UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

Commission file number 001-00368

Chevron Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (925) 842-1000

 

NONE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 

 

 

INDEX

 

 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Chevron Corporation contains forward-looking statements relating to Chevron’s operations that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the petroleum, chemicals and other energy-related industries. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” “schedules,” “estimates,” “budgets” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company’s control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Unless legally required, Chevron undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: changing crude oil and natural gas prices; changing refining, marketing and chemical margins; actions of competitors or regulators; timing of exploration expenses; timing of crude oil liftings; the competitiveness of alternate-energy sources or product substitutes; technological developments; the results of operations and financial condition of equity affiliates; the inability or failure of the company’s joint-venture partners to fund their share of operations and development activities; the potential failure to achieve expected net production from existing and future crude oil and natural gas development projects; potential delays in the development, construction or start-up of planned projects; the potential disruption or interruption of the company’s net production or manufacturing facilities or delivery/transportation networks due to war, accidents, political events, civil unrest, severe weather or crude oil production quotas that might be imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; the potential liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future environmental regulations and litigation; significant investment or product changes under existing or future environmental statutes, regulations and litigation; the potential liability resulting from other pending or future litigation; the company’s future acquisition or disposition of assets and gains and losses from asset dispositions or impairments; government-mandated sales, divestitures, recapitalizations, industry-specific taxes, changes in fiscal terms or restrictions on scope of company operations; foreign currency movements compared with the U.S. dollar; the effects of changed accounting rules under generally accepted accounting principles promulgated by rule-setting bodies; and the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 30 through 32 of the company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, such statements could be affected by general domestic and international economic and political conditions. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this report could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

 

 

CHEVRON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

CHEVRON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

CHEVRON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

CHEVRON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Chevron Corporation and its subsidiaries (the company) have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. In the opinion of the company’s management, the interim data include all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. These adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. The results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of future financial results. The term “earnings” is defined as net income attributable to Chevron Corporation.

 

Effective January 1, 2010, Chevron’s segment reporting reflects the reclassification of certain businesses. Prior period information was revised to conform to the 2010 presentation. Refer to “Note 5. Operating Segments and Geographic Data,” beginning on page 9, for a discussion of the changes.

 

Certain notes and other information have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Earnings for the first nine months of 2010 included after-tax charges of $175 million associated with employee reductions in the downstream businesses and corporate staffs. Refer to “Note 16. Restructuring and Reorganization Costs,” beginning on page 22, for further discussion.

 

Earnings for the third quarter 2009 included $400 million of after-tax gains from asset sales and tax items related to an upstream project in Australia. Earnings for the first nine months of 2009 also included $540 million of after-tax gains reported on sales of marketing businesses outside the United States.

 

 

In the first quarter 2010, the company began investing in bank time deposits with maturities greater than 90 days. The company believes that the investment in longer-term bank time deposits is consistent with its cash management strategy to preserve principal, maintain high levels of liquidity and earn a competitive return.

 

 

Ownership interests in the company’s subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent are presented separately from the parent’s equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interests are both presented on the face of the Consolidated Statement of Income. Activity for the equity attributable to noncontrolling interests for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 is presented in the following table:

 

 

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

The “Net increase in operating working capital” was composed of the following operating changes:

 

 

The “Net increase in operating working capital” includes reductions of $37 million and $11 million for excess income tax benefits associated with stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, and 2009, respectively. These amounts are offset by an equal amount in “Net sales of treasury shares.”

 

“Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities” included the following cash payments for interest on debt and for income taxes:

 

 

The “Net purchases of time deposits” consisted of the following gross amounts:

 

 

The “Net sales of marketable securities” consisted of the following gross amounts:

 

 

The “Net sales of treasury shares” represents the cost of common shares acquired less the cost of shares issued for share-based compensation plans. Net sales totaled $245 million and $86 million in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. No purchases were made under the company’s stock repurchase program in the 2010 and 2009 periods.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The major components of “Capital expenditures” and the reconciliation of this amount to the capital and exploratory expenditures, including equity affiliates, are as follows:

 

 

“Payments for other liabilities and assets, net” in the 2009 period include $2 billion for a cash payment related to an accrual recorded in 2008 for the extension of an upstream operating agreement outside the United States.

