据彭博新闻社2022年12月8日报道，美国第二大石油公司雪佛龙公司明年将额外拨出20亿美元用于资本支出，因为在政府呼吁美国能源行业将更多利润再投资页岩生产的情况下，雪佛龙公司将考虑向投资者提供更高的回报。  

这家美国石油巨头12月7日表示，该公司明年将耗费170亿美元。这是预测范围的上限； 这也比雪佛龙公司今年的计划支出高出13%。

明年美国二叠纪盆地将占到雪佛龙公司总支出的40亿美元。雪佛龙公司正在寻求加快美国页岩气生产，与过去十年的大部分时间主导的多年大型项目相比，页岩的风险较低，并能提供快速的财务回报。

雪佛龙公司表示，二叠纪盆地的支出假设是“低两位数的成本通胀”，而全球支出可能会以中等个位数的百分比增长。其低碳业务将获得20亿美元，是今年的两倍。 

雪佛龙公司首席执行官在一份声明中表示：“我们在投资增长传统和新能源供应的同时，也在保持资本纪律。”“尽管有通胀，但我们的资本支出预算仍与之前的指导相符。”  

雪佛龙公司明年的支出将大大高于2020年和2021年的疫情年份，但仍约为2012—2019年期间300亿美元年均水平的一半。

他表示，雪佛龙公司的支出比过去高效得多，这意味着该公司每投资一美元就能生产更多的石油。但与此同时，提高投资者回报的问题也日益受到关注。雪佛龙公司目前每个季度在股息和股票回购上花费65亿美元，或每年260亿美元，远远超过资本支出。  

12月7日，雪佛龙公司股价在纽约盘后交易中持平，收于每股172.52美元。雪佛龙公司股价今年已经上涨了47%。 

李峻 编译自 彭博新闻社

原文如下：

Chevron to invest $4 billion in Permian in 2023 to boost US shale production

Chevron Corp. will allocate an extra $2 billion to capital expenditures next year as it weighs demands for higher investor returns amid calls from President for the U.S. energy industry to reinvest more profits in production.

The U.S. oil giant said on Dec. 7 it will spend $17 billion in 2023. That’s at the top end of the forecast range; it’s also 13% above what the company plans to spend this year.

The Permian will account for $4 billion of the total spending next year. Chevron is seeking to accelerate U.S. shale production, which is low-risk and offers quick financial returns compared with the multi-year megaprojects that dominated much of the last decade.

According to Chevron, spending in the basin assumes “low double-digit cost inflation,” while global expenses are likely to rise in the mid-single digit percentages. Its low-carbon business will receive $2 billion, double the level this year.

“We’re maintaining capital discipline while investing to grow both traditional and new energy supplies,” Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said in a statement. “Our capex budgets remain in line with prior guidance despite inflation.”

Chevron’s spending next year will be considerably above the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, but still around half the $30 billion annual average of the 2012-2019 period.

Wirth has said Chevron’s spending is much more efficient than in the past, meaning the company produces more oil per dollar invested. But it also comes amid intensifying focus on improving investor returns. Chevron is currently spending $6.5 billion a quarter on dividends and share buybacks, or $26 billion a year, well in excess of capital spending.

Chevron’s shares were unchanged in after-market trading in New York on Wednesday, after closing at $172.52. They have gained 47% this year.