MOBIL CORP
8-K, 1996-04-23
PETROLEUM REFINING
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                              PAGE 1

- - -----------------------------------------------------------------




                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    WASHINGTON, DC 20549-1004


                            FORM 8-K


                          CURRENT REPORT



                   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
               of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 23, 1996 


                          MOBIL CORPORATION
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       DELAWARE                  1-7555         13-2850309 
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission  (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)  File Number)  Identification No.) 

                                             



                          3225 Gallows Road
                    Fairfax, Virginia 22037-0001
                      Telephone: (703) 846-3000
              (Address of principal executive offices)




<PAGE>
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------

                                PAGE 2


Item 5. Other Events 
   
    The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference herein the
information set forth in its two News Releases issued April 22, 1996,
copies of which are annexed hereto as exhibits 99-1 and 99-2.

                                   
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and 
        Exhibits.

      (c) Exhibits. 
           99-1.  Mobil Corporation News Release issued April 22,   
 1996 reporting estimated earnings for the first quarter of 1996.

           99-2.  Mobil Corporation News Release issued April 22,
 1996, correcting certain Petroleum Product Sales numbers in Table 
 6 of its News Release reporting first quarter 1996 earnings. 
<PAGE>

                             PAGE 3
                            SIGNATURE                            


 
 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 



REGISTRANT         MOBIL CORPORATION 


By              /s/ Gordon G. Garney      
NAME AND TITLE  Gordon G. Garney, Senior Assistant Secretary
 
DATE            April 23, 1996 


<PAGE>                                
                                PAGE 4
                             EXHIBIT INDEX


  EXHIBIT                                  SUBMISSION MEDIA
  -------                                  ----------------


 99-1.  Mobil Corporation,                   Electronic 
        News Release issued
        April 22, 1996

 99-2.  Mobil Corporation,                   Electronic
        News Release issued
        April 22, 1996 


                                   Exhibit 99-1

CONTACTS:   Christopher Springham or Gail Campbell Woolley
            +1 703 846 2500

Fairfax, VA, April 22, 1996 -- Mobil Corporation today reported
estimated first quarter 1996 net income of $736 million.  Income
was up $100 million, or 16%, from the first quarter of 1995. 
There were no special items in either period.  Estimated earnings
per common share for the first quarter were $1.83 versus $1.57 in
the comparable period of 1995.

In commenting on this quarter's income compared with the same
quarter last year, Chairman Lucio A. Noto said, "Mobil's
improvement reflected higher income in the petroleum sector,
largely driven by improved industry fundamentals, partly offset by
higher scheduled and unscheduled refinery downtime and lower
Chemical income.  Mobil's worldwide average crude oil price was
about $1.85 per barrel higher than last year and our U.S. natural
gas price strengthened by more than $.80 per thousand cubic feet,
both reflecting strong demand due to the colder winter weather in
the northern hemisphere.  Production volumes were up almost 40
thousand barrels per day of oil equivalent as a result of 1995
streaming of new fields in the United Kingdom and higher
production rates in Nigeria.  Worldwide refining margins have been
stronger this year; however, marketing margins in two of Mobil's
key markets, the United Kingdom and Japan, have been weaker,
reflecting intense competitive pressures.  The decline in Chemical
income is mainly due to lower worldwide polyethylene resin
margins, principally reflecting a weakening from last year's
exceptionally strong margins, and the absence of income from the
divested plastics business."

Mr. Noto added, "We continue to make progress in implementing the
various restructuring programs announced since May of last year. 
Controllable cash operating expenses were down in the quarter by
about $70 million pre-tax versus last year, after absorbing cost
increases for inflation, higher volumes and current period charges
related to the implementation of our restructuring programs."

Mr. Noto continued, "We have developed plans to form major
alliances in two of our mature operating areas, Europe and the
United States, each structured to maximize the value of our
current asset base.  In Europe, Mobil and British Petroleum
jointly announced a breakthrough strategy to combine our fuels and
lubes businesses.  This partnership, pending government approvals
will enable both companies to achieve efficiencies and scale
economics otherwise unavailable to either company on a
stand-alone basis."

"Additionally, in the U.S., we are actively negotiating the sale
of Mobil's natural gas processing plants to, and the formation of
an energy marketing joint venture with, PanEnergy Corporation. 
This joint venture will form the third largest gas marketing
operation in North America with sales of over 7 billion cubic feet
of natural gas per day."

