Yesterday, Houston-based integrated oil major Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO) provided an interim update for the second quarter of 2009 (covering the first two months of the quarter). Recovery in crude oil prices and an increase in oil and gas output is expected to benefit the company's upstream segment, while the downstream business will see lower refinery output and throughputs. The company plans to release its quarterly results on August 3, 2009. Marathon expects second-quarter oil and natural gas production available for sale from continuing operations to average 411,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day (BOE/d), which is above the company's guidance for the quarter. Approximately two-thirds of Marathon's production comes from outside the U.S. Second-quarter volumes sold will be above the previous and year-earlier levels, reflecting Marathon's revamped upstream asset portfolio and strong growth profile. Marathon's realized oil price domestically averaged $48.72 per barrel, up 33% sequentially, but ...