 

 

Although each subsidiary of Chevron is responsible for its own affairs, Chevron Corporation manages its investments in these subsidiaries and their affiliates. The investments are grouped into two business segments, Upstream and Downstream, representing the company’s “reportable segments” and “operating segments” as defined in accounting standards for segment reporting (ASC 280). Upstream operations consist primarily of exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas (LNG); transporting crude oil by major international oil export pipelines; transporting, storage and marketing of natural gas; and a gas-to-liquids project. Downstream operations consist primarily of refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products; transporting crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car; and manufacturing and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses and fuel and lubricant additives. All Other activities of the company include mining operations, power generation businesses, worldwide cash management and debt financing activities, corporate administrative functions, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, alternative fuels and technology.

 

The segments are separately managed for investment purposes under a structure that includes “segment managers” who report to the company’s “chief operating decision maker” (CODM) (terms as defined in the accounting standards). The CODM is the company’s Executive Committee (EXCOM), a committee of senior officers that includes the Chief Executive Officer, and EXCOM reports to the Board of Directors of Chevron Corporation.

 

The operating segments represent components of the company as described in the accounting standards that engage in activities (a) from which revenues are earned and expenses are incurred; (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the CODM, which makes decisions about resources to be allocated to the segments and assesses their performance; and (c) for which discrete financial information is available.

 

Segment managers for the reportable segments are directly accountable to and maintain regular contact with the company’s CODM to discuss the segments’ operating activities and financial performance. The CODM approves annual capital and exploratory budgets at the reportable segment level, as well as reviews capital and exploratory funding for major projects and approves major changes to the annual capital and exploratory budgets. However, business unit managers within the operating segments are directly responsible for decisions relating to project

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

implementation and all other matters connected with daily operations. Company officers who are members of EXCOM also have individual management responsibilities and participate in other committees for purposes other than acting as the CODM.

 

The activities reported in Chevron’s upstream and downstream operating segments have changed effective January 1, 2010. Chemicals businesses are now reported as part of the downstream segment. In addition, the company’s significant upstream-enabling operations, primarily a gas-to-liquids project and major international export pipelines, have been reclassified from the downstream segment to the upstream segment. Prior period information in this report has been revised to conform to the 2010 presentation.

 

The company’s primary country of operation is the United States of America, its country of domicile. Other components of the company’s operations are reported as “International” (outside the United States).

 

Segment Earnings The company evaluates the performance of its operating segments on an after-tax basis, without considering the effects of debt financing interest expense or investment interest income, both of which are managed by the company on a worldwide basis. Corporate administrative costs and assets are not allocated to the operating segments. However, operating segments are billed for the direct use of corporate services. Nonbillable costs remain at the corporate level in “All Other.” Earnings by major operating area for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are presented in the following table:

 

Segment Earnings

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Segment Assets Segment assets do not include intercompany investments or intercompany receivables. “All Other” assets consist primarily of worldwide cash, cash equivalents, time deposits and marketable securities; real estate; information systems; mining operations; power generation businesses; alternative fuels; technology companies; and assets of the corporate administrative functions. Segment assets at September 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, are as follows:

 

Segment Assets

 

 

Segment Sales and Other Operating Revenues Segment sales and other operating revenues, including internal transfers, for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, are presented in the following table. Products are transferred between operating segments at internal product values that approximate market prices. Revenues for the upstream segment are derived primarily from the production and sale of crude oil and natural gas, as well as the sale of third-party production of natural gas. Revenues for the downstream segment are derived from the refining and marketing of petroleum products such as gasoline, jet fuel, gas oils, lubricants, residual fuel oils and other products derived from crude oil. This segment also generates revenues from the manufacture and sale of fuel and lubricant additives and the transportation and trading of refined products and crude oil. “All Other” activities include revenues from mining operations, power generation businesses, insurance operations, real estate activities and technology companies.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Sales and Other Operating Revenues

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (CUSA) is a major subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. CUSA and its subsidiaries manage and operate most of Chevron’s U.S. businesses. Assets include those related to the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids and those associated with refining, marketing, and supply and distribution of products derived from petroleum, excluding most of the regulated pipeline operations of Chevron. CUSA also holds the company’s investment in the Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC joint venture, which is accounted for using the equity method. The summarized financial information for CUSA and its consolidated subsidiaries is as follows:

 

 

 

 

