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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q
 
ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
OR
 o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____to_____

Commission file number: 001-07964

NBLLOGOUPDATED9302014A68.JPG

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
73-0785597
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. employer identification number)
1001 Noble Energy Way
 
 
Houston, Texas
 
77070
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(281) 872-3100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ý    No o 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes ý    No o
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller
reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o    No ý
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
 
NBL
 
New York Stock Exchange

As of March 31, 2019, there were 478,231,487 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.




TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
3
 
 
3
 
 
3
 
 
4
 
 
5
 
 
6
 
 
7
 
 
22
 
 
35
 
 
36
 
 
Part II. Other Information  
36
 
 
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings 
36
 
 
Item 1A.  Risk Factors 
36
 
 
36
 
 
36
 
 
36
 
 
Item 5.  Other Information
36
 
 
Item 6.  Exhibits 
37
 
 
38


2

Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Noble Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(millions, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues
 
 
 
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales
$
937

 
$
1,173

Sales of Purchased Oil and Gas
74

 
53

Other Revenue
41

 
60

Total
1,052

 
1,286

Costs and Expenses
 
 
 
Production Expense
305

 
319

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
508

 
468

General and Administrative
102

 
104

Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
87

 
57

Other Operating Expense, Net
49

 
50

Gain on Divestitures, Net

 
(588
)
Asset Impairments

 
168

Firm Transportation Exit Cost
92

 

Total
1,143

 
578

Operating (Expense) Income
(91
)
 
708

Other Expense
 
 
 
Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
212

 
79

Interest, Net of Amount Capitalized
66

 
73

Other Non-Operating Expense, Net
4

 
13

Total
282

 
165

(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
(373
)
 
543

Income Tax Benefit
(84
)
 
(31
)
Net (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income Including Noncontrolling Interests
(289
)
 
574

Less: Net Income and Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
24

 
20

Net (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income Attributable to Noble Energy
$
(313
)
 
$
554

 


 


Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Noble Energy Common Shareholders per Share
 
 
 
   Basic
$
(0.65
)
 
$
1.14

   Diluted
$
(0.65
)
 
$
1.14

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding
 
 
 
   Basic
478

 
487

   Diluted
478

 
488








The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

Table of Contents

Noble Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(millions)
(unaudited)
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$
528

 
$
716

Accounts Receivable, Net
573

 
616

Other Current Assets
142

 
418

Total Current Assets
1,243

 
1,750

Property, Plant and Equipment
 

 
 

Oil and Gas Properties (Successful Efforts Method of Accounting)
29,364

 
29,002

Property, Plant and Equipment, Other
1,012

 
891

Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross
30,376

 
29,893

Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
(11,675
)
 
(11,474
)
Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
18,701

 
18,419

Other Noncurrent Assets
1,376

 
841

Total Assets
$
21,320

 
$
21,010

LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 

Accounts Payable – Trade
$
1,284

 
$
1,207

Other Current Liabilities
659

 
519

Total Current Liabilities
1,943

 
1,726

Long-Term Debt
6,738

 
6,574

Deferred Income Taxes
961

 
1,061

Other Noncurrent Liabilities
1,438

 
1,165

Total Liabilities
$
11,080

 
$
10,526

Commitments and Contingencies

 


Mezzanine Equity
 
 
 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Net
$
97

 
$

Shareholders’ Equity
 

 
 

Preferred Stock – Par Value $1.00 per share; 4 Million Shares Authorized; None Issued

 

Common Stock – Par Value $0.01 per share; 1 Billion Shares Authorized; 522 Million and 520 Million Shares Issued, respectively
5

 
5

Additional Paid in Capital
8,219

 
8,203

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
(32
)
 
(32
)
Treasury Stock, at Cost; 39 Million Shares
(735
)
 
(730
)
Retained Earnings
1,614

 
1,980

Noble Energy Share of Equity
9,071

 
9,426

Noncontrolling Interests
1,072

 
1,058

Total Shareholders' Equity
10,143

 
10,484

Total Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Shareholders' Equity
$
21,320

 
$
21,010





The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

Noble Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(millions)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net (Loss) Income Including Noncontrolling Interests
$
(289
)
 
$
574

Adjustments to Reconcile Net (Loss) Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
 
 
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
508

 
468

Deferred Income Tax Benefit
(100
)
 
(157
)
Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
212

 
79

Net Cash Received (Paid) in Settlement of Commodity Derivative Instruments
14

 
(28
)
Other Adjustments for Noncash Items Included in Income
28

 
(2
)
Gain on Divestitures, Net

 
(588
)
Asset Impairments

 
168

Firm Transportation Exit Cost
92

 

Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
 
 
 
Decrease in Accounts Receivable
9

 
89

Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable
106

 
(33
)
Increase in Current Income Taxes Payable
45

 
14

Other Current Assets and Liabilities, Net
(52
)
 
(18
)
Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net
(45
)
 
17

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
528


583

Cash Flows From Investing Activities
 
 
 
Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment
(763
)
 
(787
)
Acquisitions, Net of Cash Received

 
(650
)
Additions to Equity Method Investments
(271
)
 

Proceeds from Divestitures, Net
123

 
865

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(911
)

(572
)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility
50

 
245

Repayment of Revolving Credit Facility
(50
)
 
(475
)
Proceeds from Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility
345

 
405

Repayment of Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility
(175
)
 
(55
)
Dividends Paid, Common Stock
(53
)
 
(48
)
Purchase and Retirement of Common Stock

 
(67
)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest Owners
10

 
333

Proceeds from Issuance of Mezzanine Equity, Net of Offering Costs
99

 

Other
(32
)
 
(40
)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
194


298

(Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
(189
)

309

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period
719

 
713

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period
$
530

 
$
1,022



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

Table of Contents

Noble Energy, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(millions)
(unaudited)

 
Attributable to Noble Energy
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid in Capital
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
Treasury Stock at Cost
 
Retained Earnings
 
Non- controlling Interests
 
Total Equity
December 31, 2018
$
5

 
$
8,203

 
$
(32
)
 
$
(730
)
 
$
1,980

 
$
1,058

 
$
10,484

Net (Loss) Income

 

 

 

 
(313
)
 
24

 
(289
)
Stock-based Compensation

 
14

 

 

 

 

 
14

Dividends (11 cents per share)

 

 

 

 
(53
)
 

 
(53
)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Owners

 

 

 

 

 
(17
)
 
(17
)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest Owners

 

 

 

 

 
10

 
10

Other

 
2

 

 
(5
)
 

 
(3
)
 
(6
)
March 31, 2019
$
5

 
$
8,219

 
$
(32
)
 
$
(735
)
 
$
1,614

 
$
1,072

 
$
10,143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
$
5

 
$
8,438

 
$
(30
)
 
$
(725
)
 
$
2,248

 
$
683

 
$
10,619

Net Income

 

 

 

 
554

 
20

 
574

Stock-based Compensation

 
17

 

 

 

 

 
17

Dividends (10 cents per share)

 

 

 

 
(48
)
 

 
(48
)
Purchase and Retirement of Common Stock

 
(67
)
 

 

 

 

 
(67
)
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition

 
(25
)
 

 

 

 

 
(25
)
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Owners

 

 

 

 

 
(11
)
 
(11
)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest Owners

 

 

 

 

 
331

 
331

Other

 

 
1

 
(6
)
 

 
2

 
(3
)
March 31, 2018
$
5

 
$
8,363

 
$
(29
)
 
$
(731
)
 
$
2,754

 
$
1,025

 
$
11,387




















The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6

Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


Note 1. Organization and Nature of Operations
Noble Energy, Inc. (Noble Energy, we or us) is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide crude oil and natural gas exploration and production. Our historical operating areas include: US onshore, primarily the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, Delaware Basin and Eagle Ford Shale; US offshore Gulf of Mexico (until April 2018); Eastern Mediterranean; and West Africa. Our Midstream segment develops, owns and operates domestic midstream infrastructure assets, as well as invests in other midstream projects, with current focus areas being the DJ and Delaware Basins.
Note 2. Basis of Presentation
Presentation   The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US (US GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 contain all normally recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and equity for such periods. Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. For the periods presented, net income is materially consistent with comprehensive income or loss.
Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019.
These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Consolidation   Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts, the accounts of subsidiaries which Noble Energy wholly owns, and the accounts of Noble Midstream Partners LP (Noble Midstream Partners), which is considered a variable interest entity (VIE) for which Noble Energy is the primary beneficiary. In addition, we use the equity method of accounting for investments in entities that we do not control, but over which we exert significant influence. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. 
Estimates   The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires us to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Management evaluates estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic and commodity price environment.
Leases We determine whether an arrangement contains a lease based on the conveyed rights and obligations at the inception date. If an agreement contains an operating or financing lease, at the commencement date, we record a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a corresponding lease liability based on the present value of the minimum lease payments.
As most of our leases do not provide an implicit borrowing rate, to determine the present value of lease payments, we use our hypothetical secured borrowing rate based on information available at lease commencement. Further, we make a number of estimates and judgments regarding the lease term and lease payments.
Lease Term Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Most leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one month to one year or more. Additionally, some of our leases include an option for early termination. We include renewal periods and exclude termination periods from our lease term if, at commencement, it is reasonably likely that we will exercise the option.
Lease Payments Certain of our lease agreements include rental payments that are adjusted periodically for inflation or passage of time. These step payments are included within our present value calculation as they are known adjustments at commencement. Some of our lease agreements include variable payments that are excluded from our present value calculation. For example, drilling rig ROU assets and lease liabilities are recorded using the contractual standby rate, which is the fixed, minimum monthly payment, as opposed to the operating rate, which varies depending on the asset's use.
Additionally, we have lease agreements that include lease and non-lease components, such as equipment maintenance, which are generally accounted for as a single lease component. For these leases, lease payments include all fixed payments stated within the contract. For office space, lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees that would impact our lease payments.

