HESS CORP - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018

or

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 1-1204

HESS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

13-4921002

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, N.Y.

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

10036

(Zip Code)

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code is (212) 997-8500)

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  ☒    No  ☐

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  ☒    No  ☐

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

At March 31, 2018, there were 308,055,101 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

HESS CORPORATION

Form 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Hess”, the “Corporation”, “Registrant”, “we”, “us”, “our” and “its” refer to the consolidated business operations of Hess Corporation and its subsidiaries.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.  Basis of Presentation

The financial statements included in this report reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of our consolidated financial position at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and consolidated cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.  The unaudited results of operations for the interim periods reported are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

The financial statements were prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim reporting.  As permitted under those rules, certain notes or other financial information that are normally required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States have been condensed or omitted from these interim financial statements.  These statements, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic, ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the modified retrospective method.  The adoption of this standard did not affect the timing of revenue recognition for our uncompleted contracts at January 1, 2018, and as a result, no cumulative effect adjustment to Retained earnings was recognized.  Accounts receivables from contracts with customers is presented separately in the Consolidated Balance Sheet with the prior year balance recast to conform to the current period presentation.  In addition, as the adoption of ASC 606 did not affect previous conclusions regarding our involvement as a principal versus agent in contracts with customers, there were no changes in presentation to the Statement of Consolidated Income.

In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.  This ASU prohibits the capitalization of the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost in connection with the production or construction of an asset.  This provision will be applied prospectively effective January 1, 2018.  The provision requiring that non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost to be presented separately from the service cost component in the Statements of Consolidated Income was applied retrospectively.  We elected the practical expedient allowing the use of the amounts previously disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements as the basis for applying this provision retrospectively as the capitalization of the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost was not material during the comparative periods.  This resulted in a reclassification of $2 million of expense for the first quarter of 2017 from Operating costs and expenses, and General and administrative expenses to Other, net.

In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging – Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.  This ASU makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of the existing hedge accounting guidance.  The adoption of this ASU resulted in an increase to Retained earnings and a decrease in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of $1 million to remove the cumulative effect of hedging ineffectiveness previously recognized in earnings for contracts designated as hedging instruments that were outstanding at January 1, 2018.  

In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230):  Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).  This ASU requires that the total change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash be reflected on the statement of cash flows.  A reconciliation to the balance sheet is also required when cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are not separately presented on the balance sheet, or are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230):  Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).  This ASU is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows.  The guidance addresses eight specific classification issues for which current guidance is either unclear or is non-specific.  The requirement that fees paid to third-parties and premiums incurred in connection with the repayment of debt be classified as financing cash outflows is among the classification issues addressed by this ASU.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

To conform with the Statement of Consolidated Income presentation in our December 31, 2017 Form 10-K, we have revised the presentation of Sales and other operating revenues and Marketing, including purchased oil and gas for the three months ended March 31, 2017 associated with the recovery of certain natural gas processing costs from third parties, by reducing each by $19 million.  This revision did not impact net income, our Consolidated Balance Sheet, Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive Income, Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows, nor Statement of Consolidated

7

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Equity.  Amounts reported as Sales and other operating revenue and Marketing, including purchased oil and gas (formerly Costs of products sold) in our March 31, 2017 Form 10-Q were $1,277 million and $219 million, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements:  In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, as a new Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic, ASC 842.  The new standard will require assets and liabilities to be reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for all leases with lease terms greater than one year, including leases currently treated as operating leases under the existing standard.  This ASU is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted.  We have developed and are executing a project plan for the implementation of ASC 842 in the first quarter of 2019.  We are progressing our assessment of existing leases and evaluating our disclosure processes with reference to the requirements of the standard.  We continue to assess the impact of the ASU on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.  This ASU makes changes to the impairment model for trade receivables, net investments in leases, debt securities, loans and certain other instruments.  The standard requires the use of a forward-looking "expected loss" model compared to the current "incurred loss" model.  This ASU is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of 2020, with early adoption permitted beginning in the first quarter of 2019.  We are currently assessing the impact of the ASU on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.  This ASU modifies the concept of goodwill impairment from a condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value to the condition that exists when the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value.  Thus, an entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value.  The impairment charge would be limited by the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.  This ASU removes the requirement to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination.  This ASU is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of 2020, with early adoption permitted.  We are currently assessing the impact of the ASU on our consolidated financial statements.