Chevron Transport Corporation Limited (CTC), incorporated in Bermuda, is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. CTC is the principal operator of Chevron’s international tanker fleet and is engaged in the marine transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Most of CTC’s shipping revenue is derived by providing transportation services to other Chevron companies. Chevron Corporation has fully and unconditionally guaranteed this subsidiary’s obligations in connection with certain debt securities issued by a third party. Summarized financial information for CTC and its consolidated subsidiaries is as follows:

 

 

 

There were no restrictions on CTC’s ability to pay dividends or make loans or advances at September 30, 2010.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Taxes on income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 were $3.1 billion and $9.5 billion, respectively, compared with $2.3 billion and $5.2 billion for the corresponding periods in 2009. The associated effective tax rates (calculated as the amount of Income Tax Expense divided by Income Before Income Tax Expense) for the third quarters of 2010 and 2009 were 45 percent and 38 percent, respectively. For the comparative nine-month periods, the effective tax rates were 41 percent for both periods.

 

The increase in the effective tax rate in the quarterly comparison was primarily due to the effect of one-time tax benefits in 2009 that were significantly higher than those generated in the comparable 2010 period. Additionally, foreign currency translation losses were greater in the 2010 quarter, resulting in a larger reduction in Income Before Income Tax Expense, with no corresponding impact on Income Tax Expense. Partially offsetting these items was the increased utilization of tax credits resulting from higher profits in certain foreign tax jurisdictions in the 2010 period. For the comparative nine-month periods, greater one-time tax benefits were generated in 2009 than in 2010. This effect was essentially offset by increased tax credit utilization in foreign tax jurisdictions in 2010 and by foreign currency translation impacts.

 

Tax positions for Chevron and its subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to income tax audits by many tax jurisdictions throughout the world. For the company’s major tax jurisdictions, examinations of tax returns for certain prior tax years had not been completed as of September 30, 2010. For these jurisdictions, the latest years for which income tax examinations had been finalized were as follows: United States — 2005, Nigeria — 1994, Angola — 2001 and Saudi Arabia — 2003.

 

The company engages in ongoing discussions with tax authorities regarding the resolution of tax matters in the various jurisdictions. Both the outcome of these tax matters and the timing of resolution and/or closure of the tax audits are highly uncertain. However, it is reasonably possible that developments on tax matters in certain tax jurisdictions may result in significant increases or decreases in the company’s total unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months. Given the number of years that still remain subject to examination and the number of matters being examined in the various tax jurisdictions, we are unable to estimate the range of possible adjustments to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits.

 

 

Chevron has defined benefit pension plans for many employees. The company typically prefunds defined benefit plans as required by local regulations or in certain situations where prefunding provides economic advantages. In the United States, all qualified plans are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) minimum funding standard. The company does not typically fund U.S. nonqualified pension plans that are not subject to funding requirements under laws and regulations because contributions to these pension plans may be less economic and investment returns may be less attractive than the company’s other investment alternatives.

 

The company also sponsors other postretirement (OPEB) plans that provide medical and dental benefits, as well as life insurance for some active and qualifying retired employees. The plans are unfunded, and the company and the retirees share the costs. Medical coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees in the company’s main U.S. medical plan is secondary to Medicare (including Part D) and the increase to the company contribution for retiree medical coverage is limited to no more than 4 percent each year. Certain life insurance benefits are paid by the company.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The components of net periodic benefit costs for 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

At the end of 2009, the company estimated it would contribute $900 million to employee pension plans during 2010 (composed of $600 million for the U.S. plans and $300 million for the international plans). Through September 30, 2010, a total of $895 million was contributed (including $790 million to the U.S. plans). Total contributions for the full year are currently estimated to be $1.5 billion ($1.2 billion for the U.S. plans and $300 million for the international plans). Actual contribution amounts are dependent upon investment returns, changes in pension obligations, regulatory environments and other economic factors. Additional funding may ultimately be required if investment returns are insufficient to offset increases in plan obligations.

 

During the first nine months of 2010, the company contributed $138 million to its OPEB plans. The company anticipates contributing about $70 million during the remainder of 2010.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Accounting standards for the costs of exploratory wells (ASC 932) provide that exploratory well costs continue to be capitalized after the completion of drilling when (a) the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and (b) the entity is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. If either condition is not met or if an entity obtains information that raises substantial doubt about the economic or operational viability of the project, the exploratory well would be assumed to be impaired, and its costs, net of any salvage value, would be charged to expense. (Note that an entity is not required to complete the exploratory or exploratory-type stratigraphic well as a producing well.) The company’s capitalized cost of suspended wells at September 30, 2010, was $2.6 billion, an increase of $191 million from year-end 2009, primarily due to drilling activities in Australia. For the category of exploratory well costs at year-end 2009 that were suspended more than one year, a total of $15 million was expensed in the first nine months of 2010.

