financial Commodity Derivative Transactions. For a summary of EOG's financial commodity derivative contracts for the year ended December 31, 2023, see Note 12 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Risk Management. EOG engages in price risk management activities from time to time. These activities are intended to manage EOG's exposure to fluctuations in prices of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas. EOG utilizes financial commodity derivative instruments, primarily price swap, option, swaption, collar and basis swap contracts, as a means to manage this price risk. See Note 12 to Consolidated Financial Statements. For a summary of EOG's financial commodity derivative contracts through February 16, 2024, see ITEM 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Capital Resources and Liquidity - Financial Commodity Derivative Transactions.
All of EOG's crude oil, NGLs and natural gas activities are subject to the risks normally incident to the exploration for, and development, production and transportation of, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, including rig and well explosions, cratering, fires, loss of well control and leaks and spills, each of which could result in damage to life, property and/or the environment. EOG's operations are also subject to certain perils, including hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, winter storms and other adverse weather events. Moreover, EOG's activities are subject to governmental regulations as well as interruption or termination by governmental authorities based on environmental and other considerations. Losses and liabilities arising from such events could reduce EOG's revenues and increase costs to EOG to the extent not covered by insurance.
Insurance is maintained by EOG against some, but not all, of these risks in accordance with what EOG believes are customary industry practices and in amounts and at costs that EOG believes to be prudent and commercially practicable. Specifically, EOG maintains commercial general liability and excess liability coverage provided by third-party insurers for bodily injury or death claims resulting from an incident involving EOG's operations (subject to policy terms and conditions). Moreover, for any incident involving EOG's operations which results in negative environmental effects, EOG maintains operators extra expense coverage provided by third-party insurers for obligations, expenses or claims that EOG may incur from such an incident, including obligations, expenses or claims in respect of sudden and accidental seepage and pollution, cleanup and containment, evacuation expenses and control of the well (subject to policy terms and conditions). In the event of a well control incident resulting in negative environmental effects, such operators extra expense coverage would be EOG's primary coverage, with the commercial general liability and excess liability coverage referenced above also providing certain coverage to EOG. All of EOG's drilling activities are conducted on a contractual basis with independent drilling contractors and other third-party service contractors. The indemnification and other risk allocation provisions included in such contracts are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis and are each based on the particular circumstances of the services being provided and the anticipated operations.
In addition to the above-described risks, EOG's operations outside the United States are subject to certain risks, including the risk of increases in taxes and governmental royalties, changes in laws and policies governing the operations of foreign-based companies, expropriation of assets, unilateral or forced renegotiation, modification or nullification of existing contracts with governmental entities, currency restrictions and exchange rate fluctuations. Please refer to ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, for further discussion of the risks to which EOG is subject with respect to its operations outside the United States.
Information About Our Executive Officers
The current executive officers of EOG and their names and ages (as of February 22, 2024) are as follows:
Name Age Position
Ezra Y. Yacob 47 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. 66 President
Jeffrey R. Leitzell 44 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Ann D. Janssen 59 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Michael P. Donaldson 61 Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Ezra Y. Yacob was appointed Chairman of the Board, effective October 2022, and elected Chief Executive Officer and appointed as a Director effective October 2021. Prior to that, he served as President from January 2021 through September 2021; Executive Vice President, Exploration and Production from December 2017 to January 2021; and Vice President and General Manager of EOG's Midland, Texas office from May 2014 to December 2017. He also previously served as Manager, Division Exploration in EOG's Fort Worth, Texas, and Midland, Texas, offices from March 2012 to May 2014 as well as in various geoscience and leadership positions. Mr. Yacob joined EOG in August 2005.
Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. was elected President in October 2021. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer from October 2021 to December 2023. Mr. Helms served as Chief Operating Officer from December 2017 to December 2023 and as Executive Vice President, Exploration and Production from August 2013 to December 2017. He was elected Vice President, Engineering and Acquisitions in September 2006, Vice President and General Manager of EOG's Calgary, Alberta, Canada office in March 2008, and served as Executive Vice President, Operations from February 2012 to August 2013. Mr. Helms joined a predecessor of EOG in February 1981.
Jeffrey R. Leitzell was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2023. Mr. Leitzell previously served as Executive Vice President, Exploration and Production from May 2021 to December 2023, Vice President and General Manager of EOG's Midland, Texas office from December 2017 to May 2021 and as Operations Manager in Midland from August 2015 to December 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Leitzell held various engineering roles of increasing responsibility in multiple offices and functional areas within EOG. Mr. Leitzell joined EOG in October 2008.
Ann D. Janssen was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective January 2024. Previously, Ms. Janssen served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from February 2018 through December 2023 and as EOG's principal accounting officer from September 2010 through December 2023. Prior to that, Ms. Janssen held various accounting and finance roles of increasing responsibilities. Ms. Janssen joined a predecessor of EOG in October 1995.
Michael P. Donaldson was elected Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in April 2016. Previously, Mr. Donaldson served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from May 2012 to April 2016. He was elected Corporate Secretary in May 2008, and was appointed Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in July 2010. Mr. Donaldson joined EOG in September 2007.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
Our business and operations are subject to many risks. The risks described below may not be the only risks we face, as our business and operations may also be subject to risks that we do not yet know of, or that we currently believe are immaterial. If any of the events or circumstances described below actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected and the trading price of our common stock could decline. The following risk factors should be read in conjunction with the other information contained herein, including the consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Unless the context requires otherwise, "we," "us," "our" and "EOG" refer to EOG Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Risks Related to our Financial Condition, Results of Operations and Cash Flows
Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices are volatile, and a substantial and extended decline in commodity prices can have a material and adverse effect on us.
Prices for crude oil and natural gas (including prices for natural gas liquids (NGLs) and condensate) fluctuate widely. Among the interrelated factors that can or could cause these price fluctuations are:
•domestic and worldwide supplies of, and consumer and industrial/commercial demand for, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas;
•domestic and international drilling activity;
•the actions of other crude oil producing and exporting nations, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries;
•worldwide economic conditions, geopolitical factors and political conditions, including, but not limited to, the imposition of tariffs or trade or other economic sanctions, political instability or armed conflict in oil and gas producing regions;
•the duration and economic and financial impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;
•the availability, proximity and capacity of appropriate transportation, gathering, processing, compression, storage, refining, liquefaction and export facilities;
•the price and availability of, and demand for, competing energy sources, including alternative energy sources;
•the effect of worldwide energy conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements and climate change-related legislation, policies, initiatives and developments;
•technological advances and consumer and industrial/commercial behavior, preferences and attitudes, in each case affecting energy generation, transmission, storage and consumption;
•the nature and extent of governmental regulation, including environmental and other climate change-related regulation, regulation of financial derivative transactions and hedging activities, tax laws and regulations and laws and regulations with respect to the import and export of crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas and related commodities;
•the level and effect of trading in commodity futures markets, including trading by commodity price speculators and others; and
•natural disasters, weather conditions and changes in weather patterns.
The above-described factors and the volatility of commodity prices make it difficult to predict crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices in 2024 and thereafter. As a result, there can be no assurance that the prices for crude oil, NGLs and/or natural gas will sustain, or increase from, their current levels, nor can there be any assurance that the prices for crude oil, NGLs and/or natural gas will not decline.
Our cash flows, financial condition and results of operations depend to a great extent on prevailing commodity prices. Accordingly, substantial and extended declines in commodity prices can materially and adversely affect the amount of cash flows we have available for our capital expenditures and operating costs; the terms on which we can access the credit and capital markets; our results of operations; and our financial condition, including (but not limited to) our ability to pay regular and special dividends on our common stock or repurchase shares of our common stock under the share repurchase authorization established by our Board of Directors (Board). As a result, the trading price of our common stock may be materially and adversely affected.
Lower commodity prices can also reduce the amount of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas that we can produce economically. Substantial and extended declines in the prices of these commodities can render uneconomic a portion of our exploration, development and exploitation projects, resulting in our having to make downward adjustments to our estimated reserves and also possibly shut in or plug and abandon certain wells. In addition, significant prolonged decreases in commodity prices may cause the expected future cash flows from our properties to fall below their respective net book values, which would require us to write down the value of our properties. Such reserve write-downs and asset impairments can materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial position and, in turn, the trading price of our common stock.
Our cost-mitigation initiatives and actions may not offset, largely or at all, the impacts of inflationary pressures on our operating costs and capital expenditures.
Beginning in the second half of 2021 and continuing, to a lesser degree, through the first three months of 2023, we, similar to other companies in our industry, experienced inflationary pressures on our operating costs and capital expenditures - namely the costs of fuel, steel (i.e., wellbore tubulars and facilities manufactured using steel), labor and drilling and completion services. Such inflationary pressures on our operating costs and capital expenditures impacted our cash flows and results of operations during these periods. While such inflationary pressures diminished in 2023, the market for such materials, services and labor continues to fluctuate and, as a result, the timing and impact of any price changes on our future operating costs and capital expenditures is uncertain.
We have undertaken, and plan to continue with, certain initiatives and actions (such as agreements with service providers to secure the costs and availability of services) to mitigate any such inflationary pressures. However, there can be no assurance that such efforts will offset, largely or at all, the impacts of any future inflationary pressures on our operating costs and capital expenditures and, in turn, our cash flows and results of operations. For additional discussion, see ITEM 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Overview - Recent Developments.
We have substantial capital requirements, and we may be unable to obtain needed financing on satisfactory terms, if at all.
We make, and expect to continue to make, substantial capital expenditures for the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas reserves. We intend to finance our capital expenditures primarily through our cash flows from operations and cash on hand and, if and as necessary, commercial paper borrowings, bank borrowings, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and public and private debt and equity offerings.
Lower crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices, however, reduce our cash flows and could also delay or impair our ability to consummate any planned divestitures. Further, if the condition of the credit and capital markets materially declines, we might not be able to obtain financing on terms we consider acceptable, if at all. In addition, weakness and/or volatility in domestic and global financial markets or economic conditions or a depressed commodity price environment may increase the interest rates that lenders and commercial paper investors require us to pay or adversely affect our ability to finance our capital expenditures through debt or equity offerings or other borrowings.
Similarly, a reduction in our cash flows (for example, as a result of lower crude oil, NGLs and/or natural gas prices or unanticipated well shut-ins) and the corresponding adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations may also increase the interest rates that lenders and commercial paper investors require us to pay. A substantial increase in interest rates would decrease our net cash flows available for reinvestment. Any of these factors could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Further, our ability to obtain financings, our borrowing costs and the terms of any financings are, in part, dependent on the credit ratings assigned to our debt by independent credit rating agencies. The interrelated factors that may impact our credit ratings include our debt levels; planned capital expenditures and sales of assets; near-term and long-term production growth opportunities; liquidity; asset quality; cost structure; product mix; and commodity pricing levels (including, but not limited to, the estimates and assumptions of credit rating agencies with respect to future commodity prices). We cannot provide any assurance that our current credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that our credit ratings will be raised in the future, nor can we provide any assurance that any of our credit ratings will not be lowered.
In addition, companies in the oil and gas sector may be exposed to increasing reputational risks and, in turn, certain financial risks. Specifically, certain financial institutions (including certain investment advisors and sovereign wealth, pension and endowment funds), in response to concerns related to climate change and the requests and other influence of environmental groups and similar stakeholders, have elected to shift some or all of their investments and financing away from oil and gas-related sectors; such trend may be accelerated by the extensive climate-related disclosure requirements discussed below. Further, additional financial institutions and other investors may elect to do likewise in the future or may impose more stringent conditions with respect to investments in, and financing of, oil and gas-related sectors. As a result, fewer financial institutions and other investors may be willing to invest in, and provide capital to, companies in the oil and gas sector.
A material reduction in capital available to the oil and gas sector could make it more difficult (e.g., due to a lack of investor interest in our debt or equity securities) and/or more costly (e.g., due to higher interest rates on our debt securities or other borrowings) to secure funding for our operations, which, in turn, could adversely affect our ability to successfully carry out our business strategy and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operations.
Reserve estimates depend on many interpretations and assumptions. Any significant inaccuracies in these interpretations and assumptions could cause the reported quantities of our reserves to be materially misstated.
Estimating quantities of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas reserves and future net cash flows from such reserves is a complex, inexact process. It requires interpretations of available technical data and various assumptions, including assumptions relating to economic factors, made by our management. Any significant inaccuracies in these interpretations or assumptions could cause the reported quantities of our reserves and future net cash flows from such reserves to be overstated or understated. Also, the data for a given reservoir may also change substantially over time as a result of numerous factors including, but not limited to, additional development activity, evolving production history, continual reassessment of the viability of production under varying economic conditions and improvements and other changes in geological, geophysical and engineering evaluation methods.
To prepare estimates of our economically recoverable crude oil, NGLs and natural gas reserves and future net cash flows from our reserves, we analyze many variable factors, such as historical production from the area compared with production rates from other producing areas. We also analyze available geological, geophysical, production and engineering data, and the extent, quality and reliability of this data can vary. The process also involves economic assumptions relating to commodity prices, production costs, gathering, processing, compression, storage and transportation costs, severance, ad valorem and other applicable taxes, capital expenditures and workover and remedial costs. Many of these factors are or may be beyond our control. Our actual reserves and future net cash flows from such reserves most likely will vary from our estimates. Any significant variance, including any significant downward revisions to our existing reserve estimates, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and, in turn, the trading price of our common stock. For related discussion, see ITEM 2, Properties - Oil and Gas Exploration and Production - Properties and Reserves and Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements.
If we fail to acquire or find sufficient additional reserves over time, our reserves and production will decline from their current levels.
The rate of production from crude oil and natural gas properties generally declines as reserves are produced. Except to the extent that we conduct successful exploration, exploitation and development activities resulting in additional reserves, acquire additional properties containing reserves or, through engineering studies, identify additional behind-pipe zones or secondary recovery reserves, our reserves will decline as they are produced. Maintaining our production of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas at, or increasing our production from, current levels, is, therefore, highly dependent upon our level of success in acquiring or finding additional reserves, which may be adversely impacted by bans or restrictions on leasing and/or drilling. To the extent we are unsuccessful in acquiring or finding additional reserves, our future cash flows and results of operations and, in turn, the trading price of our common stock could be materially and adversely affected.
Our ability to declare and pay regular or special dividends on our common stock and repurchase shares of our common stock is subject to certain considerations.
Regular and special dividends on our common stock are authorized and determined by our Board in its sole discretion and depend upon a number of factors, including:
•cash available for dividends;
•our results of operations and anticipated future results of operations;
•our financial condition, especially in relation to the anticipated future capital expenditures and other commitments required to conduct our operations and carry out our business strategy;
•our operating costs;
•any contractual restrictions or statutory/legal restrictions;
•the levels of dividends paid by comparable companies; and
•other factors our Board deems relevant.