"We have also announced several developments around the world that
are consistent with one of our primary upstream goals, to
profitably grow production and reserves.  Since the beginning of
the year, we have:  (1) completed a successful exploration bid for
the 445,000 acre La Ceiba block located on the eastern shore of
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela and signed exploration and
exploitation license contracts for two lots in Peru; (2) acquired
interests in five licenses awarded in Norway's 15th licensing
round; (3) proposed to make an offer to acquire Ampolex Limited,
an Australian exploration and producing company; (4) awarded
contracts for the engineering, procurement and construction of the
offshore pipeline and platform facilities and for the onshore
liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Ras Laffan, Qatar; and (5)
reached agreement on the principal terms under which we will
acquire a 25% interest in the Tengizchevroil joint venture in
Kazakstan.  This interest will allow us to participate in
production from the giant Tengiz field which began producing in
1991.  In Chemical, we have announced plans to increase worldwide
oriented polypropylene (OPP) manufacturing capacity by one
third."

Mr. Noto concluded, "Market fundamentals are likely to remain
volatile in the near term.  Our strategies are designed to enhance
shareholder value by improving returns from our existing asset
base while pursuing profitable growth opportunities around the
world."

      COMPARISON OF FIRST QUARTER 1996 WITH FIRST QUARTER 1995

The following comments address the operating performance of the
major business segments during the first quarter of 1996, as
compared with the same quarter of 1995:

 . Exploration and Producing income of $512 million was $135
  million higher.  

  In the United States, income was $155 million, up $73 million,
  primarily resulting from higher crude oil and natural gas
  prices, which were somewhat moderated by the impact of certain
  opportunity losses on forward sales made as part of our risk
  management strategy.  This improvement was partially offset by
  lower production volumes, primarily resulting from prior asset
  disposals and from natural field declines. 

  International income of $357 million was $62 million higher,
  principally due to higher prices, higher volumes and lower
  exploration expenses resulting from timing of program execution.
  Notably, Nigerian crude oil volumes were up 60 TBD (44%)
  reflecting additional production from the Ubit field, due in
  part to the absence of last years operational problems, and
  other fields streamed in 1995.  Natural gas production also
  increased, particularly in Europe, due to the colder weather
  this year and new production from three North Sea fields
  streamed in the United Kingdom.  This helped offset a decline in
  U.K. natural gas prices.

  Marketing and Refining income of $240 million was $94 million
  higher. 

  United States income was $59 million this year versus breakeven
  last year.  The improvement reflects favorable expense
  performance, 6% growth in auto gasoline and distillate sales to
  trade and higher gross margins.  These factors were partially
  offset by higher scheduled and unscheduled refinery downtime. 
  The scheduled refinery downtime principally reflected
  preparation at the Torrance refinery for the introduction of new
  mandated gasoline formulations in the California market.

  International income of $181 million was $35 million higher. 
  The improvement was mainly due to stronger refining margins,
  lower expenses, ongoing business initiatives as well as higher
  trade sales in the Asia-Pacific region.  These favorable items
  were partly offset by weaker marketing margins, notably in the
  United Kingdom as a result of intense competitive pressures, and
  in Japan stemming from the impending market deregulation of oil
  product imports.  In addition, earnings were unfavorably
  impacted by a higher level of planned and unscheduled downtime
  at several refineries.

 . Chemical income of $70 million was $104 million lower.  This
  reflected a decline from last year's exceptionally strong
  worldwide polyethylene resin margins, the expiration of the tax
  holiday for our Yanpet petrochemicals joint venture in Saudi
  Arabia, and the absence of income from divested businesses.

 . Corporate and Other expense was $28 million compared with $4
  million of income last year when we sold an office complex in
  Arlington, Virginia.  Corporate and Other also includes certain
  nonrecurring, current period charges related to the
  implementation of our restructuring programs.

 . Net Financing Expense of $58 million was $7 million lower,
  principally due to the favorable impact of lower average net
  debt balances.

Capital and Exploration Expenditures for the first quarter of 1996
were estimated at $918 million, an increase of $100 million from
the comparable period last year. 