 

 

MTBE Chevron and many other companies in the petroleum industry have used methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive. Chevron is a party to 19 pending lawsuits and claims, the majority of which involve numerous other petroleum marketers and refiners. Resolution of these lawsuits and claims may ultimately require the company to correct or ameliorate the alleged effects on the environment of prior release of MTBE by the company or other parties. Additional lawsuits and claims related to the use of MTBE, including personal-injury claims, may be filed in the future. The company’s ultimate exposure related to pending lawsuits and claims is not determinable, but could be material to net income in any one period. The company no longer uses MTBE in the manufacture of gasoline in the United States.

 

Ecuador Chevron is a defendant in a civil lawsuit before the Superior Court of Nueva Loja in Lago Agrio, Ecuador, brought in May 2003 by plaintiffs who claim to be representatives of certain residents of an area where an oil production consortium formerly had operations. The lawsuit alleges damage to the environment from the oil exploration and production operations and seeks unspecified damages to fund environmental remediation and restoration of the alleged environmental harm, plus a health monitoring program. Until 1992, Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet), a subsidiary of Texaco Inc., was a minority member of this consortium with Petroecuador, the Ecuadorian state-owned oil company, as the majority partner; since 1990, the operations have been conducted solely by Petroecuador. At the conclusion of the consortium and following an independent third-party environmental audit of the concession area, Texpet entered into a formal agreement with the Republic of Ecuador and Petroecuador for Texpet to remediate specific sites assigned by the government in proportion to Texpet’s ownership share of the consortium. Pursuant to that agreement, Texpet conducted a three-year remediation program at a cost of $40 million. After certifying that the sites were properly remediated, the government granted Texpet and all related corporate entities a full release from any and all environmental liability arising from the consortium operations.

 

Based on the history described above, Chevron believes that this lawsuit lacks legal or factual merit. As to matters of law, the company believes first, that the court lacks jurisdiction over Chevron; second, that the law under which plaintiffs bring the action, enacted in 1999, cannot be applied retroactively; third, that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations in Ecuador; and, fourth, that the lawsuit is also barred by the releases from liability previously given to Texpet by the Republic of Ecuador and Petroecuador and by the pertinent provincial and municipal governments. With regard to the facts, the company believes that the evidence confirms that Texpet’s remediation was properly conducted and that the remaining environmental damage reflects Petroecuador’s failure to timely fulfill its legal obligations and Petroecuador’s further conduct since assuming full control over the operations.

 

In 2008, a mining engineer appointed by the court to identify and determine the cause of environmental damage, and to specify steps needed to remediate it, issued a report recommending that the court assess $18.9 billion, which would, according to the engineer, provide financial compensation for purported damages, including wrongful death claims, and pay for, among other items, environmental remediation, health care systems and additional infrastructure for Petroecuador. The engineer’s report also asserted that an additional $8.4 billion could be

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

assessed against Chevron for unjust enrichment. In 2009, following the disclosure by Chevron of evidence that the judge participated in meetings in which businesspeople and individuals holding themselves out as government officials discussed the case and its likely outcome, the judge presiding over the case was recused. In 2010, Chevron moved to strike the mining engineer’s report and to dismiss the case based on evidence obtained through discovery in the United States indicating that the report was prepared by consultants for the plaintiffs before being presented as the mining engineer’s independent and impartial work and showing further evidence of misconduct. In August 2010, the judge issued an order stating that he was not bound by the mining engineer’s report and requiring the parties to provide their positions on damages within 45 days. Chevron subsequently petitioned for recusal of the judge, claiming that he had disregarded evidence of fraud and misconduct and that he had failed to rule on a number of motions within the statutory time requirement.