2.  Revenue

In the first quarter of 2018, revenue from contracts with customers on a disaggregated basis was as follows:

Exploration and Production

The E&P segment recognizes revenue from the sale of crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas as performance obligations under contracts with customers are satisfied.  Our responsibilities to deliver each unit of quantity of crude oil, NGL, and natural gas under these contracts represent separate, distinct performance obligations.  These performance obligations are satisfied at the point in time control of each unit of quantity transfers to the customer.  Pricing is determined subsequent to contract inception, but prior to the transfer of control or shortly thereafter if required per contractual terms, with reference to a particular market or pricing index, plus or minus adjustments reflecting quality or location differentials.  As a result, the entire transaction price at contract inception is variable.  We do not apply a constraint to the transaction price at contract inception.

8

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Our responsibility to stand-ready to provide a minimum volume over each commitment period under long-term international gas contracts with take-or-pay provisions represent separate, distinct performance obligations.  Shortfall payments received from customers that occur when volumes purchased are below the minimum volume commitment under contracts with customer make-up rights are deferred upon receipt as a contract liability.  Revenue is recognized at the earlier of when we deliver the make-up volumes in subsequent periods or when it becomes remote that the customer will exercise their make-up rights.  Price discounts owed against future deliveries of international natural gas due to delivery of natural gas volumes below minimum volume commitments are recognized as reductions to revenue in the commitment period when the shortfall occurs.

Certain crude oil, NGL, and natural gas volumes are purchased by Hess from third-parties, including working interest partners and royalty owners in certain Hess-operated properties, before they are sold to customers.  Where control over the crude oil, NGLs, or natural gas transfers to Hess before the volumes are transferred to the customer, revenue and the associated cost of purchased volumes are presented on a gross basis in the Statement of Consolidated Income.  Where control of crude oil, NGLs, or natural gas is not transferred to Hess, revenue is presented net of the associated cost of purchased volumes.

Contract types

The following is a summary of contract types for our E&P segment:

Crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas – U.S.:  Contracts with customers for the sale of U.S. crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas primarily include those contracts that involve the short-term sale of volumes during a specified period, and those contracts that automatically renew on a periodic basis until either party cancels.  We have certain long-term contracts with customers for the sale of U.S. natural gas and NGLs that have remaining durations of less than ten years.  Contracts may specify a fixed volume for delivery subject to tolerance thresholds, or may specify a percentage of production to be delivered from a particular location.  Pricing is determined with reference to a particular market or pricing index, plus or minus adjustments reflecting quality or location differentials, prior to transfer of control.

Crude oil – International:  Contracts with customers for the sale of international crude oil involve the short-term sale of volumes during a specified period.  These contracts specify a fixed volume for delivery subject to tolerance thresholds.  Pricing is determined with reference to a particular market or pricing index, plus or minus adjustments reflecting quality or location differentials, shortly after control of the volumes transfers to the customer.

Natural Gas – International:  Contracts with customers for the sale of natural gas are in the form of natural gas sales agreements with government entities that have durations that are aligned with the durations of production sharing contracts or other contractual arrangements with host governments.  Pricing is determined, prior to the recognition of revenue, using contractual formulas that are based on the price of alternative fuels as obtained from price indices, and other factors.  These contracts also specify a minimum volume we are obligated to make available during specified periods within the contract term, and may specify minimum volumes the customer is obligated to purchase during specified periods within the contract term.  If we do not deliver the volume properly nominated by the customer, the customer is entitled to a price discount on future volumes equivalent to the shortfall delivery.  Under certain international natural gas sales agreements, if the customer purchases natural gas volumes below the minimum volume commitment, the customer is required to pay us for the shortfall volumes and may receive make-up volumes in subsequent periods at no additional cost.  

Revenue from sale of third-party purchased volumes:  Crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas are purchased by Hess from third-parties, including working interest partners and royalty owners in certain Hess-operated properties, before they are sold to customers.  The types of contracts with customers for the sale of third-party purchased volumes are the same as those described above.

Contract Balances

Our right to receive or collect payment from the customer is aligned with the timing of revenue recognition except in situations when we receive shortfall payments under contracts with take-or-pay provisions with customer make-up rights.  Shortfall payments received from customers under contracts with take-or-pay provisions with customer make-up rights are deferred upon receipt and reflected as a contract liability.  At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no contract assets or contract liabilities.  In the three months ended March 31, 2018, there were no credit losses on receivables with customers.

9

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations

At March 31, 2018, the transaction price allocated to our unsatisfied performance obligations on uncompleted contracts was entirely variable.  We have elected under the provisions of ASC 606 the exemption from disclosure of revenue recognizable in future periods as these performance obligations are satisfied.

Sales-based Taxes

We exclude sales-based taxes that are collected from customers from the transaction price in our contracts with customers.  Accordingly, revenue from contracts with customers is net of sales-based taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to taxing authorities.