Mobil's estimated Return on Average Shareholders' Equity for the
twelve months ended March 31, 1996, based upon reported income,
was 13.7%, compared with 13.5% for calendar year 1995.  (On an
operating basis, excluding special items, returns were 16.4% and
16.2% for the same periods.)  Estimated Return on Average Capital
Employed for the twelve months ended March 31, 1996, based upon
reported income, was 11.0% compared with 10.9% for calendar year
1995.  (On an operating basis, excluding special items, returns
were 12.8% for both periods.)

Mobil's estimated Debt-to-capitalization Ratio was 28% at March
31, 1996 and 27% at December 31, 1995.

Common Stock Dividends were $.925 per share in the first quarter
of 1996, $.075 per share higher than first quarter 1995.
<TABLE>
                                                        Table 1


                       MOBIL CORPORATION
<CAPTION>

                                     First Quarter
                              ---------------------------
                               1995      1996      Incr/
INCOME  ($MM)                  Act       Est      (Decr)
                              ------    ------    -------
<S>                             <C>       <C>        <C>
Petroleum Operations
  E&P: United States             82       155         73
       International            295       357         62
                              ------    ------    -------
  Total E&P                     377       512        135

  M&R: United States              -        59         59
       International            146       181         35
                              ------    ------    -------
  Total M&R                     146       240         94
                              ------    ------    -------
Total Petroleum                 523       752        229

Chemical                        174        70       (104)
Corporate and Other (a)           4       (28)       (32)
Net Financing Expense           (65)      (58)         7
                              ------    ------    -------
Net Income                      636       736        100
==========                    ======    ======    =======

COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (MM)
  Average                     395.8     394.5       (1.3)
  End of Period               395.7     394.6       (1.1)

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ($)
  Based on Net Income (b)      1.57      1.83       0.26

DIVIDENDS
  Common Stock
    Total Paid ($MM)            337       365         28
    Per Share ($)              0.85     0.925      0.075

  Preferred Stock ($MM)          14        14          -

(a) Includes the results of Real Estate operations, Mining and Minerals
administrative expenses, and other corporate items.

(b) The earnings per common share calculation is based on income, less
preferred stock dividend requirements, divided by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding.

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                                          Table 2


                          MOBIL CORPORATION

<CAPTION>

                               1995 by Quarter and Year        1996        

INCOME ADJUSTED FOR       ----------------------------------- ------ 
 SPECIAL ITEMS ($MM)        1Q     2Q     3Q    4Q     Year    1Q Est
                          -----  -----  -----  -----  -------   ----
<S>                        <C>    <C>    <C>    <C     <C>      <C>    
Petroleum Operations
  E&P:  United States       82    109     46     95      332    155
        International      295    266    256    248    1,065    357
                          -----  -----  -----  -----  -------   ----
  Total E&P                377    375    302    343    1,397    512 

  M&R:  United States        -     87    148     95      330     59   
        International      146    153    229    277      805    181
                          -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- ------
  Total M&R                146    240    377    372    1,135    240
                          -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- ------
Total Petroleum            523    615    679    715    2,532    752

Chemical                   174    186    179    140      679     70
Corp and Other (a)           4    (22)   (37)   (15)     (70)   (28)
Net Financing Expense      (65)   (73)   (77)   (80)    (295)   (58)
                          -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- ------
Operating Income Before
    Special Items          636    706    744    760    2,846    736

Special Items                -   (527)    42     15     (470)    -
                          -----  -----  -----  -----  ------- ------
Net Income                 636    179    786    775    2,376    736
==========                =====  =====  =====  =====  ======= ======

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ($)
 BASED ON:
  Operating Income Before
   Special Items (b)      1.57   1.75   1.85   1.89     7.06   1.83

  Net Income (b)          1.57   0.42   1.95   1.93     5.87   1.83




(a) Includes the results of Real Estate operations, Mining and
Minerals, administrative expenses, and other corporate items.

(b) The earnings per common share calculation is based on income,
less preferred stock dividend requirements, divided by the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                                            
                                                        Table 3


                          MOBIL CORPORATION

<CAPTION>
                           1995 by Quarter and Year              1996
SPECIAL ITEMS             -----------------------------------   ------
  AFFECTING INCOME ($MM)    1Q     2Q      3Q    4Q     Year    1QEst
                          -----  -----   ----  -----  -------   ------
<S>                         <C>   <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>      <C>
E&P United States
  Asset Sales                -    (22)     -      -      (22)     -
  Asset Impairment           -      -      -   (366)    (366)     -
  Restructuring              -    (30)(a)  -    (21)     (51)     -

E&P International
  Asset Sales                -      -      -     23       23      -
  Asset Impairment           -      -      -   (121)    (121)     -
  Tax Adjustment             -      -      -     26       26      -
  Restructuring              -    (25)(a)  -    (16)     (41)     -

M&R United States
  Restructuring              -   (104)(b)  -      -     (104)     -

M&R International
  LIFO/Oth. Inv. Adjustmen   -      -      -    (13)     (13)     -
  Restructuring              -   (268)(c)  -    (48)    (316)     -
  Property Writedowns        -      -    (29)     -      (29)     -

Chemical
  Asset Sale                 -      -      -    501      501      -
  Restructuring              -    (16)(a)  -      -      (16)     -

Corp/Other
  Asset Sale                 -      -      -     74       74      -
  Environmental              -      -      -    (24)     (24)     -
  Restructuring              -    (62)(a)  -      -      (62)     -
  Litigation Settlement      -      -     71      -       71      -
                          -----  -----   ----  -----  -------  ------
Total Specials               -   (527)    42     15     (470)     -
                          -----  -----   ----  -----  -------  -----

(a)  Staff redesign project.
(b)  Includes $65 million for staff services redesign and $39
million for further restructuring of marketing and refining operations.
(c)  Includes $88 million for staff services redesign and $180
million for European refining.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                                   Table 4

                        MOBIL CORPORATION

<CAPTION>
                                      First Quarter
                              -----------------------------
CAPITAL AND EXPLORATION        1995       1996       Incr/
  EXPENDITURES ($MM)            Act        Est      (Decr)
                              -------    -------    -------
<S>                             <C>        <C>        <C>
Petroleum Operations
  E&P: United States
    Exploration Expenses          18          9         (9)
    Other Expenditures            95        109         14
                              -------    -------    -------
    Total E&P--U.S.              113        118          5
  International
    Exploration Expenses          77         67        (10)
    Other Expenditures           298        350         52
                              -------    -------    -------
    Total E&P--Int'l             375        417         42
                              -------    -------    -------
  Total E&P                      488        535         47

  M&R: United States             124         75        (49)
       International             143        225         82
                              -------    -------    -------
  Total M&R                      267        300         33
                              -------    -------    -------
Total Petroleum                  755        835         80

Chemical                          40         52         12
Other                             23         31          8
                              -------    -------    -------
Total Mobil Corporation          818        918        100
                              =======    =======    =======

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA ($MM)
  Total Revenues              17,627     18,694      1,067

  Depreciation, Depletion,
     and Amortization            669        655        (14)

  Income Taxes                   594        786        192

AVERAGE U.S. PRICES
  Crude  ($/BBL)               14.28      15.84       1.56
  NGL ($/BBL)                   9.83      11.58       1.75
  Natural Gas ($/MCF)           1.48       2.32       0.84

AVERAGE  INT'L. PRICES
  Crude  ($/BBL)               16.65      18.57       1.92
  Natural Gas ($/MCF)           2.48       2.51       0.03
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                                 Table 5

                       MOBIL CORPORATION
<CAPTION>

                                     First Quarter
                              ---------------------------
                               1995      1996      Incr/
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS           Act       Est      (Decr)
                              ------    ------    -------
<S>                            <C>       <C>         <C> 
NET PRODUCTION OF LIQUIDS (TBD)

  United States                 290       269        (21)

  Canada                         54        54          -
  Indonesia                      74        81          7
  Nigeria                       136       196         60
  Norway                         93        85         (8)
  United Kingdom                 78        67        (11)
  Other                          75        70         (5)
                              ------    ------    -------
  Total International           510       553         43
                              ------    ------    -------
  Worldwide                     800       822         22
                              ======    ======    =======

NET PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS (MMCFD)

  United States               1,494     1,428        (66)

  Canada                        491       447        (44)
  Germany                       477       526         49
  Indonesia                   1,653     1,656          3
  United Kingdom                733       909        176
  Other                         190       149        (41)
                              ------    ------    -------
  Total International         3,544     3,687        143
                              ------    ------    -------
  Worldwide                   5,038     5,115         77
                              ======    ======    =======
TOTAL NET
  PRODUCTION (TBDOE)          1,695     1,731         36
                              ======    ======    =======

NATURAL GAS SALES (MMCFD)
  United States
    Equity                    1,900     1,729       (171)
    Resale                    1,799     1,118       (681)
                              ------    ------    -------
  Total United States         3,699     2,847       (852)
  International               3,633     3,994        361
                              ------    ------    -------
  Worldwide                   7,332     6,841       (491)
                              ======    ======    =======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                                   Table 6

                       MOBIL CORPORATION

<CAPTION>
                                       First Quarter
                                ---------------------------
                                 1995      1996      Incr/
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS             Act       Est      (Decr)
                                ------    ------    -------
<S>                              <C>       <C>         <C>
REFINERY RUNS (TBD)
  Runs for and by Mobil
    United States                 904       877        (27)
    Europe                        419       309       (110)
    Asia-Pacific                  679       706         27
    All Other                     136       181         45
                                ------    ------    -------
    Total                       2,138     2,073        (65)
  Runs for Mobil by Others         10         9         (1)
                                ------    ------    -------
  Worldwide Runs for Mobil      2,148     2,082        (66)
                                ======    ======    =======

PETROLEUM PRODUCT SALES (TBD)
  United States
    Automotive Gasoline
    Sales to Trade                506       536         30
    Supply/Other Sales            191       166        (25)
                                ------    ------    -------

    Total Automotive Sales        697       702          5
    Distillates/Jet Fuel          350       364         14
    Other                         212       215          3
                                ------    ------    -------
    Total United States         1,259     1,281         22
  Europe                          757       736        (21)
  Asia-Pacific                    831       777        (54)
  All Other                       311       326         15
                                ------    ------    -------
  Worldwide                     3,158     3,120        (38)
                                ======    ======    =======

CHEMICAL SALES (MM LBS)
  Worldwide Polyethylene Resin    567       641         74

CHEMICAL SALES BY PRODUCT CATEGORY ($MM)
  Petrochemicals                  751       518       (233)
  Films Products                  189       180         (9)
  Chemical Products                33        28         (5)
  Other Plastics                  290        39       (251)
                                ------    ------    -------
    Total                       1,263       765       (498)
                                ======    ======    =======
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                                                   Exhibit 99-2

   Certain Petroleum Product Sales numbers in Table 6 of Mobil
Corporation's First Quarter Earnings release today were printed incorrectly.
The corrected numbers are marked with an asterisks.
<TABLE>

                                                   Table 6
                         MOBIL CORPORATION
<CAPTION>
                                  First Quarter
                         -------------------------------
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS      1995       1996        Incr/
                          Act        Est        (Decr)
                         -----     ------      --------  
<S>                         <C>       <C>          <C>   
REFINERY RUNS (TBD) 
 Runs for and by Mobil
   United States            904       877         (27)
   Europe                   419       309        (110)
   Asia-Pacific             679       706          27
   All Other                136       181          45
                          -----     ------      ------- 
   Total                  2,138     2,073         (65)
 Runs for Mobil by Others    10         9          (1)        
                          -----     ------      -------                      
 Worldwide Runs for Mobil 2,148     2,082         (66)
                          -----     ------      -------
PETROLEUM PRODUCT SALES
(TBD)
  United States
    Automotive Gasoline
    Sales to Trade           506       536        30
    Supply/Other Sales       191       166       (25)
                           -----     -----      -------
    Total Automotive Sales   697       702         5
    Distillates/Jet Fuel     350       364        14
    Other                    212       215         3
                           ------    -----      -------
    Total United States    1,259     1,281        22
   Europe                    757       821 *      64  *
   Asia-Pacific              831       819 *     (12) *
   All Other                 311       379 *      68  *  
                            -----     -----     -------
   WorldWide               3,158     3,300 *     142  *
                            =====   ======     ======

CHEMICAL SALES (MM LBS)
Worldwide Polyethylene       567       641        74
Resin

CHEMICAL SALES  ($MM)
BY PRODUCT CATEGORY ($MM)
  Petrochemicals              751      518      (233)
  Films Products              189      180        (9)
  Chemical Products            33       28        (5)
  Other Plastics              290       39      (251)
                            -----    -----     --------
   Total                    1,263      765      (498)
                            =====    =====     ======
</TABLE>



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