7

Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Revenue Recognition   We recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer, using a five-step process, in accordance with ASC 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606).
Under ASC 606, remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price of firm sales arrangements for which volumes have not been delivered. In Israel, certain of our Tamar natural gas contracts have fixed annual sales volumes and fixed base pricing with annual index escalations. The following table includes estimated revenues, as of March 31, 2019, for those agreements. Our actual future sales volumes may exceed future minimum volume commitments.
(millions)
Remainder of 2019
 
2020
 
Total
Natural Gas Revenues (1)
$
108

 
$
116

 
$
224

(1) 
The remaining performance obligations are estimated using the contractual base or floor price provision in effect. Future revenues under these contracts will vary from the amounts above due to components of variable consideration exceeding the contractual base or floor price provision.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest On March 25, 2019, Noble Midstream Partners secured a $200 million equity commitment (preferred equity) from Global Infrastructure Partners Capital Solutions Fund (GIP), of which $100 million has been funded, with associated offering costs of $3 million. The preferred equity was recorded initially at fair value on the issuance date. As GIP’s redemption right is outside of Noble Midstream Partners' control, the preferred equity is not considered to be a component of equity on the consolidated balance sheet, and such preferred equity is reported as mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheet. In addition, because the preferred equity was issued by a subsidiary of Noble Midstream Partners and is held by a third party, it is considered a redeemable noncontrolling interest. Subsequent to issuance, we accrete changes in the redemption value of the preferred equity from the date of issuance to the earliest redemption date of the preferred equity. Accretion for first quarter 2019 was also de minimis. See Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Financial Instruments: Credit Losses In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 (ASU 2016-13): Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses. The update is intended to provide financial statement users with more useful information about expected credit losses. The amended standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and shall be applied using a modified retrospective approach. From evaluation of our current credit portfolio, which includes receivables for commodity sales, joint interest billings due from partners and other receivables, historical credit losses have been de minimis and we believe that our expected future credit losses will not be significant. As such, based on our current portfolio, we do not believe adoption of the standard will have a material impact on our financial statements. As our implementation team progresses assessment, we will continue to monitor changes in our credit portfolio in light of the provisions in ASU 2016-13.
Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-15 (ASU 2018-15): Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software, to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The amended standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2018-15.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02), which created Topic 842 – Leases (ASC 842). The standard requires lessees to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by leases. ASC 842 also requires disclosures designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This standard does not apply to leases to explore for or use minerals, oil, natural gas or similar nonregenerative resources, including the intangible right to explore for those resources and rights to use the land in in which those natural resources are contained.
The new standard provided a number of optional practical expedients. We elected:
the package of transition “practical expedients”, permitting us not to reassess our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs;
the practical expedient pertaining to land easements, allowing us to account for existing land easements under previous accounting policy; and
the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for the majority of our leases (elected by asset class).

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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

We adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and, therefore, prior period financial statements were not adjusted. At adoption, we recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities of $282 million and $287 million, respectively, primarily related to operating leases. The difference between amounts recorded for ROU assets and amounts recorded for lease liabilities totaled $5 million. This amount was recognized as other operating expense. Our accounting for finance leases remains substantially unchanged. Adoption did not materially impact our consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income and had no impact on our consolidated statement of cash flows. See Note 8. Leases.
Derivatives and Hedging – Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12 (ASU 2017-12): Derivatives and Hedging – Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The update is intended to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. In addition to that main objective, ASU 2017-12 makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current US GAAP. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019. The adoption did not have an impact on our financial statements.
Statements of Operations Information   Other statements of operations information is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Other Revenue
 
 
 
Income from Equity Method Investees
$
17

 
$
47

Midstream Services Revenues – Third Party
24

 
13

Total
$
41

 
$
60

Production Expense
 
 
 
Lease Operating Expense
$
151

 
$
155

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
49

 
54

Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense
102

 
93

Other Royalty Expense
3

 
17

Total
$
305

 
$
319

Other Operating Expense, Net
 
 
 
Exploration Expense
$
24

 
$
35

Other, Net
25

 
15

Total
$
49

 
$
50




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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Balance Sheet Information   Other balance sheet information is as follows:
(millions)
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Accounts Receivable, Net
 
 
 
Commodity Sales
$
384

 
$
383

Joint Interest Billings
124

 
137

Other
80

 
111

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
(15
)
 
(15
)
Total
$
573

 
$
616

Other Current Assets
 

 
 

Commodity Derivative Assets
$
9

 
$
180

Inventories, Materials and Supplies
70

 
55

Assets Held for Sale (1)

 
133

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
63

 
50

Total
$
142

 
$
418

Other Noncurrent Assets
 

 
 

Equity Method Investments (2)
$
559

 
$
286

Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets (3)
273

 

Customer-Related Intangible Assets, Net (4)
302

 
310

Goodwill (4)
110

 
110

Other Assets, Noncurrent
132

 
135

Total
$
1,376

 
$
841

Other Current Liabilities
 

 
 

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
$
106

 
$
103

Asset Retirement Obligations
118

 
118

Interest Payable
85

 
66

Other Liabilities, Current
350

 
232

Total
$
659

 
$
519

Other Noncurrent Liabilities
 

 
 

Deferred Compensation Liabilities
$
149

 
$
147

Asset Retirement Obligations
749

 
762

Operating Lease Liabilities (3)
194

 

Firm Transportation Exit Cost Accrual (5)
156

 
67

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
88

 
83

Other Liabilities, Noncurrent
102

 
106

Total
$
1,438

 
$
1,165

(1) 
Assets held for sale at December 31, 2018 include assets related to the first quarter 2019 divestiture of non-core acreage in Reeves County, Texas. See Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
(2) 
The 2019 amount includes Noble Midstream Partners' $227 million investment in EPIC Y-Grade, LP and EPIC Crude Holdings, LP and $38 million investment in Delaware Crossing LLC. See Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
(3) 
Amounts relate to assets and liabilities recorded as a result of ASC 842 adoption in first quarter 2019. See Note 8. Leases.
(4) 
Amounts relate to assets acquired in the first quarter 2018 Saddle Butte Acquisition. Intangible asset amounts at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are net of accumulated amortization of $38 million and $30 million, respectively. See Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
(5) 
See Note 9. Exit Cost – Transportation Commitments.

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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Total Cash We define total cash as cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. The following table provides a reconciliation of total cash:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
$
716

 
$
675

Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period
3

 
38

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period
$
719

 
$
713

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
$
528

 
$
992

Restricted Cash at End of Period
2

 
30

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period
$
530

 
$
1,022


Note 3. Segment Information
We have the following reportable segments: United States (US onshore and Gulf of Mexico (until April 2018)); Eastern Mediterranean (Israel and Cyprus); West Africa (Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Gabon); Other International (Canada and New Ventures, including Colombia); and Midstream. The Midstream segment includes the consolidated accounts of Noble Midstream Partners and other US onshore midstream assets.
The geographical reportable segments are in the business of crude oil and natural gas acquisition and exploration, development, and production (Oil and Gas Exploration and Production). The Midstream reportable segment develops, owns, and operates domestic midstream infrastructure assets, as well as invests in other midstream projects. The chief operating decision maker analyzes income before income taxes to assess the performance of Noble Energy's reportable segments as management believes this measure provides useful information in assessing our operating and financial performance across periods.
Corporate level expenses include debt, headquarters depreciation, corporate general and administrative expenses, exit costs and certain costs associated with mitigating the effects of our retained Marcellus Shale firm transportation agreements.
 
 
 
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
 
Midstream
 
 
(millions)
Consolidated
 
United States
 
Eastern Mediter-ranean
 
West Africa
 
Other Int'l
 
United States
 
Intersegment Eliminations and Other (1)
 
Corporate
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crude Oil Sales
$
612

 
$
545

 
$
1

 
$
66

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

NGL Sales
96

 
96

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Sales
229

 
108

 
117

 
4

 

 

 

 

Total Crude Oil, NGL and Natural Gas Sales
937

 
749

 
118

 
70

 

 

 

 

Sales of Purchased Oil and Gas
74

 
14

 

 

 

 
33

 

 
27

Income from Equity Method Investees
17

 

 

 
15

 

 
2

 

 

Midstream Services Revenues  Third Party
24

 

 

 

 

 
24

 

 

Intersegment Revenues

 

 

 

 

 
106

 
(106
)
 

Total Revenues
1,052

 
763

 
118

 
85

 

 
165

 
(106
)
 
27

Lease Operating Expense
151

 
125

 
10

 
24

 

 
1

 
(9
)
 

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
49

 
47

 

 

 

 
2

 

 

Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense
102

 
142

 

 

 

 
29

 
(69
)
 

Other Royalty Expense
3

 
3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production Expense
305

 
317

 
10

 
24

 

 
32

 
(78
)
 

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
508

 
439

 
16

 
20

 

 
25

 
(7
)
 
15



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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 
 
 
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
 
Midstream
 
 
(millions)
Consolidated
 
United States
 
Eastern Mediter-ranean
 
West Africa
 
Other Int'l
 
United States
 
Intersegment Eliminations and Other (1)
 
