據彭博新聞社2022年12月8日報道，美國第二大石油公司雪佛龍公司明年將額外撥出20億美元用于資本支出，因為在政府呼吁美國能源行業將更多利潤再投資頁巖生產的情況下，雪佛龍公司將考慮向投資者提供更高的回報。  

這家美國石油巨頭12月7日表示，該公司明年將耗費170億美元。這是預測范圍的上限； 這也比雪佛龍公司今年的計劃支出高出13%。

明年美國二疊紀盆地將占到雪佛龍公司總支出的40億美元。雪佛龍公司正在尋求加快美國頁巖氣生產，與過去十年的大部分時間主導的多年大型項目相比，頁巖的風險較低，并能提供快速的財務回報。

雪佛龍公司表示，二疊紀盆地的支出假設是“低兩位數的成本通脹”，而全球支出可能會以中等個位數的百分比增長。其低碳業務將獲得20億美元，是今年的兩倍。 

雪佛龍公司首席執行官在一份聲明中表示：“我們在投資增長傳統和新能源供應的同時，也在保持資本紀律。”“盡管有通脹，但我們的資本支出預算仍與之前的指導相符。”  

雪佛龍公司明年的支出將大大高于2020年和2021年的疫情年份，但仍約為2012—2019年期間300億美元年均水平的一半。

他表示，雪佛龍公司的支出比過去高效得多，這意味著該公司每投資一美元就能生產更多的石油。但與此同時，提高投資者回報的問題也日益受到關注。雪佛龍公司目前每個季度在股息和股票回購上花費65億美元，或每年260億美元，遠遠超過資本支出。  

12月7日，雪佛龍公司股價在紐約盤后交易中持平，收于每股172.52美元。雪佛龍公司股價今年已經上漲了47%。 

李峻 編譯自 彭博新聞社

原文如下：

Chevron to invest $4 billion in Permian in 2023 to boost US shale production

Chevron Corp. will allocate an extra $2 billion to capital expenditures next year as it weighs demands for higher investor returns amid calls from President for the U.S. energy industry to reinvest more profits in production.

The U.S. oil giant said on Dec. 7 it will spend $17 billion in 2023. That’s at the top end of the forecast range; it’s also 13% above what the company plans to spend this year.

The Permian will account for $4 billion of the total spending next year. Chevron is seeking to accelerate U.S. shale production, which is low-risk and offers quick financial returns compared with the multi-year megaprojects that dominated much of the last decade.

According to Chevron, spending in the basin assumes “low double-digit cost inflation,” while global expenses are likely to rise in the mid-single digit percentages. Its low-carbon business will receive $2 billion, double the level this year.

“We’re maintaining capital discipline while investing to grow both traditional and new energy supplies,” Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said in a statement. “Our capex budgets remain in line with prior guidance despite inflation.”

Chevron’s spending next year will be considerably above the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, but still around half the $30 billion annual average of the 2012-2019 period.

Wirth has said Chevron’s spending is much more efficient than in the past, meaning the company produces more oil per dollar invested. But it also comes amid intensifying focus on improving investor returns. Chevron is currently spending $6.5 billion a quarter on dividends and share buybacks, or $26 billion a year, well in excess of capital spending.

Chevron’s shares were unchanged in after-market trading in New York on Wednesday, after closing at $172.52. They have gained 47% this year.