OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2014. Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) announced first-quarter 2014 earnings from continuing operations of USD 753 million or USD 1.90 per diluted common share and adjusted earnings, which exclude certain items that impact the comparability of results, of USD 707 million or USD 1.78 per share.

For the same period in the prior year, Apache reported earnings from continuing operations of USD 759 million or USD 1.91 per diluted common share and adjusted earnings of USD 797 million or USD 2.00 per share. Net cash provided by operating activities totaled approximately USD 2.3 billion in first-quarter 2014, compared with USD 2.6 billion in the prior year, with cash from continuing operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities totaling USD 2.2 billion, compared with USD 2.3 billion in first-quarter 2013.

"A record-setting performance by our Permian Region continues to drive strong overall results for the company," said G. Steven Farris, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Apache. "We remained the most active driller in onshore North America, operating an average of 82 rigs during the quarter."

Apache's onshore North American liquids production increased 21 percent in first-quarter 2014 compared with the same period a year ago. The first-quarter 2014 average of 198,500 barrels per day for North American onshore liquids was up 6 percent compared with the fourth-quarter 2013.

"We continued to strengthen our portfolio and build momentum toward a strong second half of 2014," Farris said. "Apache intensified its focus on North America liquids production by completing the sale of our Argentina operations and selected conventional natural gas properties in Western Canada.

"We are currently testing new plays and completion ideas along the Gulf Coast and are encouraged by early results in Canada where a focus on liquids-rich plays contributed to a 10 percent increase in crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) compared with the preceding quarter," Farris said. "Internationally, we are on track for first oil from significant development projects offshore Australia later this year at the Balnaves and Coniston fields, and we announced two new discoveries at the Matruh and Shushan basins in Egypt's Western Desert."

Apache also returned additional capital to shareholders, purchasing 5.9 million shares of Apache common stock on the open market from January through March 2014.