We expect to continue to pay dividends to our stockholders; however, our Board may reduce our dividends or cease declaring dividends at any time, including if it determines that our current or forecasted future cash flows provided by our operating activities (after deducting our capital expenditures and other commitments requiring cash) are not sufficient to pay our desired levels of dividends to our stockholders or to pay dividends to our stockholders at all. Any reduction in the amount of dividends we pay to stockholders could have an adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.
In November 2021, our Board established a share repurchase authorization that allows for the repurchase by us of up to $5 billion of our common stock (November 2021 Authorization). Beginning in March 2023, we have repurchased shares from time to time under the November 2021 Authorization. The timing and amount of repurchases is at the discretion of our management and depends on a variety of factors, including the trading price of our common stock, corporate and regulatory requirements, other market and economic conditions, the availability of cash to effect repurchases and our anticipated future capital expenditures and other commitments requiring cash. For further discussion regarding the November 2021 Authorization and our share repurchases thereunder, see ITEM 5, “Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” below.
Our hedging activities may prevent us from fully benefiting from increases in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices and may expose us to other risks, including counterparty risk, and our future production may not be sufficiently protected from any declines in commodity prices by our existing or future hedging arrangements.
We use financial derivative instruments (primarily financial basis swap, price swap, option, swaption and collar contracts) to hedge the impact of fluctuations in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices on our results of operations and cash flows. To the extent that we engage in hedging activities to protect ourselves against commodity price declines, we may be prevented from fully realizing the benefits of increases in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices above the prices established by our hedging contracts. Further, a majority of our forecasted production for 2024 is subject to fluctuating market prices. To the extent we do not hedge our production volumes for 2024 and beyond, we may be materially and adversely impacted by any declines in commodity prices, which may result in lower net cash provided by our operating activities. In addition, our hedging activities may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which the counterparties to our hedging contracts fail to perform under the contracts.
The inability of our customers and other contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to us may have a material and adverse effect on us.
We have various customers for the crude oil, natural gas and related commodities that we produce as well as various other contractual counterparties, including several financial institutions and affiliates of financial institutions. Domestic and global economic conditions, including the financial condition of financial institutions generally, may adversely affect the ability of our customers and other contractual counterparties to pay amounts owed to us from time to time and to otherwise satisfy their contractual obligations to us, as well as their ability to access the credit and capital markets for such purposes.
Moreover, our customers and other contractual counterparties may be unable to satisfy their contractual obligations to us for reasons unrelated to these conditions and factors, such as (i) the unavailability of required facilities or equipment due to mechanical failure or market conditions or (ii) financial, operational or strategic actions taken by the customer or counterparty that adversely impact its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and, in turn, its ability to satisfy its contractual obligations to us. Furthermore, if a customer is unable to satisfy its contractual obligation to purchase crude oil, natural gas or related commodities from us, we may be unable to sell such production to another customer on terms we consider acceptable, if at all, due to the geographic location of such production; the availability, proximity and capacity of appropriate gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, export, liquefaction and refining facilities; or market or other factors and conditions.
The inability of our customers and other contractual counterparties to pay amounts owed to us and to otherwise satisfy their contractual obligations to us may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to our Operations
Drilling crude oil and natural gas wells is a high-risk activity and subjects us to a variety of risks that we cannot control.
Drilling crude oil and natural gas wells, including development wells, involves numerous risks, including the risk that we may not encounter commercially productive crude oil, NGLs and/or natural gas reserves. As a result, we may not recover all or any portion of our investment in new wells.
Specifically, we often are uncertain as to the future cost or timing of drilling, completing and operating wells, and our drilling and completions operations and those of our third-party operators may be curtailed, delayed or canceled, the cost of such operations may increase and/or our results of operations and cash flows from such operations may be impacted, as a result of a variety of factors, including:
•unexpected drilling conditions;
•leasehold title problems;
•pressure or irregularities in formations;
•equipment failures or accidents;
•adverse weather conditions, such as winter storms, flooding, tropical storms and hurricanes, and changes in weather patterns, which may be exacerbated by climate change;
•compliance with, or changes in (including the adoption of new), environmental, health and safety laws and regulations relating to air emissions, hydraulic fracturing, access to and use of water, disposal or other discharge (e.g., into injection wells) of produced water, drilling fluids and other wastes, laws and regulations imposing conditions or restrictions on drilling and completion operations and on the transportation of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, and other laws and regulations, such as tax laws and regulations;
•the availability and timely issuance of required federal, state, tribal and other permits and licenses, which may be adversely affected by (among other things) bans or restrictions on drilling, government shutdowns or other suspensions of, or delays in, government services;
•the availability of, costs associated with, and terms of contractual arrangements for properties, including mineral licenses and leases, pipelines, crude oil hauling trucks and qualified drivers and facilities and equipment to gather, process, compress, store, transport, market and export crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and related commodities; and
•the costs of, or shortages or delays in the availability of, drilling rigs, hydraulic fracturing services, pressure pumping equipment and supplies, tubular materials, water, sand, disposal facilities, qualified personnel and other necessary facilities, equipment, materials, supplies and services.
Our failure to recover our investment in wells, increases in the costs of our drilling and completions operations or those of our third-party operators, and/or curtailments, delays or cancellations of our drilling and completions operations or those of our third-party operators, in each case, due to any of the above factors or other factors, may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For related discussion of the risks and potential losses and liabilities inherent in our crude oil and natural gas operations generally, see the immediately following risk factor.
Our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas operations and supporting activities and operations involve many risks and expose us to potential losses and liabilities, and insurance may not fully protect us against these risks and potential losses and liabilities.
Our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas operations and supporting activities and operations are subject to all of the risks associated with exploring and drilling for, and producing, gathering, processing, compressing, storing, transporting and exporting crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, including the risks of:
•well blowouts and cratering;
•loss of well control;
•crude oil spills, natural gas leaks, formation water (i.e., produced water) spills and pipeline ruptures;
•pipe failures and casing collapses;
•uncontrollable flows of crude oil, natural gas, formation water or drilling fluids;
•releases of chemicals, wastes or pollutants;
•adverse weather events, such as winter storms, flooding, tropical storms and hurricanes, and other natural disasters, which may be exacerbated by climate change;
•fires and explosions;
•terrorism, vandalism and physical, electronic and cybersecurity breaches;
•formations with abnormal or unexpected pressures;
•leaks or spills in connection with, or associated with, the gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation and export of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas; and
•malfunctions of, or damage to, gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation and export facilities and equipment and other facilities and equipment utilized in support of our crude oil and natural gas operations.
If any of these events occur, we could incur losses, liabilities and other additional costs as a result of:
•injury or loss of life;
•damage to, or destruction of, property, facilities, equipment and crude oil and natural gas reservoirs;
•pollution or other environmental damage;
•regulatory investigations and penalties as well as cleanup and remediation responsibilities and costs;
•suspension or interruption of our operations, including due to injunction;
•repairs necessary to resume operations; and
•compliance with laws and regulations enacted as a result of such events.
We maintain insurance against many, but not all, such losses and liabilities in accordance with what we believe are customary industry practices and in amounts and at costs that we believe to be prudent and commercially practicable. However, the occurrence of any of these events and any losses or liabilities incurred as a result of such events, if uninsured or in excess of our insurance coverage, would reduce the funds available to us for our operations and could, in turn, have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In the future, we may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount we desire at reasonable rates. As a result of market conditions, premiums, retentions and deductibles for our insurance policies will change over time and could escalate. In addition, some forms of insurance may become unavailable or unavailable on economically acceptable terms.
Our ability to sell and deliver our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas production could be materially and adversely affected if adequate gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining, liquefaction and export facilities and equipment are unavailable.
The sale of our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas production depends on a number of factors beyond our control, including the availability, proximity and capacity of, and costs associated with, gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining, liquefaction and export facilities and equipment owned by third parties. These facilities and equipment may be temporarily unavailable to us due to market conditions, supply chain disruptions, regulatory reasons, mechanical reasons or other factors or conditions, and may not be available to us in the future on terms we consider acceptable, if at all. In particular, in certain newer plays, the capacity of gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining. liquefaction and export facilities and equipment may not be sufficient to accommodate potential production from existing and new wells. In addition, lack of financing, construction and permitting delays, permitting costs and regulatory or other constraints could limit or delay the construction, manufacture or other acquisition of new gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining, liquefaction and export facilities and equipment by third parties or us, and we may experience delays or increased costs in accessing the pipelines, gathering systems or transportation systems necessary to transport our production to points of sale or delivery.
Any significant change in market or other conditions affecting gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining, liquefaction and export facilities and equipment or the availability of these facilities and equipment, including due to our failure or inability to obtain access to these facilities and equipment on terms acceptable to us or at all, could materially and adversely affect our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.
A portion of our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas production may be subject to interruptions that could have a material and adverse effect on us.
A portion of our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas production may be interrupted, or shut in, from time to time for various reasons, including, but not limited to, as a result of accidents, weather conditions, the unavailability of gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining, liquefaction or export facilities or equipment or field labor issues, or intentionally as a result of market conditions such as crude oil, NGLs or natural gas prices that we deem uneconomic. If a substantial amount of our production is interrupted or shut in, our cash flows and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Our operations are substantially dependent upon the availability of water. Restrictions or limitations on our ability to obtain water may have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Water is an essential component of our operations, both during drilling operations and completions operations. Limitations or restrictions on our ability to secure sufficient amounts of water (including limitations resulting from natural causes such as drought) could materially and adversely impact our operations. Further, severe drought conditions can result in local authorities taking steps to restrict the use of water in their jurisdiction for drilling and completions in order to protect the local water supply. If we are unable to obtain water to use in our operations from local sources, we may need to obtain water from sources that are more distant from our drilling sites, resulting in increased costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We have limited control over the activities on properties that we do not operate.
Some of the properties in which we have an interest are operated by other companies and involve third-party working interest owners. As a result, we have limited ability to influence or control the operation or future development of such properties, including compliance with environmental, safety and other regulations, or the amount of capital expenditures that we will be required to fund with respect to such properties. Moreover, we are dependent on the other working interest owners of such projects to fund their contractual share of the capital expenditures of such projects. In addition, a third-party operator could also decide to shut-in or curtail production from wells, or plug and abandon marginal wells, on properties owned by that operator during periods of lower crude oil, NGLs or natural gas prices. These limitations and our dependence on the operator and third-party working interest owners for these projects could cause us to incur unexpected future costs, lower production and materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we acquire crude oil, NGLs and natural gas properties, our failure to fully identify existing and potential issues, to accurately estimate reserves, production rates or costs, or to effectively integrate the acquired properties into our operations could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
From time to time, we seek to acquire crude oil and natural gas properties. Although we perform reviews of properties to be acquired in a manner that we believe is duly diligent and consistent with industry practices, reviews of records and properties may not necessarily reveal existing or potential issues (such as title defects or environmental issues), nor may they permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties in order to fully assess their deficiencies and potential. Even when issues with a property are identified, we often may assume environmental and other risks and liabilities in connection with acquired properties pursuant to the acquisition agreements.
In addition, there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas reserves (as discussed further above), actual future production rates and associated costs with respect to acquired properties. Actual reserves, production rates and costs may vary substantially from those assumed in our estimates. In addition, an acquisition may have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, particularly during the periods in which the operations of the acquired properties are being integrated into our ongoing operations or if we are unable to effectively integrate the acquired properties into our ongoing operations.
Competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry is intense, and some of our competitors have greater resources than we have.
We compete with major integrated oil and gas companies, government-affiliated oil and gas companies and other independent oil and gas companies for the acquisition of licenses and leases, properties and reserves and access to the facilities, equipment, materials, services and employees and other personnel (including geologists, geophysicists, engineers and other specialists) necessary to explore for, develop, produce, market and transport crude oil, NGLs and natural gas. Certain of our competitors have financial and other resources substantially greater than those we possess and have established strategic long-term positions or strong governmental relationships in countries or areas in which we may seek new or expanded entry. As a consequence, we may be at a competitive disadvantage in certain respects, such as in bidding for drilling rights or in accessing necessary services, facilities, equipment, materials and personnel. In addition, our larger competitors may have a competitive advantage when responding to factors that affect demand for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, such as changing worldwide prices and levels of production and the cost and availability of alternative fuels. We also face competition from competing energy sources, such as renewable energy sources.
Risks Related to ESG/Sustainability, Regulatory and Legal Matters
Developments and concerns related to climate change may have a material and adverse effect on us.
Governmental and regulatory bodies, investors, consumers, industry and other stakeholders have been increasingly focused on climate change matters in recent years. For example, (i) in March 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed extensive climate-related disclosure requirements that, if adopted, would require U.S. public companies to significantly expand the climate-related disclosures in their SEC filings, (ii) in September 2023, California passed climate-related disclosure mandates which are broader than the SEC’s proposed rules and (iii) in November 2023, the European Union approved methane emissions limits on crude oil and natural gas imports beginning in 2030. This focus, together with changes in consumer and industrial/commercial behavior, preferences and attitudes with respect to the generation and consumption of energy, the use of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and the use of products manufactured with, or powered by, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, may result in (i) the enactment of climate change-related regulations, policies and initiatives (at the government, corporate and/or investor community levels), including alternative energy requirements, energy conservation measures and emissions-related legislation, (ii) technological advances with respect to the generation, transmission, storage and consumption of energy (e.g., wind, solar and hydrogen power, smart grid technology and battery technology) and (iii) increased availability of, and increased consumer and industrial/commercial demand for, non-hydrocarbon energy sources (e.g., alternative energy sources) and products manufactured with, or powered by, non-hydrocarbon sources (e.g., electric vehicles and renewable residential and commercial power supplies). These developments may adversely affect the demand for products manufactured with, or powered by, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and the demand for, and in turn the prices of, the crude oil, NGLs and natural gas that we sell. See the risk factors above for a discussion of the impact of commodity prices (including fluctuations in commodity prices) on our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
In addition to potentially adversely affecting the demand for, and prices of, the crude oil, NGLs and natural gas that we produce and sell, such developments may also adversely impact, among other things, the availability to us of necessary third-party services and facilities that we rely on, which may increase our operational costs and adversely affect our ability to explore for, produce, transport and process crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and successfully carry out our business strategy. For further discussion of the potential impact of such availability-related risks on our financial condition and results of operations, see the discussion in the section above entitled "Risks Related to our Operations."
