By Jason Simpkins Managing Editor Money Morning

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NYSE ADR: RDS.A, RDS.B) on Thursday won the right to develop Iraq’s West Qurna-1 oilfield.

The agreement is the third such deal this year, which means Iraqi oil production could increase at a faster pace than previously expected and potentially lead to a drop in oil prices.

Iraqi officials earlier this week finalized an agreement with BP PLC (NYSE ADR: BP) and China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC). Policymakers also reached an initial agreement with a consortium led by Italy’s Eni SpA (NYSE ADR: E) that will develop the Zubair oil field.

The latest deal gives Exxon and Shell the right to increase production at Iraq’s West Qurna-1 oilfield, which is believed to hold about 8.7 billion barrels of oil reserves. The field is already producing

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Patterson-UTI Inc. (PTEN) reported a narrower-than-expected third-quarter loss of 12 cents per share, reflecting a recovery in rig demand as customers prepare for ramped up drilling activities in 2010. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at a loss of 16 cents per share.  In the year-ago period, the company earned 69 cents per share. Revenue was down 71.1% year over year to $176.2 million. The negative comparisons compared to the year-ago period reflect lower drilling activity. The number of rigs operating during the quarter averaged 73 (70 located in the U.S. and 3 in Canada), compared to 276 average rigs operating in the third quarter of 2008. However, it was up from 63 rigs operating in the June quarter.  Contract Drilling  Contract Drilling revenue totaled $112.3 million (64% of total revenue), down approximately 77.5% year-over-year. Average revenue per operating day was $16,800, down 5.5% sequentially, while ...

Oil refiner and marketer Sunoco Inc. (SUN) reported weaker-than-expected third quarter results as its refining and chemicals operations slipped in the red, pulled down by reduced margins and production. Loss per share, excluding special items, came in at 29 cents, significantly wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 9 cents. In the year-ago period, the Pennsylvania-based company earned $4.78 per share. Revenues were down 42.6% year over year to $8.7 billion.   Refining & Supply   The Refining & Supply segment lost $118 million during the quarter, as against a profit of $398 million in the year-earlier period, mainly on account of lower realized margins and lower production volumes, partly canceled by lower expenses. Realized margin averaged $2.72 per barrel, down 81.7% from the third quarter of 2008, reflecting a very weak East Coast refining margin environment. Total production was down approximately 17.2% year over year to 669.2 ...

Statoil ASA (STO) reported its third quarter results of 38 cents per share, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 40 cents and in line with the year-earlier quarter earnings. Revenue for the quarter was NOK 123.1 billion ($20.1 billion), down 29% year over year.  Though the company’s results were hurt by lower commodity prices, Statoil continues to maintain a high activity level both in Norway and internationally. Equity and entitlement productions were up 8% and 10% year over year, respectively, with the start-up of operations on several new oil and gas fields such as Tyrihans in the Norwegian Sea, Tune Sor in the North Sea and Thunder Hawk in the Gulf of Mexico.  Total oil and gas entitlement production during the quarter averaged 1.71 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMBOE/d), 62% of which was oil and 38% natural gas, compared to 1.55 MMBOE/d ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week’s analysis include B.P. Prudhoe Bay (BPT), Sabine Royalty Trust (SBR), Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Hershey (HSY) and Del Monte (DLM).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Dirk Van Dijk, CFA, Chief Equity Strategist for Zacks.com.   This week: Out-of-Step Industries

Sometimes the best investments come from a small group that seems to be bucking the trend of the much larger group that they are a part of. That appears to be the case for the Oil Royalty Trust group. There are eight names in this group, all of which sport Zacks #2 rankings. That puts them in a tie for 4th place among all industries tracked. Meanwhile, the Energy sector is well down the list overall sector rank list.

With royalty trusts, you get high dividends

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Another week, another major resource deal announced by China. This week it was Petrobras, Brazilrsquo;s national oil company, which announced a $10 billion loan from China in exchange for up to 200,000 barrels of oil per day for the next 10 years. This is the latest in a year that has seen China make $20 billion worth of overseas deals to acquire natural resources (left chart) and issue an additional $50 billion in loans backed by oil. Chinarsquo;s overseas activity has picked up considerably over the past two years. All told China it has made about three dozen mining deals and another 32 energy deals since 2000. All this activity has made some nervous, but when you put the deals into context itrsquo;s easy to see that Beijing isnrsquo;t taking over the world of resources. This yearrsquo;s oil deals have given China access to an additional 1.2 million barrels per day (right chart). That ...

OUTLOOK The improving economic scene, both here in the U.S. as well as worldwide, is the main driver of the current oil rally that has seen the commodity settling around the $80 per barrel level. But high levels of product inventories (particularly gasoline), along with still higher supplies, will limit any sustained crude gains, in our view. But way too many factors weigh on oil prices, from OPEC decisions and geostrategic tensions to the value of the U.S. dollar and seasonal variables, to definitively size up each one of them for their respective impact on prices.  In its latest release, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a less-than-anticipated increase in crude stockpiles, which rose by 800,000 barrels for the week ending October 23. However, current crude oil stocks, at 339.9 million barrels, still remain 9% above the year-earlier level as well as above the upper limit ...

Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD) reported its third quarter results of 2 cents per share, well below than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 6 cents and year-earlier quarter earnings of 91 cents. Before adjusting one-time items, loss per share was 6 cents.  Despite the increased production volumes and lower production expenses, earnings were down due primarily to weak realized prices. Revenue for the quarter was $410.1 million, down nearly 32% from the year-earlier level.  Total production for the quarter averaged approximately 113 thousand barrels oil equivalent per day (MBOE/d), up 2% year over year, reflecting the strong performance of Pioneer’s low-decline assets. Oil production averaged at 31.7 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d), up approximately 7% year over year. Natural gas liquids production slightly decreased to 18.6 MBbl/d. Natural gas production also modestly increased to 374.2 MMcf/d.  On an oil equivalent basis, average realized price was ...

Fuel Your Portfolio With BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP): The Best-Run Commodities Company In The World

by Tony Daltorio, Investment U Research

Some companies just stand out – both in their own sectors and in the larger market.

Australian firm BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) is one of them.

As the largest and most diversified commodities producer in the world, BHP has leading positions in most key, low-cost, metal and mineral deposits in the world.

And as if that weren’t enough, it also has a solid position in oil, thanks to its petroleum division, which had operating profits of $4 billion last year.

Impressively, that total only made the petroleum division BHP’s third-best performer in 2008. Its iron ore segment scooped up $6.23 billion, while base metals enjoyed a $4.62 billion operating profit.

Crucially, that sets BHP’s oil division apart from its competitors. Not only

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Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) posted better-than-expected results for the third quarter of 2009 due to increased production volume and favorable service and supply costs across all major operating segments. Adjusted EPS of $1.12 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92 cents. This, however, was significantly lower than $5.68 recorded during the same period last year, because of significantly lower product prices in the quarter. Reported net income was $499 million or $1.12 per share, compared to $2.6 billion or $5.88 per share a year ago. The combined oil, natural gas and NGL production volume soared 6% to 61.9 million BOE (i.e. 673 thousand BOE per day), driven by production growth at each of Devon’s operating segments. Growth in oil and natural gas liquids production in the United States was greater than the decline in natural gas volumes. The continuing ramp up of volumes at the Jackfish ...