Midstream

Our Midstream segment provides gathering, compression, processing, fractionation, storage, terminaling, loading and transportation services.

The Midstream segment has multiple long-term, fee-based commercial agreements with a marketing subsidiary of Hess, each with an initial ten-year term that can be extended for an additional ten-year term at the unilateral right of our Midstream segment.  These contracts have minimum volumes the customer is obligated to provide each calendar quarter. The minimum volume commitments are subject to fluctuation based on nominations covering substantially all of our E&P segment’s production and projected third-party volumes that will be purchased in the Bakken.  As the minimum volume commitments are subject to fluctuation, and as these contracts contain fee inflation escalators and fee recalculation mechanisms, substantially all of the transaction price at contract inception is variable.

The Midstream segment’s responsibilities to provide each of the above services for each year under each of the commercial agreements are considered separate, distinct performance obligations.  Revenue is recognized for each performance obligation under these commercial agreements over-time as services are rendered using the output method.  The Midstream segment has elected the practical expedient under the provisions of ASC 606 to recognize revenue in the amount it is entitled to invoice.  If the commercial agreements have take-or-pay provisions, the Midstream segment’s responsibility to stand-ready to service a minimum volume over each quarterly commitment period represent separate, distinct performance obligations.  Shortfall payments received under take-or-pay provisions are recognized as revenue in the calendar quarter the shortfall occurs as the customer does not have make-up rights beyond the calendar quarter end of the quarterly commitment period.  All revenues, receivables, and contract balances arising from the commercial agreements between the Midstream segment and the Hess marketing subsidiary that is the counterparty to the commercial agreements are eliminated upon consolidation.

3.  Debt

In the first quarter of 2018, we paid $415 million to redeem $350 million principal amount of 8.125% notes due 2019 with a carrying value of $349 million at December 31, 2017, and to purchase other notes with a carrying value of $38 million at December 31, 2017.  Concurrent with the redemption of the 2019 notes, we terminated interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $350 million.  First quarter 2018 results included a pre-tax charge of $27 million ($27 million after income taxes) for the loss on extinguishment of the redeemed and purchased notes.

4.  Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following:

10

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

5.  Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs

The following table discloses the net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs pending determination of proved reserves during the three months ended March 31, 2018 (in millions):

Capitalized exploratory well costs capitalized for greater than one year following completion of drilling were $211 million at March 31, 2018 and primarily related to:  

Gulf of Mexico: Approximately 55% of the capitalized well costs in excess of one year relates to the appraisal of the northern portion of the Shenzi Field (Hess 28% participating interest) in the Gulf of Mexico, where hydrocarbons were encountered in the fourth quarter of 2015.  The operator is conducting appraisal activities on adjacent acreage and is evaluating plans for development of the northern portion of the Shenzi Field.

Guyana: Approximately 20% of the capitalized well costs in excess of one year primarily relates to the Payara-1 well on the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana (Hess 30% participating interest), where hydrocarbons were encountered.  The operator plans to integrate this discovery into the third phase of development, with first production from this phase planned for late 2023 or early 2024.

JDA:  Approximately 15% of the capitalized well costs in excess of one year relates to the JDA in the Gulf of Thailand (Hess 50%) where hydrocarbons were encountered in three successful exploration wells drilled in the western part of Block A-18.  The operator is currently conducting subsurface evaluations and pre-development planning to facilitate commercial negotiations with the regulator for an extension of the existing gas sales contract to include development of the western part of the Block.

6.  Hess Infrastructure Partners LP

We consolidate the activities of Hess Infrastructure Partners LP (HIP), a 50/50 joint venture between Hess Corporation and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which qualifies as a variable interest entity (VIE) under U.S. GAAP.  We have concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, as defined in the accounting standards, since we have the power, through our 50% ownership, to direct those activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of HIP.

HIP, which owns Bakken midstream assets, is a component of our Midstream segment.  At March 31, 2018, HIP liabilities totaling $1,060 million (December 31, 2017: $1,065 million) are on a nonrecourse basis to Hess Corporation, while HIP assets available to settle the obligations of HIP include cash and cash equivalents totaling $375 million (December 31, 2017: $356 million) and property, plant and equipment with a carrying value of $2,527 million (December 31, 2017: $2,520 million).

7.  Severance Costs

In the first quarter of 2018, we recorded severance expense of $46 million, and a reduction to expense of $9 million for stock-based compensation forfeitures, as part of the previously announced cost reduction program.  During the first quarter of 2018, we paid severance costs of $21 million.  At March 31, 2018, we have accrued severance cost of $31 million (December 31, 2017: $6 million), which we expect to pay in 2018.

11

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

8. Retirement Plans

Components of net periodic pension cost consisted of the following:

In 2018, we recorded curtailment gains of $18 million to Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and $2 million to the Statement of Consolidated Income following workforce reductions in the first quarter.  In connection with this curtailment, as required under accounting standards, we remeasured our U.S. retirement plans and recorded a total decrease of $125 million in the Corporation’s U.S. pension liabilities.  This reduction was primarily driven by a change in weighted average discount rates used to measure the liabilities.  There was no change to the weighted average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.

For the full year 2018, we now forecast pension service costs of approximately $45 million, interest cost of approximately $95 million, amortization of unrecognized net actuarial losses of approximately $40 million, and estimated expected return on plan assets of approximately $195 million.  Net non-service pension costs included in Other, net in the Statement of Consolidated Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, was income of $16 million and expense of $2 million, respectively.

In 2018, we expect to contribute $44 million to our funded pension plans.  Through March 31, 2018, we have contributed $14 million to these plans.

9.  Weighted Average Common Shares

The Net income (loss) and weighted average number of common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations were as follows:  

12

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes the number of antidilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted shares:

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we granted 1,081,923 shares of restricted stock (2017: 1,206,732), 278,003 performance share units (2017: 438,980) and 683,167 stock options (2017: 662,819).

10.  Guarantees and Contingencies

We are subject to loss contingencies with respect to various claims, lawsuits and other proceedings.  A liability is recognized in our consolidated financial statements when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  If the risk of loss is probable, but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated or the risk of loss is only reasonably possible, a liability is not accrued; however, we disclose the nature of those contingencies.  We cannot predict with certainty if, how or when existing claims, lawsuits and proceedings will be resolved or what the eventual relief, if any, may be, particularly for proceedings that are in their early stages of development or where plaintiffs seek indeterminate damages.  Numerous issues may need to be resolved, including through lengthy discovery, conciliation and/or arbitration proceedings, or litigation before a loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.  Subject to the foregoing, in management’s opinion, based upon currently known facts and circumstances, the outcome of such lawsuits, claims and proceedings, including the matters described below, is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.  However, we could incur judgments, enter into settlements, or revise our opinion regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and our cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid.

We, along with many companies that have been or continue to be engaged in refining and marketing of gasoline, have been a party to lawsuits and claims related to the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline.  A series of similar lawsuits, many involving water utilities or governmental entities, were filed in jurisdictions across the U.S. against producers of MTBE and petroleum refiners who produced gasoline containing MTBE, including us.  The principal allegation in all cases was that gasoline containing MTBE is a defective product and that these parties are strictly liable in proportion to their share of the gasoline market for damage to groundwater resources and are required to take remedial action to ameliorate the alleged effects on the environment of releases of MTBE.  The majority of the cases asserted against us have been settled.  There are four remaining active cases, filed by Pennsylvania, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maryland.  In June 2014, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Vermont each filed independent lawsuits alleging that we and all major oil companies with operations in each respective state, have damaged the groundwater in those states by introducing thereto gasoline with MTBE.  The Pennsylvania suit has been removed to Federal court and has been forwarded to the existing MTBE multidistrict litigation pending in the Southern District of New York.  The suit filed in Vermont is proceeding there in a state court.  In September 2016, the State of Rhode Island also filed a lawsuit alleging that we and other major oil companies damaged the groundwater in Rhode Island by introducing thereto gasoline with MTBE.  The suit filed in Rhode Island is proceeding in Federal court.  In December 2017, the State of Maryland filed a lawsuit alleging that we and other major oil companies damaged the groundwater in Maryland by introducing thereto gasoline with MTBE.  The suit filed in Maryland was filed in state court, but has not been served to date.

In September 2003, we received a directive from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to remediate contamination in the sediments of the Lower Passaic River.  The NJDEP is also seeking natural resource damages.  The directive, insofar as it affects us, relates to alleged releases from a petroleum bulk storage terminal in Newark, New Jersey we previously owned.  We and over 70 companies entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the same contamination; this work remains ongoing.  We and other parties settled a cost recovery claim by the State of New Jersey and also agreed with EPA to fund remediation of a portion of the site.  On March 4, 2016, the EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) in respect of the lower eight miles of the Lower Passaic River, selecting a remedy that includes bank-to-bank dredging at an estimated cost of $1.38 billion.  The ROD does not address the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River or the Newark Bay, which may require additional remedial action.  In addition, the federal trustees for natural resources have begun a separate assessment of damages to natural resources in the Passaic River.  Given that the EPA has not selected a remedy for the entirety of the Lower Passaic River or the Newark Bay, total remedial costs cannot be reliably estimated at this time.  Based on currently known facts and circumstances, we do not

13

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

believe that this matter will result in a significant liability to us because there are numerous other parties who we expect will share in the cost of remediation and damages and our former terminal did not store or use contaminants which are of the greatest concern in the river sediments and could not have contributed contamination along most of the river’s length.