 

In September 2010, Chevron submitted its position on damages, asserting that no amount should be assessed against it. The plaintiffs’ submission, which relied in part on the mining engineer’s report, took the position that damages are between approximately $16 billion and $76 billion and that unjust enrichment should be assessed in an amount between approximately $5 billion and $38 billion. The next day, the judge issued an order closing the evidentiary phase of the case and notifying the parties that he had requested the case file so that he could prepare a judgment. Chevron petitioned to have that order declared a nullity in light of Chevron’s prior recusal petition, and because procedural and evidentiary matters remain unresolved. In October 2010, Chevron’s motion to recuse the judge was granted. A new judge has taken charge of the case, and that judge has revoked the prior judge’s order closing the evidentiary phase of the case.

 

Chevron cannot predict the timing or content of future developments in the Lago Agrio litigation, and a judgment could be entered at any time. Chevron will continue a vigorous defense of any attempted imposition of liability. In the event of an adverse trial court judgment, Chevron would expect to pursue its appeals in Ecuador. Because Chevron has no substantial assets in Ecuador, Chevron would expect enforcement actions following any adverse judgment to be brought in other jurisdictions. Chevron would expect to contest any such actions. The ultimate outcome, including any financial effect on Chevron, remains uncertain.

 

Management does not believe an estimate of a reasonably possible loss (or a range of loss) can be made in this case. Due to the defects associated with the 2008 engineer’s report and the September 2010 plaintiffs’ submission, management does not believe those documents have any utility in calculating a reasonably possible loss (or a range of loss). Moreover, the highly uncertain legal environment surrounding the case provides no basis for management to estimate a reasonably possible loss (or a range of loss).

 

 

Guarantees The company and its subsidiaries have certain other contingent liabilities with respect to guarantees, direct or indirect, of debt of affiliated companies or third parties. Under the terms of the guarantee arrangements, generally the company would be required to perform should the affiliated company or third party fail to fulfill its obligations under the arrangements. In some cases, the guarantee arrangements may have recourse provisions that would enable the company to recover any payments made under the terms of the guarantees from assets provided as collateral.

 

Off-Balance-Sheet Obligations The company and its subsidiaries have certain other contingent liabilities relating to long-term unconditional purchase obligations and commitments, including throughput and take-or-pay agreements, some of which relate to suppliers’ financing arrangements. The agreements typically provide goods and services, such as pipeline and storage capacity, drilling rigs, utilities, and petroleum products, to be used or sold in the ordinary course of the company’s business.

 

Indemnifications The company provided certain indemnities of contingent liabilities of Equilon and Motiva to Shell and Saudi Refining, Inc., in connection with the February 2002 sale of the company’s interests in those investments. The company would be required to perform if the indemnified liabilities become actual losses. Were that to occur, the company could be required to make future payments up to $300 million. Through September 2010, the company

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

paid $48 million under these indemnities and continues to be obligated for possible additional indemnification payments in the future.

 

The company has also provided indemnities relating to contingent environmental liabilities related to assets originally contributed by Texaco to the Equilon and Motiva joint ventures and environmental conditions that existed prior to the formation of Equilon and Motiva or that occurred during the period of Texaco’s ownership interest in the joint ventures. In general, the environmental conditions or events that are subject to these indemnities must have arisen prior to December 2001. Claims had to be asserted by February 2009 for Equilon indemnities and must be asserted no later than February 2012 for Motiva indemnities. Under the terms of these indemnities, there is no maximum limit on the amount of potential future payments. In February 2009, Shell delivered a letter to the company purporting to preserve unmatured claims for certain Equilon indemnities. The letter itself provides no estimate of the ultimate claim amount. Management does not believe this letter or any other information provides a basis to estimate the amount, if any, of a range of loss or potential range of loss with respect to either the Equilon or the Motiva indemnities. The company posts no assets as collateral and has made no payments under the indemnities.

 

The amounts payable for the indemnities described in the preceding paragraph are to be net of amounts recovered from insurance carriers and others and net of liabilities recorded by Equilon or Motiva prior to September 30, 2001, for any applicable incident.

 

In the acquisition of Unocal, the company assumed certain indemnities relating to contingent environmental liabilities associated with assets that were sold in 1997. The acquirer of those assets shared in certain environmental remediation costs up to a maximum obligation of $200 million, which had been reached at December 31, 2009. Under the indemnification agreement, after reaching the $200 million obligation, Chevron is solely responsible until April 2022, when the indemnification expires. The environmental conditions or events that are subject to these indemnities must have arisen prior to the sale of the assets in 1997.

 

Although the company has provided for known obligations under this indemnity that are probable and reasonably estimable, the amount of additional future costs may be material to results of operations in the period in which they are recognized. The company does not expect these costs will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or liquidity.

 

Environmental The company is subject to loss contingencies pursuant to laws, regulations, private claims and legal proceedings related to environmental matters that are subject to legal settlements or that in the future may require the company to take action to correct or ameliorate the effects on the environment of prior release of chemicals or petroleum substances, including MTBE, by the company or other parties. Such contingencies may exist for various sites, including, but not limited to, federal Superfund sites and analogous sites under state laws, refineries, crude oil fields, service stations, terminals, land development areas, and mining operations, whether operating, closed or divested. These future costs are not fully determinable due to such factors as the unknown magnitude of possible contamination, the unknown timing and extent of the corrective actions that may be required, the determination of the company’s liability in proportion to other responsible parties, and the extent to which such costs are recoverable from third parties.

 

Although the company has provided for known environmental obligations that are probable and reasonably estimable, the amount of additional future costs may be material to results of operations in the period in which they are recognized. The company does not expect these costs will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or liquidity. Also, the company does not believe its obligations to make such expenditures have had, or will have, any significant impact on the company’s competitive position relative to other U.S. or international petroleum or chemical companies.

 

Financial Instruments The company believes it has no material market or credit risks to its operations, financial position or liquidity as a result of its commodities and other derivative activities.

 

Equity Redetermination For crude oil and natural gas producing operations, ownership agreements may provide for periodic reassessments of equity interests in estimated crude oil and natural gas reserves. These activities, individually or together, may result in gains or losses that could be material to earnings in any given period.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

One such equity redetermination process has been under way since 1996 for Chevron’s interests in four producing zones at the Naval Petroleum Reserve at Elk Hills, California, for the time when the remaining interests in these zones were owned by the U.S. Department of Energy. A wide range remains for a possible net settlement amount for the four zones. For this range of settlement, Chevron estimates its maximum possible net before-tax liability at approximately $200 million, and the possible maximum net amount that could be owed to Chevron is estimated at about $150 million. The timing of the settlement and the exact amount within this range of estimates are uncertain.

 

Other Contingencies On April 26, 2010, a California appeals court issued a ruling related to the adequacy of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) supporting the issuance of certain permits by the city of Richmond, California, to replace and upgrade certain facilities at Chevron’s refinery in Richmond. The parties to the case have stipulated that entry of final judgment by the trial court be postponed pending on-going settlement discussions. The company continues to evaluate its options going forward, which may include settlement, requesting the city to revise the EIR to address the issues identified by the Court of Appeal or other actions. Management believes the outcomes associated with the potential options for the project are uncertain. Due to the uncertainty of the company’s future course of action, or potential outcomes of any action or combination of actions, management does not believe an estimate of the financial effects, if any, of the ruling can be made at this time. However, the company’s ultimate exposure may be significant to net income in any one future period.

 

Chevron receives claims from and submits claims to customers; trading partners; U.S. federal, state and local regulatory bodies; governments; contractors; insurers; and suppliers. The amounts of these claims, individually and in the aggregate, may be significant and take lengthy periods to resolve.

 

The company and its affiliates also continue to review and analyze their operations and may close, abandon, sell, exchange, acquire or restructure assets to achieve operational or strategic benefits and to improve competitiveness and profitability. These activities, individually or together, may result in gains or losses in future periods.

 

 

Accounting standards for fair value measurement (ASC 820) establish a framework for measuring fair value and stipulate disclosures about fair value measurements. The standards apply to recurring and nonrecurring financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that require or permit fair value measurements. Among the required disclosures is the fair value hierarchy of inputs the company uses to value an asset or a liability. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. For the com-
pany, Level 1 inputs include exchange-traded futures contracts for which the parties are willing to transact at the exchange-quoted price and marketable securities that are actively traded.

 

Level 2: Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly. For the company, Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, prices obtained through third-party broker quotes and prices that can be corroborated with other observable inputs for substantially the complete term of a contract.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs. The company does not use Level 3 inputs for any of its recurring fair value measurements. Level 3 inputs may be required for the determination of fair value associated with certain nonrecurring measurements of nonfinancial assets and liabilities.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

The fair value hierarchy for recurring assets and liabilities measured at fair value at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, is as follows:

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis