OREANDA-NEWS. Apache raised its 2015 output guidance for both US and non-US output, and took a $3.7bn impairment charge on the back of a plunge in oil markets.

The independent increased its 2015 North American output guidance to 307,000-309,000 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d), up from an earlier guidance of 305,000-308,000 boe/d. The latest guidance translates to a 2pc increase in output from a year earlier. It made a steeper increase for its non-US operations, driven largely by its North Sea operations, to 172,000-174,000 boe/d from 164,000-168,000 boe/d. The new target represents a 10-12pc jump from the previous year.

Tight control on costs, efficiency improvements and deep discounts on rigs and chemicals from service providers have allowed US independents including Continental Resources and Chesapeake to raise output even after making steep cuts to their capital expenditure (capex). Yet, a year into a weak crude market that saw prices plunge to six-and-a-half-year lows has rendered those benefits insufficient, prompting most producers to prepare for a bleak 2016.

"As we turn to 2016, prudent capital allocation will continue to be our primary focus as we strive to spend within cash flows," chief executive John Christmann said.

It did not give a capex guidance for next year, but said spending this year will remain within its guidance range. The company had in May said it expects North America capex to be $2.1bn-$2.3bn and non-US to fall to $1.3bn-$1.6bn, a $150mn drop from the midpoint of the prior range. Capex for the first nine months was $2.9bn.

But a balance in its portfolio, with a presence in both the US shale industry and conventional operations outside of the US is putting Apache at an edge to weather the downturn.

"Our recent exploration successes in the North Sea and Egypt demonstrate the quality of our international assets and underpin their potential to sustain free cash flows for an extended period of time," he said.

Apache, operator of the Forties field, said output from its North Sea assets was 73,335 boe/d in the three months to 30 September compared with 64,982 boe/d a year earlier. Third-quarter output was 6pc higher than in the second quarter.

That helped drive its total output up by 7pc from a year earlier to 486,409 boe/d from 455,295 boe/d a year earlier. North American output held flat during the quarter at 305,958 boe/d. The independent earned an average of $46.34/bl in the third quarter compared with $94.38/bl a year earlier. It earned an average of $44.87/bl for oil from the Permian compared with $88.71/bl.

Apache operated an average of 28 rigs worldwide and drilled 111 gross operated wells, 92 of which were in North American onshore. In August, it said it operated an average of 34 rigs and drilled 78 wells. For the rest of the year, the company plans to operate about 16 rigs in North America, of which 13 will be in the Permian, it said in August.

Of the total, it operated 10 rigs in the Permian in Texas, same as the number it did in the second quarter. It completed 65 wells, up from 53 in the second quarter.

In addition to the ceiling-test write down of $3.7bn during the quarter, the independent also took a $1.5bn charge related to deferred tax assets. That resulting in its net loss widening to $5.66bn compared with a net loss of $1.33bn a year earlier.