In March 2014, we received an Administrative Order from EPA requiring us and 26 other parties to undertake the Remedial Design for the remedy selected by the EPA for the Gowanus Canal Superfund Site in Brooklyn, New York.  The remedy includes dredging of surface sediments and the placement of a cap over the deeper sediments throughout the Canal and in-situ stabilization of certain contaminated sediments that will remain in place below the cap.  EPA has estimated that this remedy will cost $506 million; however, the ultimate costs that will be incurred in connection with the design and implementation of the remedy remain uncertain.  Our alleged liability derives from our former ownership and operation of a fuel oil terminal and connected ship-building and repair facility adjacent to the Canal.  We indicated to EPA that we would comply with the Administrative Order and are currently contributing funding for the Remedial Design based on an interim allocation of costs among the parties.  At the same time, we are participating in an allocation process whereby a neutral expert selected by the parties will determine the final shares of the Remedial Design costs to be paid by each of the participants.  

On September 28, 2017, we received a general notice letter and offer to settle from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency relating to Superfund claims for the Ector Drum, Inc.  Superfund Site in Odessa, TX.  The EPA and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) took clean-up and response action at the site commencing in 2014 and concluded in December 2015.  The site was determined to have improperly stored industrial waste, including drums with oily liquids.  The total clean-up cost incurred by the EPA was approximately $3.5 million.  We were invited to negotiate a voluntary settlement for our purported share of the clean-up costs.  Our share, if any, is undetermined.

From time to time, we are involved in other judicial and administrative proceedings, including proceedings relating to other environmental matters.  We cannot predict with certainty if, how or when such proceedings will be resolved or what the eventual relief, if any, may be, particularly for proceedings that are in their early stages of development or where plaintiffs seek indeterminate damages.  Numerous issues may need to be resolved, including through potentially lengthy discovery and determination of important factual matters before a loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated for any proceeding.

Subject to the foregoing, in management’s opinion, based upon currently known facts and circumstances, the outcome of the aforementioned proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

14

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

11.  Segment Information

The Corporation has two operating segments, Exploration and Production and Midstream.  All unallocated costs are reflected under Corporate, Interest and Other.  The following table presents operating segment financial data:

Identifiable assets by operating segment were as follows:

12.  Financial Risk Management Activities

In the normal course of our business, we are exposed to commodity risks related to changes in the prices of crude oil and natural gas as well as changes in interest rates and foreign currency values.  Financial risk management activities include transactions designed to reduce risk in the selling prices of crude oil or natural gas we produced or by reducing our exposure to foreign currency or interest rate movements.  Generally, futures, swaps or option strategies may be used to fix the forward selling price of a portion of our crude oil or natural gas production.  Forward contracts may also be used to purchase certain currencies in which we conduct the business with the intent of reducing exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.  At March 31, 2018, these forward contracts relate to the British Pound.  Interest rate swaps may be used to convert interest payments on certain long-term debt from fixed to floating rates.

15

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

We present gross notional amounts of both long and short positions in the table below.  These amounts include long and short positions that offset in closed positions and have not reached contractual maturity.  Gross notional amounts do not quantify risk or represent assets or liabilities of the Corporation, but are used in the calculation of cash settlements under the contracts.

The gross notional amounts of outstanding financial risk management derivative contracts related to West Texas Intermediate (WTI) instruments were as follows:  

At December 31, 2017, we had WTI crude oil price collars with an average monthly floor price of $50 per barrel and an average monthly ceiling price of $65 per barrel with a notional amount of 115,000 bopd for the full year 2018.  In the first quarter of 2018, we bought back the WTI $65 call options within the crude oil price collars for the period of May 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.  As a result, during this period we are able to realize average monthly WTI selling prices above $65 per barrel on the crude oil price collars covering the notional amount of 115,000 bopd.  The put options within our crude oil collar contracts remain outstanding with a WTI average monthly floor price of $50 per barrel covering a notional amount of 115,000 bopd through December 31, 2018.  

The gross notional amounts of outstanding financial risk management derivative contracts, excluding commodity contracts, were as follows:  

16

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONT’D.)

HESS CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The table below reflects the gross and net fair values of the risk management derivative instruments, all of which are based on Level 2 inputs: