The decline in 2007 from 2006 was due primarily to normal field declines. The net liquids component of oil-equivalent production for 2008 averaged 421,000 barrels per day, down approximately 8 percent from 2007 and down 9 percent compared with 2006. Net natural gas production averaged 1.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2008, down 12 percent from 2007 and down 17 percent from 2006.

     Refer to the “Selected Operating Data” table on page FS-10 for the three-year comparative production volumes in the United States.

International Upstream – Exploration and Production

     International upstream income of $14.6 billion in 2008 increased $4.3 billion from 2007. Higher prices for crude oil and natural gas increased earnings by $4.9 billion. Partially offsetting the benefit of higher prices was an impact of about $1.8 billion associated with a reduction of crude-oil sales volumes due to timing of certain cargo liftings and higher depreciation and operating expenses. Foreign currency effects benefited earnings by $873 million in 2008, compared with reductions to earnings of $417 million in 2007 and $371 million in 2006.

     Income in 2007 of $10.3 billion increased $1.4 billion from 2006. Earnings in 2007 benefited approximately $1.6 billion from higher prices, primarily for crude oil, and $300 million from increased liftings. Non-recurring income-tax items also benefited earnings between periods. These benefits to income were partially offset by the impact of higher operating and depreciation expenses.

     The company’s average realization for crude oil and natural gas liquids in 2008 was $86.51 per barrel, compared with $65.01 in 2007 and $57.65 in 2006. The average natural gas realization was $5.19 per thousand cubic feet in 2008, compared with $3.90 and $3.73 in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

     Net oil-equivalent production of 1.86 million barrels per day in 2008 declined about 1 percent and 2 percent from 2007 and 2006, respectively. The volumes for each year included production from oil sands in Canada. Volumes in 2006 also included production under an operating service agreement in Venezuela until its conversion to a joint-stock company in October of that year. Absent the impact of higher prices on certain production-sharing and variable-royalty agreements, net oil-equivalent production increased between 2007 and 2008. The decline in 2007 from 2006 was associated with the impact of the contract conversion in Venezuela and the impact of higher prices on production-sharing agreements.

     The net liquids component of oil-equivalent production was 1.3 million barrels per day in 2008, a decrease of 5 percent from 2007 and 9 percent from 2006. Net natural gas production of 3.6 billion cubic feet per day in 2008 was up 9 percent and 15 percent from 2007 and 2006, respectively.

     Refer to the “Selected Operating Data” table, on page FS-10, for the three-year comparative of international production volumes.

U.S. Downstream – Refining, Marketing and Transportation

     U.S downstream earnings of $1.4 billion in 2008 increased about $400 million from 2007 due mainly to improved margins on the sale of refined products and gains on