Further, climate change-related developments (such as extensive climate-related disclosure requirements as referenced above) may result in negative perceptions of the oil and gas industry and, in turn, reputational risks associated with the exploration for, and production of, hydrocarbons. Such negative perceptions and reputational risks may adversely affect our ability to successfully carry out our business strategy, for example, by adversely affecting the availability and cost of capital to us. For further discussion of the potential impact of such risks on our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, see the discussion below in this section and in the section above entitled "Risks Related to Our Operations."
In addition, the enactment of climate change-related regulations, policies and initiatives (at the government, corporate and/or investor community levels) may also result in increases in our compliance costs and other operating costs. For further discussion regarding the risks to us of climate change-related regulations, policies and initiatives, see the discussion in this section. Also, continuing political and social concerns relating to climate change may have adverse effects on our business and operations, such as a greater potential for shareholder activism, governmental inquiries and enforcement actions and litigation (including, but not limited to, litigation brought by governmental entities and shareholder litigation) and resulting expenses and potential disruption to our day-to-day operations.
Regulatory, legislative and policy changes may materially and adversely affect the oil and gas exploration and production industry.
New or revised rules, regulations and policies may be issued, and new legislation may be proposed, that could impact the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Such rules, regulations, policies and legislation may affect, among other things, (i) permitting for oil and gas drilling on state, tribal and federal lands, (ii) the leasing of state, tribal and federal lands for oil and gas development, (iii) the regulation and disclosure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or other climate change-related matters associated with oil and gas operations, (iv) the use of hydraulic fracturing on state, tribal and federal lands, (v) the calculation of royalty payments in respect of oil and gas production from state, tribal and federal lands (including, but not limited to, an increase in applicable royalty percentages), (vi) U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to oil and gas exploration and production companies and (vii) the use of financial derivative instruments to hedge the financial impact of fluctuations in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices.
Further, such regulatory, legislative and policy changes may, among other things, result in additional permitting and disclosure requirements, additional operating restrictions and/or the imposition of various conditions and restrictions on drilling and completion operations or other aspects of our business, any of which could lead to operational delays, increased operating and compliance costs and/or other impacts on our business and operations and could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and capital expenditures.
For related discussion, see the below risk factors regarding legislative and regulatory matters impacting the oil and gas exploration and production industry and the discussion in ITEM 1, Business - Regulation.
We incur certain costs to comply with government regulations, particularly regulations relating to environmental protection and safety, and could incur even greater costs in the future.
Our crude oil, NGLs and natural gas operations and supporting activities are regulated extensively by federal, state, tribal and local governments and regulatory agencies, both domestically and in the foreign countries in which we do business, and are subject to interruption or termination by governmental and regulatory authorities based on environmental, health, safety or other considerations. Moreover, we have incurred and will continue to incur costs in our efforts to comply with the requirements of environmental, health, safety and other regulations. Further, the regulatory environment could change in ways that we cannot predict and that might substantially increase our costs of compliance and/or adversely affect our business and operations and, in turn, materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and capital expenditures.
Specifically, as a current or past owner or lessee and operator of crude oil and natural gas properties, we are subject to various federal, state, tribal, local and foreign regulations relating to the discharge of materials into, and the protection of, the environment. These regulations may, among other things, impose liability on us for the cost of pollution cleanup resulting from current or past operations, subject us to liability for pollution damages and require suspension or cessation of operations in affected areas. Changes in, or additions to, these regulations, could lead to increased operating and compliance costs and, in turn, materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and capital expenditures.
The regulation of hydraulic fracturing is primarily conducted at the state and local level through permitting and other compliance requirements and, further, some state and local governments have imposed or have considered imposing various conditions and restrictions on drilling and completion operations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has issued regulations relating to hydraulic fracturing and there have been various other proposals to regulate hydraulic fracturing at the federal level.
Any new requirements, restrictions, conditions or prohibitions could lead to operational delays and increased operating and compliance costs and, further, could delay or effectively prevent the development of crude oil and natural gas from formations which would not be economically viable without the use of hydraulic fracturing. Accordingly, our production of crude oil and natural gas could be materially and adversely affected. For additional discussion regarding hydraulic fracturing regulation, see Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Operations - United States under ITEM 1, Business - Regulation.
We will continue to monitor and assess any proposed or new policies, legislation, regulations and treaties in the areas where we operate to determine the impact on our operations and take appropriate actions, where necessary. We are unable to predict the timing, scope and effect of any currently proposed or future laws, regulations or treaties, but the direct and indirect costs of such laws, regulations and treaties (if enacted) could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and capital expenditures. See also the risk factor below regarding the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act with respect to regulation of financial derivative transactions and entities (such as EOG) that participate in such transactions.
Regulations, government policies and government and corporate initiatives relating to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change could have a significant impact on our operations and we could incur significant cost in the future to comply.
Local, state, federal and international regulatory bodies have been increasingly focused on GHG emissions and climate change issues in recent years. For example, we are subject to the U.S. EPA’s rule requiring annual reporting of GHG emissions which is subject to amendment from time to time. In addition, our oil and gas production and processing operations are subject to the U.S. EPA’s new source performance standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds from new, modified and reconstructed crude oil and natural gas wells and equipment located at natural gas production gathering and booster stations and gas processing plants, as well as the U.S. EPA’s final new methane rules announced in December 2023. Further, our operations are subject to the proposed methane “Waste Emissions Charge” rule, published in January 2024 as part of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program implemented under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
At the international level, in December 2015, the U.S. participated in the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France. The Paris Agreement (adopted at the conference) calls for nations to undertake efforts with respect to global temperatures and GHG emissions. The Paris Agreement went into effect in November 2016 and to which the United States formally rejoined in February 2021. The United States has established an economy-wide target of reducing its net GHG emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero GHG emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050. In December 2023, the first global stocktake, also known as the “UAE Consensus,” was issued at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The UAE Consensus is an assessment of members’ collective efforts and achievements to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The UAE Consensus calls on parties, including the U.S., to contribute to the transitioning away from fossil fuels, reduce methane emissions, and increase renewable energy capacity, among other things, to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In addition, many state and local officials have stated their intent to intensify efforts to uphold the commitments set forth in the international accord.
It is possible that the Paris Agreement, the related UAE Consensus, and subsequent domestic and international regulations and government policies related to climate change and GHG emissions will have adverse effects on the market for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas as well as adverse effects on the business and operations of companies engaged in the exploration for, and production of, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas.
We are unable to predict the timing, scope and effect of any currently proposed or future investigations, laws, regulations, treaties or policies regarding climate change and GHG emissions (including any laws and regulations that may be enacted in the U.S.), but the direct and indirect costs of such developments (if enacted, issued or applied) could materially and adversely affect our operations, financial condition, results of operations and capital expenditures. The potential increase in the costs of our operations could include costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emission controls on our facilities, acquire allowances to authorize our GHG emissions, pay taxes or fees related to our GHG emissions, or administer and manage a GHG emissions program. In addition, changes in regulatory policies that result in a reduction in the demand for hydrocarbon products that are deemed to contribute to GHG emissions, or restrictions on their use, could also adversely affect market demand for, and in turn the prices we receive for our production of, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas. For additional discussion regarding the regulation of GHG emissions and climate change generally, see ITEM 1, Business - Regulation.
Our initiatives, targets and ambitions related to emissions and other ESG matters, including our related public statements and disclosures, may expose us to certain risks.
We have developed, and will continue to develop, targets and ambitions related to our environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, including, but not limited to, our emissions reduction targets and our ambition to reach net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2040. Our public disclosures and other statements related to these initiatives, targets and ambitions reflect our plans and expectations at the time such disclosures and statements are made and are not a guarantee the initiatives will be successfully developed, implemented and carried out or that the targets or ambitions will be achieved or achieved on the anticipated timelines.
Our ability to achieve our ESG-related targets and ambitions is subject to numerous factors and conditions, some of which are outside of our control and include evolving government regulation, potential revisions to emissions estimates as measurement technologies advance or due to changes in protocol or methodologies, the pace of changes in technology, the successful development and deployment of existing or new technologies and business solutions on a commercial scale, the availability, timing and cost of necessary equipment, goods, services and personnel, and the availability of requisite financing and federal and state incentive programs. For example, we are exploring technology to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions, which includes a pilot carbon capture and storage (CCS) project related to our operations. CCS projects face operational, technological, legal and regulatory risks that could be considerable due to the early-stage nature of such projects and the CCS sector generally. Our ability to successfully develop, implement and carry out our CCS activities will depend on a number of factors that we will not be able to fully control, including timing of regulatory approvals and availability of subsurface pore space. Further, financial or tax incentives in respect of CCS projects could be changed or terminated. In addition, our failure to properly operate a CCS project could put at risk certain governmental tax credits and potentially expose us to commercial, legal, reputational and other risks.
In addition, the pursuit and achievement of our current or future initiatives, targets and ambitions relating to the reduction of GHG emissions may increase our costs, including requiring us to purchase emissions credits or offsets, the availability and price of which are outside of our control, and may impact or otherwise limit our ability to execute on our business strategy. Such initiatives, targets and ambitions are also subject to business, regulatory, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, and required advancements in technology. Also, our continuing efforts to research, establish, accomplish and accurately report on our emissions and other ESG-related initiatives, targets and ambitions may create additional operational risks and expenses and expose us to reputational, legal and other risks.
Further, investor and regulatory focus on ESG matters continues to increase. In addition to climate change, there is increasing investor and regulatory attention and focus on topics such as diversity and inclusion, human rights and human capital management, in companies’ own operations as well as across their supply chains. If our ESG-related initiatives, targets and ambitions do not meet our investors' or other stakeholders' evolving expectations and standards, investment in our stock may be viewed as less attractive and our reputation and contractual, employment and other business relationships may be adversely impacted.
Tax laws and regulations, including those applicable specifically to crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, may change over time, and such changes could materially and adversely affect our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
From time to time, legislation has been proposed that, if enacted into law, would make significant changes to U.S. federal and state income tax laws, including laws specifically applicable to crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies - such as eliminating the immediate deduction for intangible drilling and development costs. In addition, certain countries, including countries where EOG is currently conducting business or may in the future conduct business, have advocated for the implementation (via legislation) of a global minimum tax.
No accurate prediction can be made as to whether any such legislative changes or similar or other tax law changes will be proposed or enacted. Further, no accurate prediction can be made as to (i) what the specific provisions or the effective date of any such enacted legislation would be or (ii) in the case of a global minimum tax or similar tax, which countries or other jurisdictions would participate and enact applicable legislation.
The elimination or postponement of certain U.S. federal income tax deductions currently available to crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, as well as any other changes to, or the imposition of new, U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. (i.e., foreign) taxes (including the imposition of, or increases in, production, severance or similar taxes or the enactment of a global minimum tax or similar tax), could, if adopted, materially and adversely affect our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, legislation may be proposed with respect to the enactment of a tax levied on the carbon content of fuels based on the GHG emissions associated with such fuels. A carbon tax, whether imposed on producers or consumers, would generally increase the prices for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas. Such price increases may, in turn, reduce demand for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and materially and adversely affect our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
In August 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which, among other changes, imposes a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) on the "adjusted financial statement income" of certain large corporations (generally, corporations reporting at least $1 billion average adjusted financial statement net income). To the extent we are subject to the CAMT, our cash obligations for U.S. federal income taxes could be accelerated. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service and other standard-setting bodies are expected to continue to issue guidance on how the CAMT and other provisions of the IRA will be applied or otherwise administered which may differ from our interpretations. We continue to evaluate the IRA and its effect on our financial condition and cash flows.
We are unable to predict the timing, scope and effect of any proposed or enacted tax law changes, but any such changes (if enacted) may materially and adversely affect our business. We will continue to monitor and assess any proposed or enacted tax law changes to determine the impact on our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition and take appropriate actions, where necessary.
Risks Related to Our International Operations
We operate in other countries and, as a result, are subject to certain political, economic, competitive and other risks.
Our operations in jurisdictions outside the U.S. are subject to various risks inherent in foreign operations. These risks include, among other risks:
•increases in taxes and governmental royalties;
•additional and potentially unfamiliar laws and policies governing the operations of foreign-based companies and changes in such laws and policies;
•loss of revenue, loss of or damage to equipment, property and other assets and interruption of operations as a result of expropriation, nationalization, acts of terrorism, war, civil unrest and other political risks;
•unilateral or forced renegotiation, modification or nullification of existing contracts with governmental entities;
•difficulties enforcing our rights against a governmental agency because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity and foreign sovereignty over international operations;
•competition from companies that have established strategic long-term positions or have strong governmental relationships in the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate; and
•currency restrictions or exchange rate fluctuations.
Our international operations may also be adversely affected by U.S. laws and policies affecting foreign trade and taxation, including tariffs or trade or other economic sanctions; modifications to, or withdrawal from, international trade treaties; and U.S. laws with respect to participation in boycotts that are not supported by the U.S. government. The realization of any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the U.S. dollar. However, certain of our subsidiaries are located in countries other than the U.S. and have functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of certain of these foreign subsidiaries are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. To prepare our consolidated financial statements, we must translate those assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars at then-applicable exchange rates. Consequently, increases and decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar versus other currencies will affect the amount of these items in our consolidated financial statements, even if the amount has not changed in the original currency. These translations could result in changes to our results of operations from period to period. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, EOG had no net operating revenues related to operations of our foreign subsidiaries whose functional currency was not the U.S. dollar.
Risks Related to Cybersecurity, Outbreaks/Pandemics and Other External Factors
Our business could be materially and adversely affected by security threats, including cybersecurity threats, and other disruptions.
As an oil and gas producer, we face various security threats, including (i) cybersecurity threats to gain unauthorized access to, or control of, our sensitive information or to render our data or systems corrupted or unusable; (ii) threats to the security of our facilities and infrastructure or to the security of third-party facilities and infrastructure, such as gathering, transportation, processing, fractionation, refining, liquefaction and export facilities; and (iii) threats from terrorist acts. The potential for such security threats has subjected our operations to increased risks that could have a material and adverse effect on our business.
We rely extensively on information technology systems, including internally developed software, data hosting platforms, real-time data acquisition systems, third-party software, cloud services and other internally or externally hosted hardware and software platforms, to (i) estimate our oil and gas reserves, (ii) process and record financial and operating data, (iii) process and analyze all stages of our business operations, including exploration, drilling, completions, production, gathering and processing, transportation, pipelines and other related activities and (iv) communicate with our employees and vendors, suppliers and other third parties. Further, our reliance on technology has increased due to the increased use of personal devices and remote communications. Although we have implemented and invested in, and will continue to implement and invest in, controls, procedures and protections (including internal and external personnel) that are designed to protect our systems, identify and remediate on a regular basis vulnerabilities in our systems and related infrastructure and monitor and mitigate the risk of data loss and other cybersecurity threats, such measures cannot entirely eliminate cybersecurity threats and the controls, procedures and protections we have implemented and invested in may prove to be ineffective.
Our systems and networks, and those of our business associates, may become the target of cybersecurity attacks, including, without limitation, denial-of-service attacks; malicious software; data privacy breaches by employees, insiders or others with authorized access; cyber or phishing-attacks; ransomware; attempts to gain unauthorized access to our data and systems; and other electronic security breaches. If any of these security breaches were to occur, we could suffer disruptions to our normal operations, including our drilling, completion, production and corporate functions, which could materially and adversely affect us in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, the following:
•unauthorized access to, and release of, our business data, reserves information, strategic information or other sensitive or proprietary information, which could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to compete for oil and gas resources, or reduce our competitive advantage over other companies;
•data corruption, communication interruption, or other operational disruptions during our drilling activities, which could result in our failure to reach the intended target or a drilling incident;
•data corruption or operational disruptions of our production-related infrastructure, which could result in loss of production or accidental discharges;
•unauthorized access to, and release of, personal information of our royalty owners, employees and vendors, which could expose us to allegations that we did not sufficiently protect such information;
•a cybersecurity attack on a vendor or service provider, which could result in supply chain disruptions and could delay or halt our operations;
•a cybersecurity attack on third-party gathering, transportation, processing, fractionation, refining, liquefaction or export facilities, which could result in reduced demand for our production or delay or prevent us from transporting and marketing our production, in either case resulting in a loss of revenues;
•a cybersecurity attack involving commodities exchanges or financial institutions could slow or halt commodities trading, thus preventing us from marketing our production or engaging in hedging activities, resulting in a loss of revenues;
•a deliberate corruption of our financial or operating data could result in events of non-compliance which could then lead to regulatory fines or penalties;
•a cybersecurity attack on a communications network or power grid, which could cause operational disruptions resulting in a loss of revenues; and
•a cybersecurity attack on our automated and surveillance systems, which could cause a loss of production and potential environmental hazards.
Further, strategic targets, such as energy-related assets, may be at a greater risk of terrorist attacks or cybersecurity attacks than other targets in the United States. Moreover, external digital technologies control nearly all of the crude oil and natural gas distribution systems in the U.S. and abroad, which are necessary to transport and market our production. A cybersecurity attack directed at, for example, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas distribution systems could (i) damage critical distribution and storage assets or the environment; (ii) disrupt energy supplies and markets, by delaying or preventing delivery of production to markets; and (iii) make it difficult or impossible to accurately account for production and settle transactions.
Any such terrorist attack or cybersecurity attack that affects us, our customers, suppliers, or others with whom we do business and/or energy-related assets could have a material adverse effect on our business, including disruption of our operations, damage to our reputation, a loss of counterparty trust, reimbursement or other costs, increased compliance costs, significant litigation exposure and legal liability or regulatory fines, penalties or intervention. Although we have business continuity plans in place, our operations may be adversely affected by significant and widespread disruption to our systems and the infrastructure that supports our business. While we continue to evolve and modify our business continuity plans as well as our cyber threat detection and mitigation systems, there can be no assurance that they will be effective in avoiding disruption and business impacts. Further, our insurance may not be adequate to compensate us for all resulting losses, and the cost to obtain adequate coverage may increase for us in the future and some insurance coverage may become more difficult to obtain, if available at all.
While we have experienced limited cybersecurity incidents in the past, we have not had, to date, any business interruptions or material losses from breaches of cybersecurity. However, there is no assurance that we will not suffer any such interruptions or losses in the future. Further, as technologies evolve and cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated, we are continually expending additional resources to modify or enhance our security measures to protect against such threats and to identify and remediate on a regular basis any vulnerabilities in our information systems and related infrastructure that may be detected, and these expenditures in the future may be significant. Additionally, the continuing and evolving threat of cybersecurity attacks has resulted in evolving legal and compliance matters, including increased regulatory focus on prevention and new disclosure requirements recently enacted by the SEC with respect to material cybersecurity incidents and cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance, which could require us to expend significant additional resources to meet such requirements.
Outbreaks of communicable diseases can adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Global or national health concerns, including a widespread outbreak of contagious disease, can, among other impacts, negatively impact the global economy, reduce demand and pricing for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, lead to operational disruptions and limit our ability to execute on our business plan, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, uncertainty regarding the impact of any outbreak of contagious disease could lead to increased volatility in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices.
In the event of a future outbreak or pandemic, we may experience disruptions to commodities markets, equipment supply chains and the availability of our workforce, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct our business and operations. In addition, if such a future outbreak or pandemic results in an economic downturn, our customers and other contractual parties may be unable to pay amounts owed to us from time to time and to otherwise satisfy their contractual obligations to us, and may be unable to access the credit and capital markets for such purposes. Such inability of our customers and other contractual counterparties may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
There would be many variables and uncertainties associated with any future outbreak or pandemic, including (but not limited to) the duration and severity of the outbreak; the extent of travel restrictions, business closures and other measures imposed by governmental authorities; increased risk of cyberattacks on information technology systems used in remote working arrangements; absence of employees due to illness; the impact of the pandemic on EOG's customers and contractual counterparties; and other factors that may be currently unknown or considered immaterial, to fully assess the potential impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Terrorist activities and military and other actions could materially and adversely affect us.
Terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorist attacks (including cyber-related attacks), whether domestic or foreign, as well as military or other actions taken in response to these acts, could cause instability in the global financial and energy markets. The U.S. government has from time to time issued public warnings that indicate that energy-related assets, such as transportation and refining facilities, might be specific targets of terrorist organizations.
Any such actions and the threat of such actions, including any resulting political instability or societal disruption, could materially and adversely affect us in unpredictable ways, including, but not limited to, the disruption of energy supplies and markets, the reduction of overall demand for crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, increased volatility in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices or the possibility that the facilities and other infrastructure on which we rely could be a direct target or an indirect casualty of an act of terrorism, and, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Weather and climate may have a significant and adverse impact on us.
Demand for crude oil and natural gas is, to a degree, dependent on weather and climate, which impacts, among other things, the price we receive for the commodities that we produce and, in turn, our cash flows and results of operations. For example, relatively warm temperatures during a winter season generally result in relatively lower demand for natural gas (as less natural gas is used to heat residences and businesses) and, as a result, lower prices for natural gas production during that season.
In addition, there has been public discussion that climate change may be associated with more frequent or more extreme weather events, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, changes to ground and surface water availability, and other related phenomena, which could affect some, or all, of our operations. Our exploration, exploitation and development activities and equipment could be adversely affected by extreme weather events, such as winter storms, flooding and tropical storms and hurricanes, which may cause a loss of production from temporary cessation of activity or damaged facilities and equipment. Such extreme weather events could also impact other areas of our operations, including access to our drilling and production facilities for routine operations, maintenance and repairs, the installation and operation of gathering, processing, compression, storage and/or transportation facilities and the availability of, and our access to, necessary third-party services and facilities, such as gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation and export services and facilities. Such extreme weather events and changes in weather patterns may materially and adversely affect our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. Properties
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production - Properties and Reserves
Reserve Information. For estimates and discussions of EOG's net proved reserves of crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas, the qualifications of the preparers of EOG's reserve estimates, EOG's independent petroleum consultants and EOG's processes and controls with respect to its reserve estimates, see "Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements."
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond the control of the producer. The reserve data set forth in "Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements" represent only estimates. Reserve engineering is a complex, subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the amount and quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, estimates by different engineers normally vary. In addition, results of drilling, testing and production or fluctuations in commodity prices subsequent to the date of an estimate may justify revision of such estimate (upward or downward). Accordingly, reserve estimates are often different from the quantities ultimately recovered. Further, the meaningfulness of such estimates is highly dependent upon the accuracy of the assumptions upon which they were based. For related discussion, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, and "Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements."
In general, the rate of production from crude oil and natural gas properties declines as reserves are produced. Except to the extent EOG acquires additional properties containing reserves, conducts successful exploration, exploitation and development activities resulting in additional reserves or, through engineering studies, identifies additional behind-pipe zones or secondary recovery reserves, the reserves of EOG will decline as reserves are produced. Future production is, therefore, highly dependent upon the level of success of these activities. For related discussion, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors. EOG's estimates of reserves filed with other federal agencies are consistent with the information set forth in "Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements."
Acreage. The following table summarizes EOG's gross and net developed and undeveloped acreage at December 31, 2023 (in thousands of acres). Excluded is acreage in which EOG's interest is limited to owned royalty, overriding royalty and other similar interests.
Developed Undeveloped Total
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
United States 1,869 1,500 2,747 1,866 4,616 3,366
Trinidad 77 65 238 139 315 204
Australia - - 1,009 1,009 1,009 1,009
Total 1,946 1,565 3,994 3,014 5,940 4,579
Most of our undeveloped oil and gas leases, particularly in the United States, are subject to lease expiration if initial wells are not drilled within a specified period, generally between three to five years. Approximately 0.1 million net acres will expire in 2024, 0.1 million net acres will expire in 2025 and 1.1 million net acres will expire in 2026 if production is not established or we take no other action to extend the terms of the leases or obtain concessions. As of December 31, 2023, there were no proved undeveloped reserves (PUDs) associated with undeveloped leases on which drilling was planned after the expiration dates of such leases. In the ordinary course of business, based on our evaluations of certain geologic trends and prospective economics, we have allowed certain lease acreage to expire and may allow additional acreage to expire in the future.
Many of our oil and gas leases are large enough to accommodate more than one producing unit. Included in our undeveloped acreage is non-producing acreage within such larger producing leases.
The agreement governing the acreage associated with our exploration program in offshore Australia is set to expire at various dates through 2026 depending on EOG's decision to move forward with its defined work program or unless EOG is either granted a production license or an extension of the permit.
Productive Well Summary. The following table represents EOG's gross and net productive wells at December 31, 2023, including 2,868 wells in which we hold a royalty interest.
Crude Oil Natural Gas Total
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
United States 9,475 6,652 3,595 1,772 13,070 8,424
Trinidad 2 2 38 32 40 34
Total (1)
9,477 6,654 3,633 1,804 13,110 8,458
(1) EOG operated 9,304 gross and 8,291 net producing crude oil and natural gas wells at December 31, 2023. Gross crude oil and natural gas wells include 58 wells with multiple completions.
Drilling and Acquisition Activities. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, EOG expended $6.0 billion, $5.2 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively, for exploratory and development drilling, facilities and acquisition of leases and producing properties, including asset retirement costs of $257 million, $298 million and $127 million, respectively. The following tables set forth the results of the gross crude oil and natural gas wells completed for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Gross Development Wells Completed Gross Exploratory Wells Completed
Crude Oil Natural Gas Dry Hole Total Crude Oil Natural Gas Dry Hole Total
United States
595 152 2 749 9 7 - 16
Trinidad
- 2 - 2 - 1 - 1
Total
595 154 2 751 9 8 - 17
United States 462 133 11 606 3 - 8 11
Trinidad - - - - - 2 1 3
Total 462 133 11 606 3 2 9 14
United States 474 72 5 551 10 1 1 12
Trinidad - - - - - - - -
Oman - - - - - - 3 3
Total 474 72 5 551 10 1 4 15
The following tables set forth the results of the net crude oil and natural gas wells completed for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Net Development Wells Completed Net Exploratory Wells Completed
Crude Oil Natural Gas Dry Hole Total Crude Oil Natural Gas Dry Hole Total
United States
490 135 2 627 7 6 - 13
Trinidad
- 2 - 2 - 1 - 1
Total
490 137 2 629 7 7 - 14
United States 395 117 10 522 3 - 8 11
Trinidad - - - - - 2 1 3
Total 395 117 10 522 3 2 9 14
United States 434 66 4 504 10 1 1 12
Trinidad - - - - - - - -
Oman - - - - - - 3 3
Total 434 66 4 504 10 1 4 15
EOG participated in the drilling of wells that were in the process of being drilled or completed at the end of the period as set out in the table below for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Wells in Progress at End of Period
2023 2022 2021
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
United States 254 212 251 213 191 167
Trinidad 3 3 1 1 1 1
Total 257 215 252 214 192 168
Included in the previous table of wells in progress at the end of the period were wells which had been drilled, but were not completed (DUCs). In order to effectively manage its capital expenditures and to provide flexibility in managing its drilling rig and well completion schedules, EOG, from time to time, will have an inventory of DUCs. At December 31, 2023, there were approximately 134 MMBoe of net PUDs associated with EOG's inventory of DUCs. Under EOG's current drilling plan, all such DUCs are expected to be completed within five years from the original booking date of such reserves. The following table sets forth EOG's DUCs, for which PUDs had been booked, as of the end of each period.
Drilled Uncompleted Wells at End of Period
2023 2022 2021
Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
United States 156 132 122 98 121 105
Trinidad 1 1 - - - -
Total 157 133 122 98 121 105
EOG acquired wells as set forth in the following table (excluding the acquisition of additional interests in 4, 74 and 5 net wells in which EOG previously owned an interest for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Gross Acquired Wells Net Acquired Wells
Crude
Oil Natural
Gas Total Crude
Oil Natural
Gas Total
United States
5 - 5 5 - 5
Total
5 - 5 5 - 5
United States 25 5 30 19 1 20
Total 25 5 30 19 1 20
United States 2 14 16 1 13 14
Total 2 14 16 1 13 14
Other Property, Plant and Equipment. EOG's other property, plant and equipment primarily includes gathering, transportation and processing infrastructure assets, carbon capture and storage assets and buildings. EOG does not own drilling rigs, hydraulic fracturing equipment or rail cars. All of EOG's drilling and completion activities are conducted on a contractual basis with independent drilling contractors and other third-party service contractors.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
See the information set forth under the "Contingencies" caption in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 103 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires disclosure regarding certain proceedings arising under federal, state or local environmental laws when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and such proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that EOG reasonably believes will exceed a specified threshold. Pursuant to this item, EOG uses a threshold of $1 million for purposes of determining whether disclosure of any such proceedings is required; EOG believes proceedings under this threshold are not material to EOG's business and financial condition (the choice of this threshold does not imply that matters with potential monetary sanctions in excess of $1 million are necessarily material to EOG's business or financial condition). Applying this threshold, there are no environmental proceedings to disclose for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
EOG's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "EOG."
As of February 15, 2024, there were approximately 3,000 record holders and approximately 1,093,000 beneficial owners of EOG's common stock.
EOG expects to continue to pay dividends to its stockholders; however, EOG's Board may reduce the dividend or cease declaring dividends at any time, including if it determines that EOG's current or forecasted future cash flows provided by its operating activities (after deducting capital expenditures and other commitments requiring cash) are not sufficient to pay EOG's desired levels of dividends to its stockholders or to pay dividends to its stockholders at all. For additional discussion, see ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, EOG's share repurchase activity:
Period
(a)
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased (1)
(b)
Average
Price Paid
per Share (c)
Total Number of
Shares or Value of Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (2)
(d)
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares
that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (3)
October 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023 59,602 $ 129.19 $ - $ 4,328,867,620
November 1, 2023 - November 30, 2023 1,198,980 122.96 145,760,313 4,183,107,307
December 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023 1,269,005 122.49 154,239,583 4,028,867,724
Total 2,527,587 122.87 299,999,896
(1)Includes 2,444,880 shares repurchased during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, at an average price of $122.71 per share (inclusive of commissions and transaction fees), pursuant to the November 2021 Authorization (as defined and further discussed below); such repurchases count against the November 2021 Authorization. The share repurchases during December 2023 were made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan entered into by EOG on December 1, 2023 (prior to the opening of trading on such day).
Also includes 82,707 total shares that were withheld by or returned to EOG during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, at an average price of $127.66 per share, (i) in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations that arose upon the exercise of employee stock options or stock-settled stock appreciation rights or the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock unit or performance unit grants or (ii) in payment of the exercise price of employee stock options (such shares do not count against the November 2021 Authorization).
(2)Effective November 4, 2021, EOG's Board of Directors (Board) established a new share repurchase authorization that allows for the repurchase by EOG of up to $5 billion of its common stock (November 2021 Authorization). As of the date of this filing, (i) EOG has repurchased an aggregate 8,648,918 shares at a total cost of $971,132,276 (inclusive of commissions and transaction fees) under the November 2021 Authorization and (ii) an additional $4,028,867,724 of shares may be purchased under the November 2021 Authorization.
(3)Under the November 2021 Authorization, EOG may repurchase shares from time to time, at management's discretion, in accordance with applicable securities laws, including through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or any combination thereof. The timing and amount of repurchases is at the discretion of EOG's management and depends on a variety of factors, including the trading price of EOG's common stock, corporate and regulatory requirements, other market and economic conditions, the availability of cash to effect repurchases and EOG's anticipated future capital expenditures and other commitments requiring cash. Repurchased shares are held as treasury shares and are available for general corporate purposes. The November 2021 Authorization has no time limit, does not require EOG to repurchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Board at any time.
Comparative Stock Performance
The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that EOG specifically requests that such information be treated as "soliciting material" or specifically incorporates such information by reference into such a filing.
The performance graph shown below compares the cumulative five-year total return to stockholders of EOG's common stock as compared to the cumulative five-year total returns of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Standard and Poor's 500 Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Index (S&P O&G E&P). The comparison was prepared based upon the following assumptions:
1.$100 was invested on December 31, 2018 in each of the following: common stock of EOG, the S&P 500 and the S&P O&G E&P.
2. Dividends are reinvested.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Returns
EOG, S&P 500 and S&P O&G E&P
(Performance Results Through December 31, 2023)
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
EOG $ 100.00 $ 97.18 $ 59.63 $ 112.52 $ 176.50 $ 172.96
S&P 500 $ 100.00 $ 131.49 $ 155.68 $ 200.37 $ 164.08 $ 207.21
S&P O&G E&P $ 100.00 $ 112.02 $ 72.35 $ 135.35 $ 214.52 $ 214.60

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. Reserved

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
EOG Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (collectively, EOG), is one of the largest independent (non-integrated) crude oil and natural gas companies in the United States of America (United States) with proved reserves in the United States and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad). EOG is focused on being among the lowest-cost, highest-return and lowest-emissions producers, playing a significant role in the long-term future of energy. EOG operates under a consistent business and operational strategy that focuses predominantly on maximizing the rate of return on investment of capital by controlling operating costs and capital expenditures and maximizing reserve recoveries. Pursuant to this strategy, each prospective drilling location is evaluated by its estimated rate of return. This strategy is intended to enhance the generation of cash flow and earnings from each unit of production on a cost-effective basis, allowing EOG to maximize long-term shareholder value and maintain a strong balance sheet. EOG implements its strategy primarily by emphasizing the drilling of internally generated prospects in order to find and develop low-cost reserves. Maintaining the lowest possible operating cost structure, coupled with efficient and safe operations and robust environmental stewardship practices and performance, is integral in the implementation of EOG's strategy.
EOG realized net income of $7,594 million during 2023 as compared to net income of $7,759 million for 2022. At December 31, 2023, EOG's total estimated net proved reserves were 4,498 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), an increase of 260 MMBoe from December 31, 2022. During 2023, net proved crude oil and condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs) reserves increased by 204 million barrels (MMBbl), and net proved natural gas reserves increased by 339 billion cubic feet or 57 MMBoe, in each case from December 31, 2022.
Recent Developments
Commodity Prices. Prices for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas have historically been volatile. This volatility is expected to continue due to the many uncertainties associated with the world political and economic environment and the global supply of, and demand for, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas and the availability of other energy supplies, the relative competitive relationships of the various energy sources in the view of consumers and other factors.
The market prices of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas impact the amount of cash generated from EOG's operating activities, which, in turn, impact EOG's financial position and results of operations.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the average U.S. New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) crude oil and natural gas prices were $77.61 per barrel and $2.74 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), respectively, representing decreases of 18% and 59%, respectively, from the average NYMEX prices for the year ended December 31, 2022. Market prices for NGLs are influenced by the components extracted, including ethane, propane and butane and natural gasoline, among others, and the respective market pricing for each component.
Inflation Considerations; Availability of Materials, Labor & Services. Beginning in the second half of 2021 and continuing, to a lesser degree, through the first three months of 2023, EOG, similar to other companies in its industry, experienced inflationary pressures on its operating costs and capital expenditures - namely the costs of fuel, steel (i.e., wellbore tubulars and facilities manufactured using steel), labor and drilling and completion services. Such inflationary pressures resulted from (i) supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting limited availability of certain materials and products manufactured using such materials; (ii) increased demand for fuel and steel; (iii) increased demand for drilling and completion services coupled with a limited number of available service providers, resulting in increased competition for such services among EOG and other companies in its industry; (iv) labor shortages; and (v) other factors, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and the Ukraine which began in late February 2022. Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, EOG has seen these inflationary pressures diminish and, in certain circumstances, seen a decline in prices. However, the market for such materials, services and labor continues to fluctuate and, as a result, the timing and impact of any price changes on EOG's future operating costs and capital expenditures is uncertain.
Such inflationary pressures on EOG's operating costs and capital expenditures have, in turn, impacted its cash flows and results of operations. However, by virtue of its continued focus on increasing its drilling, completion and operating efficiencies and improving the performance of its wells, as well as the flexibility provided by its multi-basin drilling portfolio, EOG has, to date, been able to largely offset such impacts. Such inflationary pressures resulted in an increase of less than 10 percent in its fiscal year 2023 well costs (i.e., its costs for drilling, completions and well-site facilities) versus fiscal year 2022. Accordingly, such increase in EOG's fiscal year 2023 well costs did not have a material impact on EOG's full-year 2023 cash flows. Further, such inflationary pressures and the factors contributing to such inflationary pressures (described above) have not, to date, impacted EOG's liquidity, capital resources, cash requirements or financial position or its ability to conduct its day-to-day drilling, completion and production operations.
The initiatives EOG has undertaken (and continues to undertake) to increase its drilling, completion and operating efficiencies and improve the performance of its wells and, in turn, mitigate such inflationary pressures, include (among others): (i) EOG's downhole drilling motor program, which has resulted in increased footage drilled per day and, in turn, reduced drilling times; (ii) enhanced techniques for completing its wells, which has resulted in increased footage completed per day and pumping hours per day; and (iii) EOG's self-sourced sand program, which has resulted in continued cost savings for the sand utilized in its well completion operations. In addition, EOG enters into agreements with its service providers from time to time, when available and advantageous, to secure the costs and availability of certain drilling and completion services it utilizes as part of its operations.
EOG plans to continue with these initiatives and actions, though there can be no assurance that such efforts will offset, largely or at all, the impacts of any future inflationary pressures on EOG's operating costs and capital expenditures, cash flows and results of operations. Further, there can be no assurance that the factors contributing to any future inflationary pressures will not impact EOG's ability to conduct its future day-to-day drilling, completion and production operations. See ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, for related discussion.
Climate Change. For a discussion of climate change matters and related regulatory matters, including potential developments related to climate change and the potential impacts and risks of such developments on EOG, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, and the related discussion in ITEM 1, Business - Regulation. EOG will continue to monitor and assess any climate change-related developments that could impact EOG and the oil and gas industry, to determine the impact on its business and operations, and take appropriate actions where necessary.
Operations
Several important developments have occurred since January 1, 2023.
United States. EOG's efforts to identify plays with large reserve potential have proven to be successful. EOG continues to drill numerous wells in large acreage plays, which in the aggregate have contributed substantially to, and are expected to continue to contribute substantially to, EOG's crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas production. EOG has placed an emphasis on applying its horizontal drilling and completion expertise to unconventional crude oil and natural gas plays.
In 2023, EOG continued to focus on increasing drilling, completion and operating efficiencies, to improve well performance and, as is further discussed above, to mitigate inflationary pressures on its operating costs and capital expenditures. In addition, EOG continued to evaluate certain potential crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas exploration and development prospects and to look for opportunities to add drilling inventory through leasehold acquisitions, farm-ins, exchanges or tactical or bolt-on acquisitions. On a volumetric basis, as calculated using a ratio of 1.0 barrel of crude oil and condensate or NGLs to 6.0 thousand cubic feet of natural gas, crude oil and condensate and NGLs production accounted for approximately 73% and 75% of EOG's United States production during 2023 and 2022, respectively. During 2023, EOG's drilling and completion activities occurred primarily in the Delaware Basin play, Eagle Ford play and Rocky Mountain area. EOG's major producing areas in the United States are in New Mexico and Texas. See ITEM 1, Business - Exploration and Production for further discussion regarding EOG's 2023 United States operations.
Trinidad. In Trinidad, EOG continues to deliver natural gas under existing supply contracts. Several fields in the South East Coast Consortium (SECC) Block, Modified U(a) Block, Block 4(a), the Banyan Field and the Sercan Area have been developed and are producing natural gas which is sold to the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited and its subsidiary (NGC), and crude oil and condensate which is sold to Heritage Petroleum Company Limited.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, EOG completed two net developmental wells and one net exploratory well from the recently installed Osprey B platform in the Modified U(a) Block. Additionally, in 2023, EOG completed the design phase for the platform and related facilities in the Mento Area and commenced construction of such platform and related facilities.
Also, EOG sold its equity interest in its ammonia plant investments in the first quarter of 2023.
Other International. In November 2021, a subsidiary of EOG was granted an exploration permit for the WA-488-P Block, located offshore Western Australia. In 2023, EOG continued to prepare for the drilling of an exploration well subject to regulatory approvals and equipment availability.
EOG continues to evaluate other select crude oil and natural gas opportunities outside the United States, primarily by pursuing exploration opportunities in countries where indigenous crude oil and natural gas reserves have been identified.
Capital Structure
One of management's key strategies is to maintain a strong balance sheet with a consistently below average debt-to-total capitalization ratio as compared to those in EOG's peer group. EOG's debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 12% at December 31, 2023 and 17% at December 31, 2022. As used in this calculation, total capitalization represents the sum of total current and long-term debt and total stockholders' equity.
At December 31, 2023, EOG maintained a strong financial and liquidity position, including $5.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents on hand and $1.9 billion of availability under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility (discussed below).
On June 7, 2023, EOG entered into a $1.9 billion senior unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement (New Facility) with domestic and foreign lenders. The New Facility replaced EOG's $2.0 billion senior unsecured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2019, with domestic and foreign lenders, which had a scheduled maturity date of June 27, 2024, and was terminated by EOG (without penalty), effective as of June 7, 2023, in connection with the completion of the New Facility.
On March 15, 2023, EOG repaid upon maturity the $1,250 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (2023 Notes).
During 2023, EOG funded $6.6 billion ($195 million of which was non-cash) in exploration and development and other property, plant and equipment expenditures (excluding asset retirement obligations), paid $3.4 billion in dividends to common stockholders, repaid the 2023 Notes and paid $1.0 billion to repurchase shares of common stock, primarily by utilizing net cash provided by its operating activities and cash on hand.
Total anticipated 2024 capital expenditures are estimated to range from approximately $6.0 billion to $6.4 billion, including exploration and development drilling, facilities, leasehold acquisitions, capitalized interest, dry hole costs and other property, plant and equipment and excluding property acquisitions, asset retirement costs, non-cash exchanges and transactions and exploration costs incurred as operating expenses. The majority of 2024 expenditures will be focused on United States crude oil drilling activities. EOG has significant flexibility with respect to financing alternatives, including borrowings under its commercial paper program, bank borrowings, borrowings under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility, joint development agreements and similar agreements and equity and debt offerings.
Management continues to believe EOG has one of the strongest prospect inventories in EOG's history. When it fits EOG's strategy, EOG will make acquisitions that bolster existing drilling programs or offer incremental exploration and/or production opportunities.
Cash Return Framework. In May 2022, EOG announced the addition of quantitative guidance to its cash return framework - specifically, a commitment to return a minimum of 60% of annual net cash provided by operating activities before certain balance sheet-related changes, less total capital expenditures, to stockholders, through a combination of quarterly dividends, special dividends and share repurchases. On November 2, 2023, EOG announced an increase in such cash return commitment - specifically, a commitment, effective beginning with fiscal year 2024, to return a minimum of 70% of annual net cash provided by operating activities before certain balance sheet-related changes, less total capital expenditures, to stockholders, through a combination of quarterly dividends, special dividends and share repurchases. For related discussion regarding our payment of dividends and share repurchases, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, and ITEM 5, Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Dividend Declarations. On February 23, 2023, EOG's Board of Directors (Board) declared a quarterly cash dividend on the common stock of $0.825 per share paid on April 28, 2023, to stockholders of record as of April 14, 2023. The Board also declared on such date a special dividend on the common stock of $1.00 per share paid on March 30, 2023, to stockholders of record as of March 16, 2023.
On May 4, 2023, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend on the common stock of $0.825 per share paid on July 31, 2023, to stockholders of record as of July 17, 2023.
On August 3, 2023, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend on the common stock of $0.825 per share paid on October 31, 2023, to stockholders of record as of October 17, 2023.
On November 2, 2023, the Board (i) increased the quarterly cash dividend on the common stock from the previous $0.825 per share to $0.91 per share, effective beginning with the dividend paid on January 31, 2024, to stockholders of record as of January 17, 2024, and (ii) declared a special cash dividend on the common stock of $1.50 per share, paid on December 29, 2023, to stockholders of record as of December 15, 2023.
On February 22, 2024, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend on the common stock of $0.91 per share to be paid on April 30, 2024, to stockholders of record as of April 16, 2024.
Results of Operations
This section discusses certain year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022, which should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of EOG and notes thereto beginning on page. For discussion of certain year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021, see "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed on February 23, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Operating Revenues and Other
During 2023, operating revenues decreased $1,516 million, or 6%, to $24,186 million from $25,702 million in 2022. Total wellhead revenues, which are revenues generated from sales of EOG's production of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, decreased $5,420 million, or 24%, to $17,376 million in 2023 from $22,796 million in 2022. Revenues from the sales of crude oil and condensate and NGLs in 2023 were 90% of total wellhead revenues compared to 83% in 2022. During 2023, EOG recognized net gains on the mark-to-market of financial commodity derivative contracts of $818 million compared to net losses of $3,982 million in 2022. Gathering, processing and marketing revenues decreased $890 million during 2023, to $5,806 million from $6,696 million in 2022. EOG recognized net gains on asset dispositions of $95 million in 2023 compared to net gains on asset dispositions of $74 million in 2022.
Wellhead volume and price statistics for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31 2023 2022 2021
Crude Oil and Condensate Volumes (MBbld) (1)
United States 475.2 460.7 443.4
Trinidad 0.6 0.6 1.5
Other International (2)
- - 0.1
Total 475.8 461.3 445.0
Average Crude Oil and Condensate Prices ($/Bbl) (3)
United States $ 79.18 $ 97.22 $ 68.54
Trinidad 68.58 86.16 56.26
Other International (2)
- - 42.36
Composite 79.17 97.21 68.50
Natural Gas Liquids Volumes (MBbld) (1)
United States 223.8 197.7 144.5
Total 223.8 197.7 144.5
Average Natural Gas Liquids Prices ($/Bbl) (3)
United States $ 23.07 $ 36.70 $ 34.35
Composite 23.07 36.70 34.35
Natural Gas Volumes (MMcfd) (1)
United States 1,551 1,315 1,210
Trinidad 160 180 217
Other International (2)
- - 9
Total 1,711 1,495 1,436
Average Natural Gas Prices ($/Mcf) (3)
United States $ 2.70 $ 7.27 $ 4.88
Trinidad 3.65 4.43 (5)
3.40
Other International (2)
- - 5.67
Composite 2.79 6.93 4.66
Crude Oil Equivalent Volumes (MBoed) (4)
United States 957.5 877.5 789.6
Trinidad 27.3 30.7 37.7
Other International (2)
- - 1.6
Total 984.8 908.2 828.9
Total MMBoe (4)
359.4 331.5 302.5
(1) Thousand barrels per day or million cubic feet per day, as applicable.
(2)Other International includes EOG's China and Canada operations. The China operations were sold in the second quarter of 2021. EOG is continuing the process of exiting its Canada operations.
(3)Dollars per barrel or per thousand cubic feet, as applicable. Excludes the impact of financial commodity derivative instruments (see Note 12 to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(4)Thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day or million barrels of oil equivalent, as applicable; includes crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas. Crude oil equivalent volumes are determined using a ratio of 1.0 barrel of crude oil and condensate or NGLs to 6.0 thousand cubic feet of natural gas. MMBoe is calculated by multiplying the MBoed amount by the number of days in the period and then dividing that amount by one thousand.
(5)Includes positive revenue adjustment of $0.76 per Mcf ($0.09 per Mcf of EOG's composite wellhead natural gas price) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, related to a price adjustment per a provision of the natural gas sales contract with NGC amended in July 2022 for natural gas sales during the period from September 2020 through June 2022.
Wellhead crude oil and condensate revenues in 2023 decreased $2,619 million, or 16%, to $13,748 million from $16,367 million in 2022, due primarily to a lower composite average wellhead crude oil and condensate price ($3,134 million), partially offset by an increase in production ($515 million). EOG's composite wellhead crude oil and condensate price for 2023 decreased 19% to $79.17 per barrel compared to $97.21 per barrel in 2022. Wellhead crude oil and condensate production in 2023 increased 3% to 476 MBbld as compared to 461 MBbld in 2022. The increased production was primarily in the Permian Basin, partially offset by decreased production in the Eagle Ford play.
NGLs revenues in 2023 decreased $764 million, or 29%, to $1,884 million from $2,648 million in 2022 primarily due to a lower composite average wellhead NGLs price ($1,117 million), partially offset by an increase in production ($353 million). EOG's composite average wellhead NGLs price decreased 37% to $23.07 per barrel in 2023 compared to $36.70 per barrel in 2022. NGLs production in 2023 increased 13% to 224 MBbld as compared to 198 MBbld in 2022. The increased production was primarily in the Permian Basin.
Wellhead natural gas revenues in 2023 decreased $2,037 million, or 54%, to $1,744 million from $3,781 million in 2022 primarily due to a lower composite wellhead natural gas price ($2,583 million), partially offset by an increase in natural gas deliveries ($546 million). EOG's composite average wellhead natural gas price decreased 60% to $2.79 per Mcf in 2023 compared to $6.93 per Mcf in 2022. Natural gas deliveries in 2023 increased 14% to 1,711 MMcfd as compared to 1,495 MMcfd in 2022. The increase in production was primarily due to increased production of associated natural gas from the Permian Basin and higher deliveries in the Dorado gas play, partially offset by lower natural gas deliveries in Trinidad and decreased production of associated natural gas from the Eagle Ford play.
During 2023, EOG recognized net gains on the mark-to-market of financial commodity derivative contracts of $818 million, which included net cash paid for settlements of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas financial derivative contracts of $112 million. During 2022, EOG recognized net losses on the mark-to-market of financial commodity derivative contracts of $3,982 million, which included net cash paid for settlements of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas financial derivative contracts of $3,501 million.
Gathering, processing and marketing revenues are revenues generated from sales of third-party crude oil, NGLs and natural gas, as well as fees associated with gathering third-party natural gas and revenues from sales of EOG-owned sand. Purchases and sales of third-party crude oil and natural gas may be utilized in order to balance firm capacity at third-party facilities with production in certain areas and to utilize excess capacity at EOG-owned facilities. EOG sells sand primarily in order to balance the timing of firm purchase agreements with completion operations. Marketing costs represent the costs to purchase third-party crude oil, natural gas and sand and the associated transportation costs, as well as costs associated with EOG-owned sand sold to third parties.
Gathering, processing and marketing revenues less marketing costs in 2023 decreased $64 million compared to 2022, primarily due to lower margins on natural gas marketing activities.
Operating and Other Expenses
During 2023, operating expenses of $14,583 million were $1,153 million lower than the $15,736 million incurred during 2022. The following table presents the costs per barrel of oil equivalent (Boe) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Lease and Well $ 4.05 $ 4.02
Transportation Costs 2.66 2.91
Gathering and Processing Costs 1.84 1.87
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD&A) -
Oil and Gas Properties 9.24 10.21
Other Property, Plant and Equipment 0.48 0.48
General and Administrative (G&A) 1.78 1.72
Interest Expense, Net 0.41 0.54
Total (1)
$ 20.46 $ 21.75
(1)Total excludes exploration costs, dry hole costs, impairments, marketing costs and taxes other than income.
The primary factors impacting the cost components of per-unit rates of lease and well, transportation costs, gathering and processing costs, DD&A, G&A and interest expense, net for 2023 compared to 2022 are set forth below. See "Operating Revenues and Other" above for a discussion of production volumes.
Lease and well expenses include expenses for EOG-operated properties, as well as expenses billed to EOG from other operators where EOG is not the operator of a property. Lease and well expenses can be divided into the following categories: costs to operate and maintain crude oil and natural gas wells, the cost of workovers and lease and well administrative expenses. Operating and maintenance costs include, among other things, pumping services, produced water disposal, equipment repair and maintenance, compression expense, lease upkeep and fuel and power. Workovers are operations to restore or maintain production from existing wells.
Each of these categories of costs individually fluctuates from time to time as EOG attempts to maintain and increase production while maintaining efficient, safe and environmentally responsible operations. EOG continues to increase its operating activities by drilling new wells in existing and new areas. Operating and maintenance costs within these existing and new areas, as well as the costs of services charged to EOG by vendors, fluctuate over time.
Lease and well expenses of $1,454 million in 2023 increased $123 million from $1,331 million in 2022 primarily due to higher operating and maintenance costs in the United States ($65 million) and in Trinidad ($8 million), higher lease and well administrative expenses in the United States ($43 million), and higher workovers expenditures in the United States ($8 million). Lease and well expenses increased in the United States primarily due to increased operating activities resulting from increased production.
Transportation costs represent costs associated with the delivery of hydrocarbon products from the lease or an aggregation point on EOG's gathering system to a downstream point of sale. Transportation costs include transportation fees, storage and terminal fees, the cost of compression (the cost of compressing natural gas to meet pipeline pressure requirements), the cost of dehydration (the cost associated with removing water from natural gas to meet pipeline requirements), gathering fees and fuel costs. Transportation costs also include operating and maintenance expenses associated with EOG-owned transportation assets.
Transportation costs of $957 million in 2023 decreased $9 million from $966 million in 2022 primarily due to decreased transportation costs related to production from the Eagle Ford play ($37 million) and the Rocky Mountain area ($6 million), partially offset by increased transportation costs related to production from the Permian Basin ($20 million), the Dorado gas play ($9 million) and the Mid-Continent area ($5 million).
Gathering and processing costs represent operating and maintenance expenses and administrative expenses associated with operating EOG's gathering and processing assets as well as natural gas processing fees and certain NGLs fractionation fees paid to third parties. EOG pays third parties to process the majority of its natural gas production to extract NGLs.
Gathering and processing costs increased $42 million to $663 million in 2023 compared to $621 million in 2022 primarily due to increased gathering and processing fees related to production from the Permian Basin ($33 million) and increased operating and maintenance expenses related to production from the Rocky Mountain area ($14 million) and the Permian Basin ($10 million), partially offset by decreased operating and maintenance expenses related to production from the Eagle Ford play ($14 million) and decreased gathering and processing fees related to production from the Rocky Mountain area ($13 million).
DD&A of the cost of proved oil and gas properties is calculated using the unit-of-production method. EOG's DD&A rate and expense are the composite of numerous individual DD&A group calculations. There are several factors that can impact EOG's composite DD&A rate and expense, such as field production profiles, drilling or acquisition of new wells, disposition of existing wells and reserve revisions (upward or downward) primarily related to well performance, economic factors and impairments. Changes to these factors may cause EOG's composite DD&A rate and expense to fluctuate from period to period. DD&A of the cost of other property, plant and equipment is generally calculated using the straight-line depreciation method over the useful lives of the assets.
DD&A expenses in 2023 decreased $50 million to $3,492 million from $3,542 million in 2022. DD&A expenses associated with oil and gas properties in 2023 were $64 million lower than in 2022 primarily due to lower unit rates in the United States ($373 million), partially offset by an increase in production in the United States ($299 million). Unit rates in the United States decreased primarily due to upward reserve revisions related to favorable well performance, lower expected future operating costs and reserve additions at lower costs per Boe. DD&A expenses associated with other property, plant and equipment in 2023 were $14 million higher than in 2022 primarily due to an increase in expense related to gathering assets and equipment.
G&A expenses of $640 million in 2023 increased $70 million from $570 million in 2022 primarily due to a net increase in costs associated with corporate support activities, including employee-related expenses and information systems and other services.
Interest expense, net of $148 million in 2023 decreased $31 million from $179 million in 2022 primarily due to the repayment in March 2023 of the $1,250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes.
Exploration costs of $181 million in 2023 increased $22 million from $159 million in 2022 primarily due to increased administrative expenses ($10 million) and increased geological and geophysical expenditures ($8 million), both in the United States.
Impairments include: amortization of unproved oil and gas property costs as well as impairments of proved oil and gas properties; other property, plant and equipment; and other assets. Unproved properties with acquisition costs that are not individually significant are aggregated, and the portion of such costs estimated to be nonproductive is amortized over the remaining lease term. Unproved properties with individually significant acquisition costs are reviewed individually for impairment. When circumstances indicate that a proved property may be impaired, EOG compares expected undiscounted future cash flows at a DD&A group level to the unamortized capitalized cost of the group. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows, based on EOG's estimates of (and assumptions regarding) future crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices, operating costs, development expenditures, anticipated production from proved reserves and other relevant data, are lower than the unamortized capitalized cost, the capitalized cost is reduced to fair value. Fair value is generally calculated by using the Income Approach described in the Fair Value Measurement Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). In certain instances, EOG utilizes accepted offers from third-party purchasers as the basis for determining fair value.
The following table represents impairments for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in millions):
Proved properties $ 44 $ 120
Unproved properties 125 206
Other assets 31 29
Inventories - 25
Firm commitment contracts 2 2
Total $ 202 $ 382
Taxes other than income include severance/production taxes, ad valorem/property taxes, payroll taxes, franchise taxes and other miscellaneous taxes. Severance/production taxes are generally determined based on wellhead revenues, and ad valorem/property taxes are generally determined based on the valuation of the underlying assets.
Taxes other than income in 2023 decreased $301 million to $1,284 million (7.4% of wellhead revenues) from $1,585 million (7.0% of wellhead revenues) in 2022. The decrease in taxes other than income was primarily due to decreased severance/production taxes ($357 million) and decreased ad valorem/property taxes ($34 million), partially offset by decreased state severance tax refunds ($99 million), all in the United States.
Other income, net, was $234 million in 2023 compared to other income, net, of $114 million in 2022. The increase of $120 million in 2023 was primarily due to an increase in interest income ($155 million), partially offset by the absence of equity income due to the sale of EOG's equity interest in ammonia plant investments in Trinidad in the first quarter of 2023 ($46 million).
EOG recognized an income tax provision of $2,095 million in 2023 compared to an income tax provision of $2,142 million in 2022 primarily due to decreased pretax income. The net effective tax rate for 2023 was unchanged from the prior year rate of 22%.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Cash Flow
The primary sources of cash for EOG during the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, were funds generated from operations and, to a lesser extent, proceeds from asset sales. The primary uses of cash were funds used in operations; exploration and development expenditures; dividend payments to stockholders; net cash paid for settlements of financial commodity derivative contracts; repayment of debt; other property, plant and equipment expenditures; and purchases of treasury stock.
Net cash provided by operating activities of $11,340 million in 2023 increased $247 million from $11,093 million in 2022 primarily due to a decrease in net cash paid for settlements of financial commodity derivative contracts ($3,389 million), a decrease in net cash paid for income taxes ($1,246 million), a decrease in net cash used in working capital and other assets and liabilities ($590 million) and net cash provided by a change in collateral posted for financial commodity derivative contracts ($508 million), partially offset by a decrease in wellhead revenues ($5,420 million).
Net cash used in investing activities of $6,340 million in 2023 increased by $1,284 million from $5,056 million in 2022 primarily due to an increase in additions to oil and gas properties ($766 million); an increase in additions to other property, plant and equipment ($419 million) and a decrease in proceeds from the sales of assets ($209 million); partially offset by a decrease in net cash used in working capital associated with investing activities ($80 million) and a decrease in other investing activities ($30 million).
Net cash used in financing activities of $5,694 million in 2023 included cash dividend payments ($3,386 million), a repayment of long-term debt ($1,250 million), purchases of treasury stock ($1,038 million) and repayment of finance lease liabilities ($32 million). Cash provided by financing activities in 2023 included proceeds from stock options exercised and employee stock purchase plan activity ($20 million).
Total Expenditures
The table below sets out components of total expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in millions):
2023 2022 2021
Expenditure Category
Capital
Exploration and Development Drilling (1)
$ 4,803 $ 3,675 $ 2,864
Facilities 520 411 405
Leasehold Acquisitions (2)
207 186 215
Property Acquisitions (3)
16 419 100
Capitalized Interest 33 36 33
Subtotal 5,579 4,727 3,617
Exploration Costs 181 159 154
Dry Hole Costs 1 45 71
Exploration and Development Expenditures 5,761 4,931 3,842
Asset Retirement Costs 257 298 127
Total Exploration and Development Expenditures 6,018 5,229 3,969
Other Property, Plant and Equipment (4)
800 381 286
Total Expenditures $ 6,818 $ 5,610 $ 4,255
(1)Exploration and development drilling included $90 million related to non-cash development drilling in 2023.
(2)Leasehold acquisitions included $99 million, $127 million and $45 million related to non-cash property exchanges in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(3)Property acquisitions included $6 million, $26 million and $5 million related to non-cash property exchanges in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(4)Other property, plant and equipment in 2023 included $134 million related to the acquisition of a gathering and processing system in the Powder River Basin. Other property, plant and equipment in 2021 included non-cash additions of $74 million, primarily related to finance lease transactions for storage facilities.
Exploration and development expenditures of $5,761 million for 2023 were $830 million higher than the prior year. The increase was primarily due to increased exploration and development drilling expenditures in the United States ($1,079 million), increased facility expenditures ($109 million) and increased exploration and development drilling expenditures in Trinidad ($51 million), partially offset by decreased property acquisitions ($403 million). The 2023 exploration and development expenditures of $5,761 million included $5,101 million in development drilling and facilities, $611 million in exploration, $33 million in capitalized interest and $16 million in property acquisitions. The 2022 exploration and development expenditures of $4,931 million included $3,962 million in development drilling and facilities, $514 million in exploration, $419 million in property acquisitions and $36 million in capitalized interest. The 2021 exploration and development expenditures of $3,842 million included $3,172 million in development drilling and facilities, $537 million in exploration, $100 million in property acquisitions and $33 million in capitalized interest.
The level of exploration and development expenditures, including acquisitions, will vary in future periods depending on energy market conditions and other economic factors. EOG believes it has significant flexibility and availability with respect to financing alternatives and the ability to adjust its exploration and development expenditure budget as circumstances warrant. While EOG has certain continuing commitments associated with expenditure plans related to its operations, such commitments are not expected to be material when considered in relation to the total financial capacity of EOG.
Financial Commodity Derivative Transactions
Presented below is a comprehensive summary of EOG's financial commodity derivative contracts settled during the year ended December 31, 2023 (closed) and remaining for 2024 and thereafter, as of February 16, 2024. Crude oil volumes are presented in MBbld and prices are presented in $/Bbl. Natural gas volumes are presented in MMBtu per day (MMBtud) and prices are presented in dollars per MMBtu ($/MMBtu).
Crude Oil Financial Price Swap Contracts
Contracts Sold Contracts Purchased
Period Settlement Index Volume (MBbld) Weighted Average
Price ($/Bbl) Volume (MBbld) Weighted Average
Price ($/Bbl)
January - March 2023 (closed) NYMEX WTI 95 $ 67.90 6 $ 102.26
April - May 2023 (closed) NYMEX WTI 91 67.63 2 98.15
June 2023 (closed) NYMEX WTI 2 69.10 2 98.15
Natural Gas Financial Price Swap Contracts
Contracts Sold
Period Settlement Index Volume
(MMBtud in thousands) Weighted Average
Price ($/MMBtu)
January - December 2023 (closed) NYMEX Henry Hub 300 $ 3.36
January - February 2024 (closed) NYMEX Henry Hub 725 3.07
March - December 2024 NYMEX Henry Hub 725 3.07
January - December 2025 NYMEX Henry Hub 725 3.07
Natural Gas Basis Swap Contracts
Contracts Sold
Period Settlement Index Volume
(MMBtud in thousands) Weighted Average
Price Differential
($/MMBtu)
January - December 2023 (closed) NYMEX Henry Hub HSC Differential (1)
135 $ 0.01
January - February 2024 (closed) NYMEX Henry Hub HSC Differential 10 0.00
March - December 2024 NYMEX Henry Hub HSC Differential 10 0.00
January - December 2025 NYMEX Henry Hub HSC Differential 10 0.00
_________________
(1) This settlement index is used to fix the differential between pricing at the Houston Ship Channel and NYMEX Henry Hub prices.
Financing
EOG's debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 12% at December 31, 2023, compared to 17% at December 31, 2022. As used in this calculation, total capitalization represents the sum of total current and long-term debt and total stockholders' equity.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, EOG had outstanding $3,640 million and $4,890 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes, which had estimated fair values of $3,574 million and $4,740 million, respectively. The estimated fair value of debt was based upon quoted market prices and, where such prices were not available, other observable inputs regarding interest rates available to EOG at year-end. EOG's debt is at fixed interest rates. While changes in interest rates affect the fair value of EOG's senior notes, such changes do not expose EOG to material fluctuations in earnings or cash flow.
During 2023, EOG funded its capital program and operations by utilizing cash provided by operating activities and cash on hand. While EOG maintains a $1.9 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility to back its commercial paper program, there were no borrowings outstanding at any time during 2023 and the amount outstanding at year-end was zero. EOG considers the availability of its $1.9 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility, as described in Note 2 to Consolidated Financial Statements, to be sufficient to meet its ongoing operating needs.
Outlook
Pricing. Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices have been volatile, and this volatility is expected to continue. As a result of the many uncertainties associated with the world economic and political environment, worldwide supplies of, and demand for, crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, the availability of other energy supplies and the relative competitive relationships of the various energy sources in the view of consumers, EOG is unable to predict what changes may occur in crude oil and condensate, NGLs, natural gas, ammonia and methanol prices in the future. The market price of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas in 2024 will impact the amount of cash generated from EOG's operating activities, which will in turn impact EOG's financial position. As of February 16, 2024, the average 2024 NYMEX crude oil and natural gas prices were $75.81 per barrel and $2.28 per MMBtu, respectively, representing a decrease of 2% for crude oil and a decrease of 17% for natural gas from the average NYMEX prices in 2023. See ITEM 1A, Risk Factors for additional discussion of the impact of commodity prices (including fluctuations in commodity prices) on our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Based on EOG's tax position, EOG's price sensitivity in 2024 for each $1.00 per barrel increase or decrease in wellhead crude oil and condensate price, combined with the estimated change in NGLs price, is approximately $151 million for net income and $193 million for pretax cash flows from operating activities. Including the impact of EOG's natural gas financial derivative contracts and based on EOG's tax position and the portion of EOG's anticipated natural gas volumes for 2024 for which prices have not been determined under long-term marketing contracts, EOG's price sensitivity for each $0.10 per Mcf increase or decrease in wellhead natural gas price is approximately $27 million for net income and $35 million for pretax cash flows from operating activities. For information regarding EOG's crude oil, NGLs and natural gas financial commodity derivative contracts through February 16, 2024, see "Financial Commodity Derivative Transactions" above.
Capital. EOG plans to continue to focus a substantial portion of its exploration and development expenditures in its major producing areas in the United States. In particular, EOG will be focused on United States drilling activity in its Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford play, Dorado gas play and Utica play where it generates its highest rates-of-return. To further enhance the economics of these plays, EOG expects to continue to improve well performance and lessen inflationary pressure through efficiency gains and by locking in certain service costs for drilling and completion activities. In addition, EOG expects to spend a portion of its anticipated 2024 capital expenditures on leasing acreage, evaluating new prospects, gathering and processing infrastructure, transportation infrastructure and environmental projects.
The total anticipated 2024 capital expenditures of approximately $6.0 billion to $6.4 billion, including exploration and development drilling, facilities, leasehold acquisitions, capitalized interest, dry hole costs and other property, plant and equipment and excluding property acquisitions, asset retirement costs, non-cash exchanges and transactions and exploration costs incurred as operating expenses, is structured to maintain EOG's strategy of capital discipline by funding its exploration, development and exploitation activities primarily from available internally generated cash flows and cash on hand. EOG has significant flexibility with respect to financing alternatives, including borrowings under its commercial paper program, bank borrowings, borrowings under its $1.9 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility and equity and debt offerings.
Operations. In 2024, crude oil and total crude oil equivalent production are expected to increase from 2023 levels. In 2024, EOG expects to continue to focus on mitigating inflationary pressure on operating costs through efficiency improvements.
Cash Requirements. Certain of EOG's capital expenditures and operating costs are subject to contracts with minimum commitments, including those that meet the definition of a lease under ASC "Leases (Topic 842)". In 2024, EOG anticipates the following cash requirements under these commitments (in millions):
Finance Leases (1)
$ 37
Operating Leases (1)
Leases Effective, Not Commenced (1)
Transportation and Storage Service Commitments (2) (3)
Purchase and Service Obligations (3)
Total Cash Requirements $ 2,206
(1) For more information on contracts that meet the definition of a lease under ASC "Leases (Topic 842)," see Note 18 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) Amounts exclude transportation and storage service commitments that meet the definition of a lease. Amounts shown are based on current transportation and storage rates and the foreign currency exchange rates used to convert Canadian dollars into United States dollars at December 31, 2023. Management does not believe that any future changes in these rates before the expiration dates of these commitments will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of EOG.
(3) For more information on transportation and storage service commitments and purchase and service obligations, see Note 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In 2024, EOG has no senior notes maturing and EOG expects to pay interest of $158 million on senior notes. For more information on EOG's current and long-term debt, see Note 2 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Cash requirements to settle the liability for any unrecognized tax benefits, EOG's pension and postretirement benefit obligations and the liability for dismantlement, abandonment and asset retirement obligations (see Notes 6, 7, and 15, respectively, to Consolidated Financial Statements) are excluded because they are subject to estimates and the timing of settlement is unknown.
EOG expects to fund its exploration, development and exploitation activities and other cash requirements, both in 2024 and in future years, primarily from internally generated cash flows and cash on hand. As discussed above, EOG has significant flexibility with respect to financing alternatives, including borrowings under its commercial paper program, bank borrowings, borrowings under its $1.9 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility and equity and debt offerings.
Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
EOG prepares its financial statements and the accompanying notes in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. EOG identifies certain accounting policies and estimates as critical based on, among other things, their impact on EOG's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, and the degree of difficulty, subjectivity and complexity in their application. Critical accounting policies and estimates cover accounting matters that are inherently uncertain because the future resolution of such matters is unknown. Management routinely discusses the development, selection and disclosure of each of the critical accounting policies and estimates. Following is a discussion of EOG's most critical accounting policies and estimates:
Proved Oil and Gas Reserves
EOG's engineers estimate proved oil and gas reserves in accordance with United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, which directly impact financial accounting estimates, including depreciation, depletion and amortization and impairments of proved properties and related assets. Proved reserves represent estimated quantities of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under economic and operating conditions existing at the time the estimates were made.
The process of estimating quantities of proved oil and gas reserves is complex, requiring significant subjective decisions in the evaluation of available geological, engineering and economic data for each reservoir. The data for a given reservoir may also change substantially over time as a result of numerous factors including, but not limited to, additional development activity, evolving production history and continual reassessment of the viability of production under varying economic conditions. Proved reserves are estimated using a trailing 12-month average price, in accordance with SEC rules. Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices have exhibited significant volatility in the past, and EOG expects that volatility to continue in the future. Consequently, material revisions (upward or downward) to existing reserve estimates may occur from time to time. For related discussion, see ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, and "Supplemental Information to Consolidated Financial Statements."
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization for Oil and Gas Properties
The quantities of estimated proved oil and gas reserves are a significant component of EOG's calculation of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, and revisions in such estimates may alter the rate of future expense. Holding all other factors constant, if reserves are revised upward or downward, earnings will increase or decrease, respectively.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization of the cost of proved oil and gas properties is calculated using the unit-of-production method. The reserve base used to calculate depreciation, depletion and amortization for leasehold acquisition costs and the cost to acquire proved properties is the sum of proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves. With respect to lease and well equipment costs, which include development costs and successful exploration drilling costs, the reserve base includes only proved developed reserves.
Impairments
Oil and gas lease acquisition costs are capitalized when incurred. Unproved properties with acquisition costs that are not individually significant are aggregated, and the portion of such costs estimated to be nonproductive is amortized over the remaining lease term. Unproved properties with individually significant acquisition costs are reviewed individually for impairment. If the unproved properties are determined to be productive, the appropriate related costs are transferred to proved oil and gas properties. Lease rentals are expensed as incurred.
When circumstances indicate that proved oil and gas properties may be impaired, EOG compares expected undiscounted future cash flows at a depreciation, depletion and amortization group level to the unamortized capitalized cost of the group. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows, based on EOG's estimates of (and assumptions regarding) future crude oil and natural gas prices, operating costs, development expenditures, anticipated production from proved reserves and other relevant data, are lower than the unamortized capitalized cost, the capitalized cost is reduced to fair value. Fair value is generally calculated using the Income Approach described in the Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC. In certain instances, EOG utilizes accepted offers from third-party purchasers as the basis for determining fair value. Estimates of undiscounted future cash flows require significant judgment, and the assumptions used in preparing such estimates are inherently uncertain. In addition, such assumptions and estimates are reasonably likely to change in the future.
Crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices have exhibited significant volatility in the past, and EOG expects that volatility to continue in the future. During the five years ended December 31, 2023, WTI crude oil spot prices have fluctuated from approximately $(36.98) per barrel to $123.64 per barrel, and Henry Hub natural gas spot prices have ranged from approximately $1.33 per MMBtu to $23.86 per MMBtu. Market prices for NGLs are influenced by the components extracted, including ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline, among others, and the respective market pricing for each component.
EOG uses the five-year NYMEX futures strip for WTI crude oil and Henry Hub natural gas and the five-year Oil Price Information Services futures strip for NGLs components (in each case as of the applicable balance sheet date) as a basis to estimate future crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices. EOG's proved reserves estimates, including the timing of future production, are also subject to significant assumptions and judgment, and are frequently revised (upwards and downwards) as more information becomes available. In the future, if any combination of crude oil prices, NGLs prices, natural gas prices or estimated proved reserves diverge negatively from EOG's current estimates, impairment charges may be necessary.
See Notes 13 and 14 to Consolidated Financial Statements for further disclosures of impairments of oil and gas properties and other assets.
Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including, among others, statements and projections regarding EOG's future financial position, operations, performance, business strategy, goals, returns and rates of return, budgets, reserves, levels of production, capital expenditures, operating costs and asset sales, statements regarding future commodity prices and statements regarding the plans and objectives of EOG's management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. EOG typically uses words such as "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "strategy," "intend," "plan," "target," "aims," "ambition," "initiative," "goal," "may," "will," "focused on," "should" and "believe" or the negative of those terms or other variations or comparable terminology to identify its forward-looking statements. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning EOG's future financial or operating results and returns or EOG's ability to replace or increase reserves, increase production, generate returns and rates of return, replace or increase drilling locations, reduce or otherwise control drilling, completion and operating costs and capital expenditures, generate cash flows, pay down or refinance indebtedness, achieve, reach or otherwise meet initiatives, plans, goals, ambitions or targets with respect to emissions, other environmental matters, safety matters or other ESG (environmental/social/governance) matters, pay and/or increase regular and/or special dividends or repurchase shares are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Although EOG believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that such assumptions are accurate or will prove to have been correct or that any of such expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will be achieved on the expected or anticipated timelines. Moreover, EOG's forward-looking statements may be affected by known, unknown or currently unforeseen risks, events or circumstances that may be outside EOG's control. Important factors that could cause EOG's actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in EOG's forward-looking statements include, among others:
•the timing, extent and duration of changes in prices for, supplies of, and demand for, crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), natural gas and related commodities;
•the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to acquire or discover additional reserves;
•the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to (i) economically develop its acreage in, (ii) produce reserves and achieve anticipated production levels and rates of return from, (iii) decrease or otherwise control its drilling, completion and operating costs and capital expenditures related to, and (iv) maximize reserve recovery from, its existing and future crude oil and natural gas exploration and development projects and associated potential and existing drilling locations;
•the success of EOG's cost-mitigation initiatives and actions in offsetting the impact of inflationary pressures on EOG's operating costs and capital expenditures;
•the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to market its production of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas;
•security threats, including cybersecurity threats and disruptions to our business and operations from breaches of our information technology systems, physical breaches of our facilities and other infrastructure or breaches of the information technology systems, facilities and infrastructure of third parties with which we transact business, and enhanced regulatory focus on prevention and disclosure requirements relating to cyber incidents;
•the availability, proximity and capacity of, and costs associated with, appropriate gathering, processing, compression, storage, transportation, refining, liquefaction and export facilities;
•the availability, cost, terms and timing of issuance or execution of mineral licenses and leases and governmental and other permits and rights-of-way, and EOG's ability to retain mineral licenses and leases;
•the impact of, and changes in, government policies, laws and regulations, including climate change-related regulations, policies and initiatives (for example, with respect to air emissions); tax laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, carbon tax and emissions-related legislation); environmental, health and safety laws and regulations relating to disposal of produced water, drilling fluids and other wastes, hydraulic fracturing and access to and use of water; laws and regulations affecting the leasing of acreage and permitting for oil and gas drilling and the calculation of royalty payments in respect of oil and gas production; laws and regulations imposing additional permitting and disclosure requirements, additional operating restrictions and conditions or restrictions on drilling and completion operations and on the transportation of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas; laws and regulations with respect to financial derivatives and hedging activities; and laws and regulations with respect to the import and export of crude oil, natural gas and related commodities;
•the impact of climate change-related policies and initiatives at the corporate and/or investor community levels and other potential developments related to climate change, such as (but not limited to) changes in consumer and industrial/commercial behavior, preferences and attitudes with respect to the generation and consumption of energy; increased availability of, and increased consumer and industrial/commercial demand for, competing energy sources (including alternative energy sources); technological advances with respect to the generation, transmission, storage and consumption of energy; alternative fuel requirements; energy conservation measures and emissions-related legislation; decreased demand for, and availability of, services and facilities related to the exploration for, and production of, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas; and negative perceptions of the oil and gas industry and, in turn, reputational risks associated with the exploration for, and production of, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas;
•continuing political and social concerns relating to climate change and the greater potential for shareholder activism, governmental inquiries and enforcement actions and litigation and the resulting expenses and potential disruption to EOG's day-to-day operations;
•the extent to which EOG is able to successfully and economically develop, implement and carry out its emissions and other ESG-related initiatives and achieve its related targets, ambitions and initiatives;
•EOG's ability to effectively integrate acquired crude oil and natural gas properties into its operations, identify and resolve existing and potential issues with respect to such properties and accurately estimate reserves, production, drilling, completion and operating costs and capital expenditures with respect to such properties;
•the extent to which EOG's third-party-operated crude oil and natural gas properties are operated successfully, economically and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
•competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry for the acquisition of licenses, leases and properties;
•the availability and cost of, and competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry for, employees, labor and other personnel, facilities, equipment, materials (such as water, sand, fuel and tubulars) and services;
•the accuracy of reserve estimates, which by their nature involve the exercise of professional judgment and may therefore be imprecise;
•weather, including its impact on crude oil and natural gas demand, and weather-related delays in drilling and in the installation and operation (by EOG or third parties) of production, gathering, processing, refining, liquefaction, compression, storage, transportation, and export facilities;
•the ability of EOG's customers and other contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to EOG and, related thereto, to access the credit and capital markets to obtain financing needed to satisfy their obligations to EOG;
•EOG's ability to access the commercial paper market and other credit and capital markets to obtain financing on terms it deems acceptable, if at all, and to otherwise satisfy its capital expenditure requirements;
•the extent to which EOG is successful in its completion of planned asset dispositions;
•the extent and effect of any hedging activities engaged in by EOG;
•the timing and extent of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, global and domestic financial market conditions and global and domestic general economic conditions;
•the duration and economic and financial impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health issues;
•geopolitical factors and political conditions and developments around the world (such as the imposition of tariffs or trade or other economic sanctions, political instability and armed conflicts), including in the areas in which EOG operates;
•the extent to which EOG incurs uninsured losses and liabilities or losses and liabilities in excess of its insurance coverage;
•acts of war and terrorism and responses to these acts; and
•the other factors described under ITEM 1A, Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those factors set forth in EOG's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events anticipated by EOG's forward-looking statements may not occur, and, if any of such events do, we may not have anticipated the timing of their occurrence or the duration or extent of their impact on our actual results. Accordingly, you should not place any undue reliance on any of EOG's forward-looking statements. EOG's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and EOG undertakes no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from Item 7 of this report, specifically the information set forth under the captions "Financial Commodity Derivative Transactions," "Financing" and "Outlook" in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Capital Resources and Liquidity."

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information required by this Item is included in this report as set forth in the "Index to Financial Statements" on page and is incorporated by reference herein.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. EOG's management, with the participation of EOG's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of EOG's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)) as of December 31, 2023. EOG's disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information that is required to be disclosed in the reports EOG files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to EOG's management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Based on that evaluation, EOG's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that EOG's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. EOG's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act). Even an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, circumvention of controls or overriding of controls and, therefore, can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to reliable financial reporting. Furthermore, the effectiveness of a system of internal control over financial reporting in future periods can change as conditions change. See "Management's Responsibility for Financial Reporting" appearing on page of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The report of EOG's independent registered public accounting firm relating to the consolidated financial statements and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting is set forth on page of this report.
There were no changes in EOG's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, EOG's internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. Other Information
Trading Plans/Arrangements. During the quarter ended December 31, 2023, no director or Section 16 officer of EOG adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (in each case, as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K).

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from (i) EOG's Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed not later than April 29, 2024 and (ii) Item 1 of this report, specifically the information therein set forth under the caption "Information About Our Executive Officers."
Pursuant to Rule 303A.10 of the New York Stock Exchange and Item 406 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, EOG has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees (Code of Conduct) that applies to all EOG directors, officers and employees, including EOG's principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. EOG has also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (Code of Ethics) that, along with EOG's Code of Conduct, applies to EOG's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controllers.
You can access the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics on the "Governance" page under "Investors" on EOG's website at www.eogresources.com, and any EOG stockholder who so requests may obtain a printed copy of the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics by submitting a written request to EOG's Corporate Secretary.
EOG intends to disclose any amendments to the Code of Conduct or Code of Ethics, and any waivers with respect to the Code of Conduct or Code of Ethics granted to EOG's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, any of our controllers or any of our other employees performing similar functions, on its website at www.eogresources.com within four business days of the amendment or waiver. In such case, the disclosure regarding the amendment or waiver will remain available on EOG's website for at least 12 months after the initial disclosure. There have been no waivers granted with respect to EOG's Code of Conduct or Code of Ethics.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from EOG's Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed not later than April 29, 2024. The Compensation and Human Resources Committee Report and related information incorporated by reference herein shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that EOG specifically incorporates such information by reference into such a filing.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference from EOG's Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed not later than April 29, 2024.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Stock Plans Approved by EOG Stockholders. EOG's stockholders approved the EOG Resources, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (2021 Plan) at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in April 2021. From and after the April 29, 2021 effective date of the 2021 Plan, no further grants have been (or will be) made from the Amended and Restated EOG Resources, Inc. 2008 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (Amended and Restated 2008 Plan).
The 2021 Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units (which may include performance-based conditions) and other stock-based awards, up to an aggregate maximum of 20 million shares of EOG common stock, plus any shares that were subject to outstanding awards under the Amended and Restated 2008 Plan as of April 29, 2021 that subsequently are canceled or forfeited, expire or are otherwise not issued or are settled in cash. Under the 2021 Plan, grants may be made to employees and non-employee members of EOG's Board of Directors (Board).
The Amended and Restated 2008 Plan was approved by EOG's stockholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in May 2013. The Amended and Restated 2008 Plan authorized an additional 31.0 million shares of EOG common stock for grant under the plan and extended the expiration date of the plan to May 2023.
At the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in April 2018, stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the EOG Resources, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) to (among other changes) increase the number of shares available for grant by 2.5 million shares and further extend the term of the ESPP to December 31, 2027, unless terminated earlier by its terms or by EOG.
Stock Plans Not Approved by EOG Stockholders. In December 2008, the Board approved the amendment and continuation of the 1996 Deferral Plan as the "EOG Resources, Inc. 409A Deferred Compensation Plan" (Deferral Plan). Under the Deferral Plan (as subsequently amended), payment of up to 50% of base salary and 100% of annual cash bonus, director's fees, vestings of restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors (and dividends credited thereon) under the Amended and Restated 2008 Plan and the 2021 Plan and 401(k) refunds (as defined in the Deferral Plan) may be deferred into a phantom stock account. In the phantom stock account, deferrals are treated as if shares of EOG common stock were purchased at the closing stock price on the date of deferral. Dividends are credited quarterly and treated as if reinvested in EOG common stock. Payment of the phantom stock account is made in actual shares of EOG common stock in accordance with the Deferral Plan and the individual's deferral election. A total of 540,000 shares of EOG common stock have been authorized by the Board and registered for issuance under the Deferral Plan. As of December 31, 2023, 455,545 phantom shares had been issued. The Deferral Plan is currently EOG's only stock plan that has not been approved by EOG's stockholders.
The following table sets forth data for EOG's equity compensation plans aggregated by the various plans approved by EOG's stockholders and those plans not approved by EOG's stockholders, in each case as of December 31, 2023.
Plan Category
(a)
Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights (b)
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights (1)
(c)
Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by EOG Stockholders 4,257,571 (2)
$ 79.22 16,284,804 (3)
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by EOG Stockholders 359,181 (4)
N/A 84,455 (5)
Total 4,616,752 16,369,259
(1)The weighted-average exercise price is calculated based solely on the exercise prices of the outstanding stock option and SAR grants and does not reflect (i) shares that will be issued upon the vesting of outstanding grants of restricted stock units or the vesting of outstanding grants of performance units and restricted stock units with performance-based conditions (collectively, performance units) or (ii) shares that will be issued in respect of issued and outstanding Deferral Plan phantom shares, all of which have no exercise price.
(2)Amount includes (i) 2,842,973 outstanding stock option and SAR grants, (ii) 784,210 outstanding restricted stock units, for which shares of EOG common stock will be issued, on a one-for-one basis, upon the vesting of such grants, and (iii) 630,388 outstanding performance units and assumes, for purposes of this table, (A) the application of a 100% performance multiple upon the completion of each of the remaining performance periods in respect of such grants and (B) accordingly, the issuance, on a one-for-one basis, of an aggregate 630,388 shares of EOG common stock upon the vesting of such grants. As more fully discussed in Note 7 to Consolidated Financial Statements, upon the application of the relevant performance multiple at the completion of each of the remaining performance periods in respect of such grants, (A) a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1,260,776 performance units could be outstanding and (B) accordingly, a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 1,260,776 shares of EOG common stock could be issued upon the vesting of such grants.
(3)Consists of (i) 15,099,333 shares remaining available for issuance under the 2021 Plan and (ii) 1,185,471 shares remaining available for purchase under the ESPP. As noted above, from and after the April 29, 2021 effective date of the 2021 Plan, no further grants have been (or will be) made from the Amended and Restated 2008 Plan.
(4)Consists of shares of EOG common stock to be issued in accordance with the Deferral Plan and participant deferral elections (i.e., in respect of the 359,181 phantom shares issued and outstanding under the Deferral Plan as of December 31, 2023).
(5)Represents phantom shares that remain available for issuance under the Deferral Plan.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from EOG's Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed not later than April 29, 2024.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from EOG's Definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed not later than April 29, 2024.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) and (a)(2) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule
See "Index to Financial Statements" set forth on page.
(a)(3), (b) Exhibits
See pages E-1 through E-6 for a listing of the exhibits.