Corporate
Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
87

 
14

 

 

 

 
31

 

 
42

Firm Transportation Exit Cost
92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
92

Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
212

 
188

 

 
24

 

 

 

 

(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
(373
)
 
(247
)
 
84

 
11

 
(16
)
 
73

 
(14
)
 
(264
)
Additions to Long-Lived Assets, Excluding Acquisitions
712

 
511

 
132

 
5

 
10

 
66

 
(23
)
 
11

Investments in Equity Method Investees
271

 

 

 

 

 
271

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crude Oil Sales
$
773

 
$
682

 
$
2

 
$
89

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

NGL Sales
146

 
146

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas Sales
254

 
120

 
129

 
5

 

 

 

 

Total Crude Oil, NGL and Natural Gas Sales
1,173

 
948

 
131

 
94

 

 

 

 

Sales of Purchased Oil and Gas
53

 

 

 

 

 
22

 

 
31

Income from Equity Method Investees
47

 

 

 
35

 

 
12

 

 

Midstream Services Revenues  Third Party
13

 

 

 

 

 
13

 

 

Intersegment Revenues

 

 

 

 

 
81

 
(81
)
 

Total Revenues
1,286

 
948

 
131

 
129

 

 
128

 
(81
)
 
31

Lease Operating Expense
155

 
126

 
7

 
22

 

 

 

 

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
54

 
53

 

 

 

 
1

 

 

Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense
93

 
128

 

 

 

 
20

 
(53
)
 

Other Royalty Expense
17

 
17

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production Expense
319

 
324

 
7

 
22

 

 
21

 
(53
)
 

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
468

 
404

 
13

 
26

 

 
17

 
(3
)
 
11

Gain on Divestitures, Net
(588
)
 
(6
)
 
(386
)
 

 

 
(196
)
 

 

Asset Impairments
168

 
168

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
57

 

 

 

 

 
21

 

 
36

Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
79

 
64

 

 
15

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
543

 
(43
)
 
473

 
64

 
(9
)
 
247

 
(15
)
 
(174
)
Additions to Long-Lived Assets, Excluding Acquisitions
905

 
534

 
147

 
2

 
2

 
242

 
(32
)
 
10

March 31, 2019
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
$
18,701

 
$
13,145

 
$
2,728

 
$
736

 
$
119

 
$
1,801

 
$
(162
)
 
$
334

December 31, 2018
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
$
18,419

 
$
13,044

 
$
2,630

 
$
805

 
$
37

 
$
1,742

 
$
(145
)
 
$
306



12

Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(1) 
The intersegment eliminations related to income before income taxes are the result of midstream expenditures.  These costs are presented as property, plant and equipment within the E&P business on an unconsolidated basis, in accordance with the successful efforts method of accounting, and are eliminated upon consolidation.
Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures
We maintain an ongoing portfolio management program and have engaged in various transactions over recent years.
2019 Asset Transactions
Divestiture of Reeves County Assets In February 2019, we closed the sale of certain proved and unproved non-core acreage in the Delaware Basin totaling approximately 13,000 net acres in southwestern Reeves County, Texas. We received cash consideration of $131 million, recognizing no gain or loss on the sale.
EPIC Pipelines In first quarter 2019, Noble Midstream Partners exercised and closed options with EPIC Midstream Holdings, LP (EPIC) to acquire a 15% equity interest in EPIC Y-Grade, LP (EPIC Y-Grade), which is constructing the EPIC Y-grade pipeline from the Delaware Basin to Corpus Christi, Texas, and a 30% equity interest in EPIC Crude Holdings, LP (EPIC Crude Holdings), which is constructing the EPIC crude oil pipeline also from the Delaware Basin to Corpus Christi, Texas. Cash consideration totaled $227 million. These investments are accounted for using the equity method.
Also, on March 25, 2019, Noble Midstream Partners secured a $200 million preferred equity commitment from GIP to fund capital contributions to Dos Rios Crude Intermediate LLC, a subsidiary formed by Noble Midstream Partners to hold the 30% equity interest in EPIC Crude Holdings. GIP funded $100 million and the remaining $100 million is available for a one-year period, subject to certain conditions precedent. The preferred equity is perpetual and has a 6.5% annual dividend rate, payable quarterly in cash, with the ability to defer payment during the first two years following the closing. In addition, Noble Midstream Partners can redeem the preferred equity in whole or in part at any time for cash at a predetermined redemption price. GIP can request redemption of the preferred equity following the later of the sixth anniversary of the preferred equity closing or the fifth anniversary of the EPIC crude oil pipeline completion date at a pre-determined base return. Proceeds from the preferred equity issuance were used to repay a portion of outstanding borrowings under the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility, which were drawn to fund its exercise of the option to invest in EPIC Crude Holdings. See Note. 2 Basis of Presentation and Note 13. Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
Delaware Crossing Joint Venture In February 2019, Noble Midstream Partners executed definitive agreements with Salt Creek Midstream LLC (Salt Creek) to form a 50/50 joint venture, Delaware Crossing LLC (Delaware Crossing), to construct a 160 MBbl/d day crude oil pipeline system in the Delaware Basin. As Salt Creek had commenced construction of the pipeline prior to formation of the joint venture, Noble Midstream Partners made capital contributions of $38 million at closing. This investment is accounted for using the equity method.
Other Divestitures, Net In first quarter 2019, we also closed the sales of certain other non-core US onshore properties which resulted in net payments of approximately $8 million.
2018 Asset Transactions
Divestiture of Gulf of Mexico Assets  In February 2018, we announced plans to sell our Gulf of Mexico assets for cash consideration of $480 million, along with the assumption, by the purchaser, of all abandonment obligations associated with the properties. As of March 31, 2018, we reduced the net book value of the Gulf of Mexico assets to $480 million. In addition, we retained certain transaction related obligations approximating $92 million which were subsequently settled upon closing. During first quarter 2018, we recorded impairment expense of $168 million associated with these assets held for sale. The transaction closed in second quarter 2018.
Divestiture of 7.5% Interest in Tamar Field In March 2018, we closed the sale of a 7.5% working interest in the Tamar field to Tamar Petroleum Ltd., a publicly traded entity on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (Tamar Petroleum, TASE: TMRP). Total consideration included cash of $487 million and 38.5 million shares of Tamar Petroleum that had a publicly traded value of $224 million. Total consideration received from the sale was applied to the field's basis and resulted in the recognition of a pre-tax gain of $386 million and tax expense of $90 million.
In October 2018, we sold our shares in Tamar Petroleum. The sale was in accordance with the terms of the Israel Natural Gas Framework and completed our obligation to reduce our ownership interest in the Tamar field from 32.5% to 25% by year-end 2021.
Divestiture of Southwest Royalties In January 2018, we closed the sale of our investment in Southwest Royalties, Inc. We received proceeds of $60 million, recognizing no gain or loss on the sale.
Divestiture of Marcellus Shale CONE Gathering In January 2018, we closed the sale of our 50% interest in CONE Gathering LLC (CONE Gathering) to CNX Resources Corporation. CONE Gathering owns the general partner of CNX Midstream

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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Partners LP (CNX Midstream Partners, NYSE: CNXM). We received proceeds of $308 million in cash and recognized a pre-tax gain of $196 million. After the sale, we held 21.7 million common units, representing a 33.5% limited partner interest, in CNX Midstream Partners, which were subsequently divested in 2018.
Noble Midstream Partners Saddle Butte Acquisition In January 2018, Noble Midstream Partners acquired a 54.4% interest in Black Diamond Gathering LLC (Black Diamond), an entity formed by Black Diamond Gathering Holdings LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble Midstream Partners, and Greenfield Midstream, LLC (Greenfield), which completed the acquisition of Saddle Butte Rockies Midstream, LLC and affiliates (collectively, Saddle Butte) from Saddle Butte Pipeline II, LLC. Saddle Butte owned a large-scale integrated gathering system, located in the DJ Basin, which we subsequently renamed the Black Diamond gathering system. Consideration totaled $681 million and Black Diamond is consolidated as a VIE.
We accounted for the transaction as a business combination using the acquisition method. The total purchase price was allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on acquisition date fair values, and we recognized goodwill for the amount of the purchase price exceeding the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. The final purchase price allocation included: $206 million to property, plant and equipment; $340 million to customer-related intangible assets (acquired customer contracts); and $110 million to implied goodwill.
Other Divestitures, Net In first quarter 2018, we also closed the sales of other non-core US onshore properties and received net cash consideration of approximately $10 million, recording a gain of $6 million.
Note 5. Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs and Undeveloped Leasehold Costs
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs We capitalize exploratory well costs until a determination is made that the well has found proved reserves or is deemed noncommercial. On a quarterly basis, we review the status of suspended exploratory well costs and assess the development of these projects. If a well is deemed to be noncommercial, the well costs are charged to exploration expense as dry hole cost.
There were no significant changes to our capitalized exploratory well costs during the period. The following table provides an aging of capitalized exploratory well costs based on the date that drilling commenced:
(millions, except number of projects)
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period of One Year or Less
$
9

 
$
6

Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling
350

 
348

Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs, End of Period
$
359

 
$
354

Number of Projects with Exploratory Well Costs That Have Been Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling
7

 
7



Undeveloped Leasehold Costs Undeveloped leasehold costs are derived from allocated fair values as a result of business combinations or other purchases of unproved properties and are subject to impairment testing. We reclassify undeveloped leasehold costs to proved property costs when, as a result of exploration and development activities, probable and possible resources are reclassified to proved reserves, including proved undeveloped reserves. On the other hand, if, based upon a change in exploration plans, timing and extent of development activities, availability of capital and suitable rig and drilling equipment, resource potential, comparative economics, changing regulations and/or other factors, an impairment is indicated, we record impairment expense related to the respective leases or licenses.

Changes in undeveloped leasehold costs were as follows:
(millions)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Undeveloped Leasehold Costs, Beginning of Period
$
2,306

Additions to Undeveloped Leasehold Costs
47

Transfers to Proved Properties

Assets Sold
(2
)
Undeveloped Leasehold Costs, End of Period
$
2,351


As of March 31, 2019, undeveloped leasehold costs included $2.1 billion, $100 million, $70 million, and $59 million attributable to the Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, other US onshore properties and international properties, respectively.

14

Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Certain of these costs pertain to acquired leases or licenses that are subject to expiration over the next several years unless production is established on units containing the acreage. Other costs pertain to acreage that is being held by production.
Note 6. Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations (ARO) consist primarily of estimated costs of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation and similar activities associated with our oil and gas properties. Changes in ARO are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Asset Retirement Obligations, Beginning Balance
$
880

 
$
875

Liabilities Incurred
2

 
2

Liabilities Settled
(27
)
 
(20
)
Revisions of Estimates

 
(11
)
Reclassification to Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Sale

 
(227
)
Accretion Expense
12

 
9

Asset Retirement Obligations, Ending Balance
$
867

 
$
628


Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Liabilities settled of $27 million relate to abandonment of US onshore properties, primarily in the DJ Basin where we have engaged in a program to plug and abandon older vertical wells. Costs associated with these abandonment activities will be incurred over several years.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 We transferred $227 million of ARO liabilities related to Gulf of Mexico properties to liabilities associated with assets held for sale. Liabilities settled include $20 million related to abandonment of US onshore properties, primarily in the DJ Basin. Revisions of estimates relate to decreases in cost and timing estimates of $11 million associated with the North Sea abandonment project.
Note 7. Debt
Debt consists of the following:
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
(millions, except percentages)
Debt
 
Interest Rate

 
Debt
 
Interest Rate
Revolving Credit Facility, due March 9, 2023 (1)
$

 
%
 
$

 
%
Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility, due March 9, 2023 (2)
230

 
3.66
%
 
60

 
3.67
%
Noble Midstream Services Term Loan Credit Facility, due July 31, 2021
500

 
3.41
%
 
500

 
3.42
%
Senior Notes and Debentures
5,892

 
(3 
) 
 
5,892

 
(3 
) 
Finance Lease Obligations (4)
215

 
%
 
223

 
%
Total
6,837

 
 
 
6,675

 
 
Net Unamortized Discounts and Debt Issuance Costs
(58
)
 
 
 
(60
)
 
 
Total Debt
6,779

 
 
 
6,615

 
 
Less Amounts Due Within One Year
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance Lease Obligations (4)
(41
)
 
 
 
(41
)
 
 
Long-Term Debt Due After One Year
$
6,738

 
 
 
$
6,574

 
 

(1) 
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Revolving Credit Facility had $4.0 billion of capacity and the entire amount was available for borrowing.
(2) 
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility had $800 million of capacity. Amounts available for borrowing at totaled $570 million and $740 million, respectively.
(3) 
The Senior Notes and Debentures have weighted average interest rates of 5.01% for both March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
(4) 
See Note 8. Leases.

Commercial Paper Program In first quarter 2019, we established a commercial paper program to provide for short-term funding needs. The program allows for a maximum of $4.0 billion of unsecured commercial paper notes and is supported by

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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Noble Energy’s Revolving Credit Facility. Commercial paper generally has a maturity of between 1 and 90 days, although it can have a maturity of up to 397 days. The commercial paper is sold under customary terms in the commercial paper market and notes are either issued at a discounted price relative to the principal face value or will bear interest at varying interest rates on a fixed or floating basis. Such discounted prices or interest amounts are dependent on market conditions and ratings assigned to the commercial paper program by credit agencies at the time of commercial paper issuance. No borrowings or repayments occurred during first quarter 2019 under the commercial paper program.
Fair Value of Debt See Note 13. Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
Note 8. Leases
In the normal course of business, we enter into operating and finance lease agreements to support our operations. Operating leases include primarily office space for our corporate and field locations, US onshore compressors and drilling rigs, vessels and helicopters for offshore operations, storage facilities, and other miscellaneous assets. Finance leases include corporate office space, a trunkline in the DJ Basin, a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) in West Africa, and vehicles. Our leasing activity is recorded and presented on a gross basis, with the exception of the FPSO which is recorded net to our interest.
Balance Sheet Information ROU assets and lease liabilities are as follows:
(millions)
Balance Sheet Location
March 31, 2019
ROU Assets
 
 
Operating Leases (1)
Other Noncurrent Assets
$
273

Finance Leases (2)
Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
179

Total ROU Assets
 
$
452

Lease Liabilities
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
Operating Leases
Other Current Liabilities
$
86

Finance Leases
Other Current Liabilities
41

Noncurrent Liabilities
 
 
Operating Leases
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
194

Finance Leases
Long-Term Debt
174

Total Lease Liabilities
 
$
495

(1) 
Operating lease ROU assets include primarily office space of $107 million, compressors of $87 million, and drilling rigs of $40 million.
(2) 
Finance lease ROU assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $449 million as of March 31, 2019. Assets include primarily office space of $96 million, net.

Statement of Operations Information The components of lease cost are as follows:
(millions)
Statement of Operations Location
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Operating Lease Cost
(1) 
$
25

Finance Lease Cost
 
 
Amortization Expense on ROU Assets
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
8

Interest Expense on Lease Liabilities
Interest, Net of Amount Capitalized
3

Short-term Lease Cost (2)
(1) 
126

Variable Lease Cost (3)
(1) 

Sublease Income
General and Administrative
(1
)
Total Lease Cost
 
$
161

(1) 
Cost classification varies depending on the leased asset. Costs are primarily included within production expense and general and administrative expense. In addition, in accordance with the successful efforts method of accounting, certain lease costs may be capitalized when incurred, as part of oil and gas properties on our consolidated balance sheet.
(2) 
Short-term lease costs relate primarily to hydraulic fracturing services, well-to-well drilling rig contracts and other miscellaneous lease agreements. Amount excludes costs for leases with a term of one month or less.
(3) 
Variable lease costs were de minimis for first quarter 2019.

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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


Cash Flow Information Supplemental cash flow information is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
(millions)
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
Cash Paid for Amounts Included in the Measurement of Lease Liabilities
 
 
 
Operating Cash Flows
$
15

 
$
3

Financing Cash Flows

 
10

Investing Cash Flows
9

 

ROU Assets Obtained in Exchange for Lease Liabilities (1)
34

 
2

(1) 
Amounts exclude the impact from adopting ASC 842 on January 1, 2019. See Note 2. Basis of Presentation.

Maturity of Lease Liabilities Maturities of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2019 are as follows:
(millions)
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
 
Total
Remainder of 2019
$
73

 
$
37

 
$
110

2020
83

 
47

 
130

2021
47

 
32

 
79

2022
32

 
22

 
54

2023
19

 
20

 
39

2024 and Thereafter
67

 
105

 
172

Total Lease Liabilities, Undiscounted
321

 
263

 
584

Less: Imputed Interest
41

 
48

 
 
Total Lease Liabilities (1)
$
280

 
$
215

 
 
(1) 
Includes the current portion of $86 million and $41 million for operating and finance leases, respectively.

Lease commitments as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:
(millions)
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
 
Total
2019
$
91

 
$
52

 
$
143

2020
74

 
46

 
120

2021
59

 
31

 
90

2022
62

 
22

 
84

2023
50

 
20

 
70

2024 and Thereafter
176

 
104

 
280

Total Lease Liabilities, Undiscounted
$
512

 
$
275

 
$
787



Other Information Other information related to our leases is as follows:
 
March 31, 2019
Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term
 
Operating Leases
6.7 years

Finance Leases
8.0 years

Weighted-Average Discount Rate
 
Operating Leases
4.45
%
Finance Leases
5.61
%


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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 9. Exit Cost – Transportation Commitments
In connection with the divestiture of Marcellus Shale upstream assets in 2017, we retained certain financial commitments on pipelines flowing natural gas production inside and outside of the Marcellus Basin. These financial commitments represent commitments to pay transportation fees; thus, we have no commitment to physically transport minimum volumes of natural gas.
Since closing, we have continued efforts to commercialize these firm transportation commitments, including permanent assignment of capacity, negotiation of capacity releases, utilization of capacity through purchase and transport of third-party natural gas, and other potential arrangements. In the event we execute a permanent assignment of capacity, we no longer have a contractual obligation to the pipeline company and, as such, our gross contractual commitment is reduced. In the event we execute a capacity release or utilize capacity through the purchase and transport of natural gas, we remain the primary obligor to the pipeline company. While our gross contractual commitment is not reduced, except through use under those arrangements, we would receive future cash payments from the third-parties with whom we negotiated a capacity release or from the sale of purchased natural gas to third-parties.
As of March 31, 2019, our gross retained firm transportation commitment for the remaining obligations under these agreements, which have remaining terms of approximately four to fourteen years, is approximately $1.1 billion, undiscounted.
Leach Xpress and Rayne Xpress Permanent Assignment In January 2019, we executed agreements on the Leach Xpress and Rayne Xpress pipelines to permanently assign remaining capacity to a third-party effective January 1, 2021, extending through the end of the contract. The permanent assignment reduced our total financial commitment by approximately $350 million, undiscounted. As a result of the assignment, we recorded firm transportation exit cost of $92 million, discounted, related to future commitments to the third party. We will continue efforts to mitigate the impact of these transportation agreements during 2019 and 2020.
Financial Statement Impact In addition to the retained firm transportation commitments, we have the following accrued discounted liabilities associated with exit cost activities, including the permanent assignment described above:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Balance at Beginning of Period (1)
$
80

 
$
90

Firm Transportation Exit Cost Accrual
92

 

Payments, Net of Accretion
(5
)
 
(6
)
Balance at End of Period
167


84

Less: Current Portion Included in Other Current Liabilities
11

 
11

Long-term Portion Included in Other Noncurrent Liabilities at End of Period
$
156

 
$
73

(1) 
Balances include current accruals of $13 million which are included in other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.
Revenues and expenses associated with capacity release agreements and purchases and sales of natural gas are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
Statements of Operations Location
2019
 
2018
Sales of Purchased Gas
Sales of Purchased Oil and Gas
$
27

 
$
31

Cost of Purchased Gas and Related Expense
 
 
 
 
Cost of Purchased of Gas
Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
27

 
30

Utilized Firm Transportation Expense (1)
Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
15

 
5

Unutilized Firm Transportation Expense
Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas

 
1

Cost of Purchased Gas and Related Expense, Total
Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
$
42

 
$
36

(1) 
Includes the net impact of the difference in the firm transportation contract rates and rates agreed to in the capacity releases, as well as transportation expenses associated with transport of purchased natural gas.
Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings   We are involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. These proceedings are subject to the uncertainties inherent in any litigation. We are defending ourselves vigorously in all such matters, and we believe that the ultimate disposition of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Colorado Air Matter In April 2015, we entered into a joint consent decree (Consent Decree) with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Justice, and State of Colorado to improve emission control systems at a number of our condensate storage tanks that are part of our upstream crude oil and natural gas operations within the Non-Attainment Area of the DJ Basin. The Consent Decree, entered by the US District Court for the District of Colorado on June 2, 2015, requires us to perform certain corrective actions, to complete mitigation projects and supplemental environmental projects (SEP), and to pay a civil penalty. Costs associated with the settlement consist of $5 million in civil penalties which were paid in 2015. Mitigation costs of $5 million, SEP costs of $4 million, and costs associated with the injunctive relief are being expended in accordance with schedules established in the Consent Decree. Since 2015, we have incurred approximately $84 million, of which $78 million was incurred to undertake corrective actions at certain tank systems following the outcome of adequacy of design evaluations and certain operation and maintenance activities to handle potential peak instantaneous vapor flow rates. Future costs associated with injunctive relief are not yet precisely quantifiable as we are continually evaluating various approaches to meet the ongoing obligations of the Consent Decree.
We have concluded that the penalties, injunctive relief, and mitigation expenditures that result from this settlement, based on currently available information, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 6. Asset Retirement Obligations.
Colorado Water Quality Control Division Matter In January 2017, we received a Notice of Violation/Cease and Desist Order (NOV/CDO) advising us of alleged violations of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act (Act) and its implementing regulations as it relates to our Colorado Discharge Permit System General Permit for construction activities associated with oil and gas exploration and/or production within our Wells Ranch Drilling and Production field located in Weld County, Colorado (Permit).  The NOV/CDO further orders us to cease and desist from all violations of the Act, the regulations and the Permit and to undertake certain corrective actions. In October 2018, we met with enforcement staff at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to discuss a potential settlement of the alleged violations. Given the ongoing status of such settlement discussions, we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this action at this time, but believe that the resolution of this action will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Colorado Clean Water Act Referral Notice In September 2018, we received a letter from the US Department of Justice providing notification of referral from the EPA of alleged Clean Water Act violations at an upstream production facility and a midstream gathering facility in Weld County, Colorado. The letter requests an opportunity to discuss settlement of the alleged violations. Given the uncertainty associated with enforcement actions of this nature, we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this action at this time, but believe that the resolution of this action will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 11. Income Taxes
Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions, except percentages)
2019
 
2018
Current
$
16

 
$
126

Deferred
(100
)
 
(157
)
Total Income Tax Benefit
$
(84
)
 
$
(31
)
Effective Tax Rate
22.5
%
 
(5.7
)%

Effective Tax Rate (ETR) At the end of each interim period, we apply a forecasted annualized ETR to current period earnings or loss before tax, which can produce interim ETR fluctuations. The ETR for first quarter 2019 varied as compared with 2018, primarily due to a $145 million discrete tax benefit recorded in first quarter 2018 as a result of the intent of the US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service to issue additional regulatory guidance associated with Tax Reform Legislation and the transition tax (toll tax). In addition, first quarter 2018 includes foreign taxes on a gain related to the divestiture of a 7.5% interest in the Tamar field, offshore Israel.
In our major tax jurisdictions, the earliest years remaining open to examination are as follows: US – 2014, Israel – 2015 (2013 with respect to Israel Oil Profits Tax) and Equatorial Guinea – 2013.
Note 12. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Objective and Strategies for Using Derivative Instruments   We enter into crude oil and natural gas price hedging arrangements in an effort to mitigate the effects of commodity price volatility and enhance the predictability of cash flows relating to the marketing of a portion of our crude oil and natural gas production. While these instruments mitigate the cash flow risk of future decreases in commodity prices, they may also curtail benefits from future increases in commodity prices. 

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Table of Contents
Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Unsettled Commodity Derivative Instruments   As of March 31, 2019, the following crude oil derivative contracts were outstanding:
 
 
 
 
Swaps
 
Collars
Settlement Period
Type of Contract
Index
Bbls Per Day
Weighted Average Differential
Weighted Average Fixed Price
 
Weighted Average Short Put Price
Weighted Average Floor Price
Weighted Average Ceiling Price
2019
Swaps
NYMEX WTI
22,000
$

$
56.96

 
$

$

$

2019
Three-Way Collars
NYMEX WTI
33,000


 
49.35

59.35

72.25

2019
Swaption
NYMEX WTI
5,000

62.50

 



2019
Swaps
ICE Brent
5,000

57.00

 



2019
Three-Way Collars
ICE Brent
3,000


 
43.00

50.00

64.07

2019
Basis Swaps
(1) 
27,000
(3.23
)

 



2020
Swaption
NYMEX WTI
5,000

61.79

 



2020
Three-Way Collars
NYMEX WTI
10,000


 
50.00

58.00

67.37

2020
Basis Swaps
(1) 
15,000
(5.01
)

 




(1) 
We entered into crude oil basis swap contracts to establish a fixed amount for the differential between pricing in Midland, Texas, and Cushing, Oklahoma. The weighted average differential represents the amount of reduction to Cushing, Oklahoma prices for the notional volumes covered by the basis swap contracts.
As of March 31, 2019, the following natural gas derivative contracts were outstanding:
 
 
 
 
Swaps
 
Collars
Settlement Period
Type of Contract
Index
MMBtu Per Day
Weighted Average Differential
Weighted Average Fixed Price
 
Weighted Average Short Put Price
Weighted Average Floor Price
Weighted Average Ceiling Price
2019
Three-Way Collars
NYMEX HH
104,000

$

$

 
$
2.25

$
2.65

$
2.95

2019
Swaps
NYMEX HH
46,000


3.00

 



2019
Basis Swaps
CIG (1)
113,500

(0.65
)

 



2019
Basis Swaps
WAHA (1)
15,000

(1.44
)

 



2020
Basis Swaps
CIG (1)
44,000

(0.62
)

 



2020
Basis Swaps
WAHA (1)
17,000

(0.75
)

 




(1) 
We entered into natural gas basis swap contracts to establish a fixed amount for the differential between the noted index pricing and NYMEX Henry Hub. The weighted average differential represents the amount of reduction to NYMEX Henry Hub prices for the notional volumes covered by the basis swap contracts.
Fair Value Amounts   The fair values of commodity derivative instruments in our consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
 
Asset Derivative Instruments
 
Liability Derivative Instruments
(millions)
Balance Sheet Location
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Balance Sheet Location
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Commodity Derivative Instruments
Other Current Assets
$
9

 
$
180

 
Other Current Liabilities
$
63

 
$
1

 
Other Noncurrent Assets
1

 

 
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
20

 
26

 
Total
$
10

 
$
180

 
 
$
83

 
$
27


See Note 13. Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures for a discussion of methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values of our derivative instruments.

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Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Gains and Losses on Commodity Derivative Instruments The effect of commodity derivative instruments on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Cash (Received) Paid in Settlement of Commodity Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
Crude Oil
$
(9
)
 
$
30

Natural Gas
(5
)
 
(2
)
Total Cash (Received) Paid in Settlement of Commodity Derivative Instruments
$
(14
)
 
$
28

Non-cash Portion of Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
Crude Oil
$
223

 
$
50

Natural Gas
3

 
1

Total Non-cash Portion of Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
$
226

 
$
51

Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
Crude Oil
$
214

 
$
80

Natural Gas
(2
)
 
(1
)
Total Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
$
212

 
$
79


Note 13. Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable   The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short-term nature or maturity of the instruments. 
Mutual Fund Investments   Our mutual fund investments consist of various publicly-traded mutual funds that include investments ranging from equities to money market instruments. Fair values are based on quoted market prices for identical assets.
Commodity Derivative Instruments   Our commodity derivative instruments may include variable to fixed price commodity swaps, two-way collars, three-way collars, swaptions, enhanced swaps and basis swaps. We estimate the fair values using published forward commodity price curves as of the date of the estimate. The discount rate used in the cash flow projections is based on published LIBOR rates, Eurodollar futures rates and interest swap rates. The fair values of commodity derivative instruments in an asset position include a measure of counterparty nonperformance risk, and instruments in a liability position include a measure of our own nonperformance risk, each based on the current published credit default swap rates. In addition, for collars, we estimate the values of put options sold and contract floors and ceilings using an option pricing model which considers market volatility, market prices and contract terms. See Note 12. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Deferred Compensation Liability   Fair value is dependent upon the fair values of mutual fund investments and shares of our common stock held in a rabbi trust. See Mutual Fund Investments, above. 
Stock-Based Compensation Liability A portion of the value of the liability associated with our phantom unit plan is dependent upon the fair value of Noble Energy common stock at the end of each reporting period.

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Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Measurement information for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows: 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
 
 
 
(millions)
Quoted Prices in Active Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Adjustment (1)
 
Fair Value Measurement
March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual Fund Investments
$
41

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
41

Commodity Derivative Instruments

 
23

 

 
(13
)
 
10

Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity Derivative Instruments

 
(96
)
 

 
13

 
(83
)
Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value
(48
)
 

 

 

 
(48
)
Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value
(1
)
 

 

 

 
(1
)
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual Fund Investments
$
38

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
38

Commodity Derivative Instruments

 
187

 

 
(7
)
 
180

Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity Derivative Instruments

 
(34
)
 

 
7

 
(27
)
Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value
(43
)
 

 

 

 
(43
)
Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value
(8
)
 

 

 

 
(8
)

(1) 
Amount represents the impact of netting provisions within our master agreements allowing us to net cash settled asset and liability positions with the same counterparty.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Firm Transportation Exit Cost Accrual In January 2019, we recorded a firm transportation exit cost liability at fair value of $92 million, representing the discounted present value of our remaining obligation under a permanent pipeline capacity assignment in the Marcellus Shale. See Note 9. Exit Cost – Transportation Commitments.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest As of March 31, 2019, we recorded redeemable noncontrolling interest, associated with the issuance of GIP preferred equity, at fair value of $97 million, representing issuance date proceeds of $100 million netted with associated issuance costs of $3 million. See Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
Additional Fair Value Disclosures
Debt   The fair value of fixed-rate, public debt is estimated based on published market prices. As such, we consider the fair value this debt to be a Level 1 measurement on the fair value hierarchy.
Our non-public debt, including our Revolving Credit Facility, Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility, Noble Midstream Services Term Loan Credit Facility and borrowings under the commercial paper program, are subject to variable interest rates. The fair value is estimated based on significant other observable inputs; thus, we consider the fair values to be Level 2 measurements on the fair value hierarchy. See Note 7. Debt.
Fair value information regarding our debt is as follows:
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
(millions)
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
Long-Term Debt (1)
$
6,622

 
$
6,841

 
$
6,452

 
$
6,121


(1) 
Excludes unamortized discount, debt issuance costs and finance lease obligations. See Note 8. Leases.

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Noble Energy, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 14. Net (Loss) Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy Common Shareholders
Noble Energy's basic (loss) income per share of common stock is computed by dividing net (loss) income attributable to Noble Energy by the weighted average number of shares of Noble Energy common stock outstanding during each period. The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted (loss) income per share:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions, except per share amounts)
2019
 
2018
Net (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income Attributable to Noble Energy
$
(313
)
 
$
554

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic (1)
478

 
487

Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust

 
1

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted
478

 
488

(Loss) Income Per Share, Basic
$
(0.65
)
 
$
1.14

(Loss) Income Per Share, Diluted
$
(0.65
)
 
$
1.14

Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above
15

 
16

(1) 
Decrease in weighted average number of shares outstanding reflects the impact of Noble Energy common stock repurchased in 2018 pursuant to our $750 million share repurchase program.

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to provide a narrative about our business from the perspective of management. We use common industry terms, such as thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d) and million cubic feet equivalent per day (MMcfe/d), to discuss production and sales volumes. Our MD&A is presented in the following major sections:

The preceding consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, contain detailed information that should be read in conjunction with our MD&A.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
The following discussion highlights significant operating and financial results for first quarter 2019. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which includes disclosures regarding our critical accounting policies as part of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Operational Environment Update
Commodity Prices Crude oil prices, although trending upward during first quarter 2019, did not reach comparable levels experienced in first quarter 2018, where Brent and WTI crude oil prices averaged in excess of $65 and $60 per barrel, respectively. The outlook for the remainder of 2019 will continue to depend on supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical and security factors in crude oil-producing nations and the spread between WTI and Brent prices, among other factors.
The US natural gas market remains oversupplied and prices have continued to be depressed during first quarter 2019. We expect 2019 natural gas prices to be at or near 2018 trading levels.
In addition, price differentials, specifically in the Delaware Basin, have continued to widen for both crude oil and natural gas due to takeaway capacity constraints. Infrastructure expansion in the Delaware Basin is expected to result in price improvement later in 2019.

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We have entered into crude oil and natural gas price hedging arrangements to mitigate the effect of commodity price volatility and enhance the predictability of our cash flows.
Cost Environment While materials and services costs have begun shifting downward in response to fourth quarter 2018 oil prices and lower activity, pricing for oilfield equipment, services and infrastructure has yet to fully adjust to the current commodity price environment. Internal initiatives to improve capital efficiency have led to improved US onshore productivity, such as increasing completion stages per day which in turn reduces cycle times and lowers well completion costs. While we progress capital efficiency initiatives, we continue to work with our service providers to reduce cost structure.
Colorado Senate Bill 19-181 For some time, initiatives have been underway in the State of Colorado to limit or ban hydraulic fracturing statewide and other facets of crude oil and natural gas exploration, development or operations. During first quarter 2019, Senate Bill 19-181 (SB 181) was passed by the State Legislature. On April 16, 2019, the Governor signed the bill into law. The legislation makes changes in Colorado oil and gas law, including, among other matters, requiring the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (Commission) to prioritize public health and environmental concerns in its decisions, instructing the Commission to adopt rules to minimize emissions of methane and other air contaminants, and delegating considerable new authority to local governments to regulate surface impacts. 
Most of our acreage in Colorado is in rural areas of Weld County, and we continue to work closely with local regulators and communities to ensure safe and responsible operations and future planning. At this time, we do not foresee significant changes to our development plans, as we have all necessary State approvals of more than 550 permits to drill wells over the next several years. The approved permits are for wells in multiple Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), many of which are in our Mustang Comprehensive Drilling Plan (CDP). We will continue to work closely with Weld County on the required local permits and agreements for the CDP.  However, if additional regulatory measures are adopted, we could incur additional costs to comply with the requirements or we may experience delays and/or curtailment in the permitting or pursuit of our exploration, development, or production activities. Such compliance costs and delays, curtailments, limitations, or prohibitions could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
Recent Activities 
During first quarter 2019, we continued to progress our US onshore drilling and completions activities, advanced our Eastern Mediterranean and West Africa regional natural gas developments, and engaged in new US onshore and international exploration opportunities. First quarter 2019 activities included the following:
Sales Volumes We delivered quarterly sales volumes of 337 MBoe/d, with approximately 56% of our production mix attributable to crude oil and NGLs. See Results of Operations – Exploration and Production.
Non-Core Acreage Sale We sold approximately 13,000 net acres in non-core southwestern Reeves County, Texas, receiving cash consideration of $131 million. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
Leviathan Natural Gas Project We progressed the Leviathan natural gas project, offshore Israel, to 81% completion. See Results of Operations – Exploration and Production.
Alen Natural Gas Development On April 1, 2019, we announced sanction of the Alen natural gas development, offshore Equatorial Guinea. See Results of Operations – Exploration and Production.
US Onshore Exploration Opportunity We acquired additional US onshore undeveloped acreage. See Results of Operations – Exploration and Production.
Colombia Exploration Opportunity We finalized a strategic farmout arrangement for exploration acreage offshore Colombia. See Results of Operations – Exploration and Production.
EPIC Pipeline Investments Noble Midstream Partners exercised and closed options to acquire a 15% equity interest in EPIC Y-Grade, LP (EPIC Y-Grade) and a 30% equity interest in EPIC Crude Holdings, LP (EPIC Crude Holdings) and secured a $200 million preferred equity commitment from Global Infrastructure Partners Capital Solutions Fund (GIP), of which $100 million was funded during first quarter 2019. See Results of Operations – Midstream.
Financial Initiatives 
Commercial Paper Program In first quarter 2019, we established a commercial paper program, which allows for a maximum of $4.0 billion of unsecured commercial paper notes to provide for short-term funding needs. The commercial paper program is supported by Noble Energy’s Revolving Credit Facility. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 7. Debt.
Financial Flexibility, Liquidity and Balance Sheet Strength As we progress through the remainder of 2019, we believe we are positioned for sustainability, operational efficiency, and long-term success throughout the oil and gas business cycle. We remain committed to maintaining capital discipline and financial strength and will continue to evaluate the commodity price

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environment, well productivity and efficiency gains in aligning our activity levels with commodity price conditions. To this end, our 2019 capital investment program is responsive to positive or negative commodity price conditions that may develop. See Operating Outlook – 2019 Capital Investment Program.
If commodity prices decline or operating costs continue to rise, we could experience material asset impairments, as well as material negative impacts on our revenues, profitability, cash flows, liquidity and proved reserves, and, in response, we may consider changes in our capital program, share repurchase program or dividends, asset sales or operating cost structure. Our revenues and our stock price could decline as a result of these potential developments.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 2. Basis of Presentation.
OPERATING OUTLOOK
The current commodity price environment, along with the timing of our capital expenditures for US onshore development, Leviathan completion, and the Aseng development well, as well as Noble Midstream Partners' investments, is anticipated to result in capital expenditures in excess of cash flows in 2019. Although we did not repurchase any shares under our $750 million share repurchase program this quarter, we remain committed to shareholder return initiatives. For example, in April 2019, our Board of Directors announced a 9% increase in the quarterly cash dividend. This is our second straight year to increase our dividend, reflecting our commitment to return value to shareholders.
2019 Capital Investment Program 
Our 2019 organic capital program is in the range of $2.4 to $2.6 billion, with approximately 70% being allocated to US onshore development and approximately 20% to complete the Leviathan Phase 1 development project. The remaining portion of the organic capital program is designated for Noble retained midstream activities, drilling of the Aseng development well, and other exploration and corporate activities. Amounts exclude capital funded by Noble Midstream Partners and acquisition capital related to the EMG pipeline. See Results of Operations – Exploration and Production.
Our 2019 organic capital program anticipates a lower level of investment directed to our US onshore assets, as compared with 2018. We will continue to advance our US onshore program through investments in liquids-rich and high-return projects, improve execution efficiency, and enhance our midstream business value.
We will continue to evaluate the level of capital spending throughout the year. See Liquidity and Capital Resources.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION (E&P)
We continue to advance our major development projects, which we expect to deliver incremental production and cash flows over the next several years.
Sanctioned Ongoing Development Projects
A “sanctioned” development project is one for which a final investment decision has been reached. Updates on major development projects are as follows:
US Onshore
During first quarter 2019, our US onshore E&P activities consisted of the following:
Location
Average Rigs Operated
 
Wells Drilled and Completed
 
Wells Brought Online
 
Average Sales Volumes
 (MBoe/d)
DJ Basin
2
 
29
 
21
 
144
Delaware Basin
4
 
20
 
9
 
59
Eagle Ford Shale
 
7
 
7
 
50
Total
6
 
56
 
37
 
253
DJ Basin   During first quarter 2019, we achieved a quarterly average sales volume record of 144 MBoe/d. Our activities were focused primarily on progressing development in the Mustang IDP area, which benefits from our approved CDP, and we saw increased capital efficiencies as a result of improved drilling performance.
Delaware Basin During first quarter 2019, much of our activity focused on row development with long laterals and multi-well pads targeting multiple zones within the northern portion of our acreage position. We are also focusing on completion operations to bring online our drilled but uncompleted wells.

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Eagle Ford Shale During first quarter 2019, we focused on well completion activities in North Gates Ranch.
International
Leviathan Natural Gas Project (Offshore Israel) The project is now 81% complete and remains on budget and on schedule. We have installed the in-field gathering and pipelines, completed installation of all subsea trees, finished completions on all four wells with successful flowbacks, completed the float of the main decks, finished flowline installation, completed jacket and piles installation and commenced yard commissioning of platform modules. Project start-up is anticipated by the end of 2019.
Leviathan and Tamar Natural Gas Transportation Agreements (Offshore Israel) We continue to work with our partners toward the acquisition of a 39% equity interest in Eastern Mediterranean Gas Company S.A.E., which owns the EMG Pipeline. We will own an effective, indirect interest of approximately 10%, net, in the pipeline. The EMG Pipeline is an approximately 90-kilometer pipeline located primarily offshore, connecting the Israel pipeline network from Ashkelon, Israel to the Egyptian pipeline network.
Closing of the agreement to exclusively operate the EMG Pipeline and secure access to its full capacity is subject to fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, which is expected to occur mid-year 2019. The estimated acquisition cost for our interest in the pipeline is approximately $200 million.
Tamar Natural Gas Project (Offshore Israel) In January 2019, the Petroleum Commissioner of Israel approved the development plan for our 2013 Tamar Southwest discovery, which includes tie-back to the existing Tamar platform, thus reinforcing the reliable operation of the Tamar project and supporting increased customer demand.
Aseng Development Well (Offshore Equatorial Guinea) During first quarter 2019, we awarded contracts and acquired equipment for a new development well expected to mitigate Aseng field decline. Production is expected to come online in late third quarter to early fourth quarter 2019.
Alen Natural Gas Development (Offshore Equatorial Guinea)   On April 1, 2019, we announced the sanction of the Alen natural gas development. Natural gas from the Alen field will be processed through the existing Alba Plant LLC liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) processing plant (Alba Plant) and Equatorial Guinea's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility (EG LNG) located at Punta Europa, Bioko Island. Definitive agreements in support of the project have been executed between the Alen field partners, the Alba Plant and EG LNG plant owners, as well as the government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
The Alen natural gas monetization project will utilize three existing high-capacity Alen production wells. Minor platform modifications will be made to deliver sales gas from Alen to the Alba Plant and EG LNG facilities. A 24-inch pipeline capable of handling 950 MMcfe/d will be constructed to transport all natural gas processed through the Alen platform approximately 70 kilometers to the onshore facilities. First production is anticipated in the first half of 2021. At start-up, natural gas sales from the Alen field are anticipated to be between 200 and 300 MMcfe/d, gross (approximately 75 to 115 MMcfe/d, net). The wet gas stream will be tolled through the Alba Plant for additional liquids recovery before the dry gas is converted into LNG at the EG LNG facility.
Unsanctioned Projects
Cyprus Natural Gas Project (Offshore Cyprus) We continue to work with the Government of Cyprus on a plan of development for the Aphrodite field that, as currently contemplated, would deliver natural gas to regional customers. In addition, we are focused on capital cost improvements, as well as natural gas marketing efforts and execution of natural gas sales and purchase agreements, which, once secured, will progress the project to a final investment decision.
Exploration Program Update
We continue to seek and evaluate significant onshore and/or offshore opportunities for future exploration. Through our drilling activities, we do not always encounter hydrocarbons or we may find hydrocarbons but subsequently reach a decision, through additional analysis or appraisal drilling, that a development project is not economically or operationally viable. Additionally, we may not be able to conduct exploration activities prior to lease expirations or may choose to relinquish or exit licenses. Exploration opportunities in a future period could result in significant dry hole cost and/or leasehold abandonment expense. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 5. Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs and Undeveloped Leasehold Costs.
US Onshore Acreage In first quarter 2019, we acquired additional undeveloped acreage increasing our US onshore unconventional exploration position to more than 140,000 acres residing in two plays in Wyoming.
Offshore Colombia During first quarter 2019, we signed an agreement, pending customary approvals, for a 40% operated working interest in more than 2 million gross acres offshore Colombia, located on two offshore blocks. We expect to drill an exploration well in 2020.

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Results of Operations
Highlights for our E&P business were as follows:
First Quarter 2019 E&P Operating Highlights Included:
total average consolidated sales volumes of 332 MBoe/d, net;
average daily sales volumes of 113 MBbl/d, net, for US crude oil; and
average daily sales volumes of 1.1 Bcfe/d, gross, for offshore Israel natural gas, primarily from the Tamar field.

First Quarter 2019 E&P Financial Results Included:
net loss on commodity derivative instruments of $212 million (which is net of cash settlement receipts of $14 million), as compared with a net loss of $79 million for first quarter 2018;
pre-tax loss of $168 million, as compared with pre-tax income of $485 million for first quarter 2018; and
capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, of $648 million, as compared with $667 million for first quarter 2018.

The following is a summarized statement of operations for our E&P business:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales to Third Parties
$
937

 
$
1,173

Sales of Purchased Oil and Gas
14

 

Income from Equity Method Investees
15

 
35

Total Revenues
966

 
1,208

Production Expense
351

 
353

Exploration Expense
24

 
35

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
475

 
443

Gain on Divestitures, Net

 
(392
)
Asset Impairments

 
168

Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas
14

 

Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments
212

 
79

(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
$
(168
)
 
$
485



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Average Oil, NGL and Gas Sales Volumes and Prices  Average daily sales volumes and realized sales prices were as follows:
 
Average Sales Volumes (1)
 
Average Realized Sales Prices (1)
 
Crude Oil & Condensate
(MBbl/d)
 
NGLs
(MBbl/d)
 
Natural Gas
(MMcf/d)
 
Total
(MBoe/d)
 
Crude Oil & Condensate
(Per Bbl)
 
NGLs
(Per Bbl)
 
Natural Gas
(Per Mcf)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
United States
113

 
59

 
483

 
253

 
$
53.46

 
$
17.86

 
$
2.49

Eastern Mediterranean

 

 
233

 
39

 

 

 
5.57

West Africa (2)
12

 

 
168

 
40

 
61.01

 

 
0.27

Total Consolidated Operations (3)
126

 
59

 
884

 
332

 
54.19

 
17.86

 
2.88

Equity Investees (4)
1

 
4

 

 
5

 
53.01

 
36.81

 

Total (3)
127

 
63

 
884

 
337

 
$
54.18

 
$
19.09

 
$
2.88

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
United States (5)
122

 
64

 
504

 
270

 
$
61.95

 
$
25.53

 
$
2.63

Eastern Mediterranean

 

 
261

 
44

 

 

 
5.48

West Africa (2)
15

 

 
206

 
49

 
68.14

 

 
0.27

Total Consolidated Operations
137

 
64

 
971

 
363

 
62.60

 
25.53

 
2.90

Equity Investees (4)
2

 
5

 

 
7

 
66.08

 
39.90

 

Total
139

 
69

 
971

 
370

 
$
62.64

 
$
26.62

 
$
2.90

(1) 
Natural gas is converted on the basis of six Mcf of gas per one barrel of crude oil equivalent. This ratio reflects an energy content equivalency and not a price or revenue equivalency. Given commodity price disparities, the prices for a barrel of crude oil equivalent for US natural gas and NGLs are significantly less than the price for a barrel of crude oil. In Israel, we sell natural gas under contracts where the majority of the price is fixed, resulting in less commodity price disparity between reporting periods.
(2) 
Natural gas from the Alba field is sold under contract for $0.25 per MMBtu to a methanol plant, an LPG plant, an LNG plant and a power generation plant. The methanol and LPG plants are owned by affiliated entities accounted for under the equity method.
(3) 
Total includes a small amount of condensate sales from the offshore Israel assets.
(4) 
Volumes represent sales of condensate and LPG from the LPG plant in Equatorial Guinea. See Income from Equity Method Investees.
(5) 
Includes 24 MBoe/d related to Gulf of Mexico assets sold in second quarter 2018. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
An analysis of revenues from sales of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas is as follows:
(millions)
Crude Oil & Condensate
 
NGLs
 
Natural Gas
 
Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
$
773

 
$
146

 
$
254

 
$
1,173

Changes due to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in Sales Volumes
(77
)
 
(7
)
 
(27
)
 
(111
)
(Decrease) Increase in Sales Prices (1)
(84
)
 
(43
)
 
2

 
(125
)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
$
612

 
$
96

 
$
229

 
$
937

(1) 
Changes exclude gains and losses related to commodity derivative instruments. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 12. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
Crude Oil and Condensate Sales Revenues Revenues from crude oil and condensate sales decreased in first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018 due to the following:    
decrease of 12% in average realized prices (see Executive Overview – Operational Environment Update – Commodity Prices);
reduction of 19 MBbl/d due to the sale of our Gulf of Mexico assets in second quarter 2018; and
lower West Africa sales volumes of 3 MBbl/d due to timing of liftings and natural field decline;
partially offset by:
higher US onshore sales volumes of 10 MBbl/d primarily due to an increase in development activity in the Delaware and DJ Basins.
NGL Sales Revenues Revenues from NGL sales decreased in first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018 due to the following:

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decrease of 30% in average realized prices (see Executive Overview – Operational Environment Update – Commodity Prices); and
lower Eagle Ford Shale sales volumes of 15 MBbl/d due to reduced activity and natural field decline;
partially offset by:
higher sales volumes in the DJ and Delaware Basins of 12 MBbl/d due to an increase in development activities.
Natural Gas Sales Revenues Revenues from natural gas sales decreased in first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018 due to the following:
lower Eagle Ford Shale sales volumes of 80 MMcf/d due to reduced activity and natural field decline;
lower Alba field sales volumes of 38 MMcf/d due to natural field decline and planned maintenance at the onshore facilities, which required field shut-in for a portion of the period;
lower Israel sales volumes of 28 MMcf/d primarily due to the sale of a 7.5% interest in the Tamar field in March 2018;
reduction of 22 MMcf/d resulting from the sale of the Gulf of Mexico assets; and
continued oversupply and reduced take away capacity in the Delaware Basin, resulting in high differentials which depressed our sales prices for the area (see Executive Overview – Operational Environment Update – Commodity Prices);
partially offset by:
higher sales volumes in the DJ and Delaware Basins of 81 MMcf/d due to an increase in development activities.
Sales and Cost of Purchased Oil and Gas, Net  In first quarter 2019, we engaged in third party sales and purchases of oil and gas in the DJ Basin.
Income from Equity Method Investees  Income from equity method investees decreased in first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018. The decrease includes a $10 million decrease from Atlantic Methanol Production Company, LLC (AMPCO), our methanol investee, and a $10 million decrease from Alba Plant, our LPG investee, primarily due to planned maintenance.
Production Expense   Components of production expense were as follows:
(millions, except unit rate)
Total per BOE (1)(2)
 
Total
 
United States (2)
 
Eastern Mediterranean
 
West Africa
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lease Operating Expense (3)
$
5.32

 
$
159

 
$
125

 
$
10

 
$
24

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
1.57

 
47

 
47

 

 

Gathering, Transportation and Processing
4.75

 
142

 
142

 

 

Other Royalty Expense
0.10

 
3

 
3

 

 

Total Production Expense
$
11.74

 
$
351

 
$
317

 
$
10

 
$
24

Total Production Expense per BOE
 
 
$
11.74

 
$
13.91

 
$
2.84

 
$
6.67

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Lease Operating Expense (3)
$
4.75

 
$
155

 
$
126

 
$
7

 
$
22

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes
1.62

 
53

 
53

 

 

Gathering, Transportation and Processing
3.92

 
128

 
128

 

 

Other Royalty Expense
0.52

 
17

 
17

 

 

Total Production Expense
$
10.81

 
$
353

 
$
324

 
$
7

 
$
22

Total Production Expense per BOE
 
 
$
10.81

 
$
13.31

 
$
1.79

 
$
5.01

(1) 
Consolidated unit rates exclude sales volumes and expenses attributable to equity method investees.
(2) 
US production expense includes charges from our midstream operations that are eliminated on a consolidated basis.
(3) 
Lease operating expense includes oil and gas operating costs (labor, fuel, repairs, replacements, saltwater disposal and other related lifting costs) and workover expense.
Production expense for first quarter 2019 remained relatively flat as compared with 2018, primarily due to the following:
decrease of $25 million in lease operating expense and $6 million in gathering, transportation and processing (GTP) expense due to the sale of our Gulf of Mexico assets;
decrease in US production and ad valorem taxes and other royalty expense due to lower commodity prices;
partially offset by:
increase of $24 million in lease operating expense and $20 million in GTP expense, primarily due to increased development activities resulting in added production in our DJ and Delaware Basins; and
increase in West Africa lease operating expense due to timing of planned maintenance activities.


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The unit rate per BOE increased for first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018, due to the decrease in total sales volumes resulting from the sales of Gulf of Mexico assets in second quarter 2018 and the 7.5% interest in Tamar in March 2018, coupled with an increase in certain production expenses noted above. Specifically, the divestiture of the Gulf of Mexico assets removed higher-cost, crude oil-focused sales volumes, which partially offset the increase in our average production expense per BOE.
Exploration Expense Exploration expense for first quarter 2019 totaled $24 million, including $12 million of staff expense. Exploration expense for first quarter 2018 totaled $35 million, including $13 million of lease rental expense, primarily in the Delaware Basin, and $22 million of staff expense and other.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD&A) Expense DD&A expense was as follows:
(millions, except unit rate)
Total
 
United States
 
Eastern Mediterranean
 
West Africa
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DD&A Expense
$
475

 
$
439

 
$
16

 
$
20

Unit Rate per BOE (1)
$
15.89

 
$
19.27

 
$
4.55

 
$
5.56

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DD&A Expense
$
443

 
$
404

 
$
13

 
$
26

Unit Rate per BOE (1)
$
13.57

 
$
16.60

 
$
3.32

 
$
5.92

(1) 
Consolidated unit rates exclude sales volumes and expenses attributable to equity method investees.
DD&A expense for first quarter 2019 increased 7% as compared with 2018, primarily due to the following:
higher sales volumes in the DJ and Delaware Basins due to recent development activities; and
increase in Eastern Mediterranean due to the impact of the sale of our 7.5% interest in Tamar;
partially offset by:
decrease of $27 million resulting from the sale of our Gulf of Mexico assets in second quarter 2018; and
decrease in West Africa due to reduced sales volumes as noted above.
The unit rate per BOE for first quarter 2019 increased 17% as compared with 2018, primarily due to the increase in total DD&A expense resulting from increased development activity in the DJ and Delaware Basins, resulting in a higher depletable basis, combined with the sale of lower-cost Tamar reserves. The increase is partially offset by the sale of higher-cost production from the Gulf of Mexico assets in second quarter 2018 and a reduction in rate in West Africa driven by lower sales volumes.
Loss on Commodity Derivative Instruments  Loss on commodity derivative instruments for first quarter 2019 increased, as compared with 2018.
For first quarter 2019, loss on commodity derivative instruments included:
net cash settlement receipts of $14 million; and
net non-cash decrease of $226 million in the fair value of our net commodity derivative liability, primarily driven by changes in the forward commodity price curve for both crude oil and natural gas.     
For first quarter 2018, loss on commodity derivative instruments included:
net cash settlement payments of $28 million; and
net non-cash increase of $51 million in the fair value of our net commodity derivative liability, primarily driven by changes in the forward commodity price curves for both crude oil and natural gas.
See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 12. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – MIDSTREAM
The Midstream segment develops, owns and operates domestic midstream infrastructure assets, as well as invests in other financially attractive midstream projects, with current focus in the DJ and Delaware Basins.

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Recent Transactions
EPIC Pipelines In first quarter 2019, Noble Midstream Partners exercised and closed its options to acquire equity interests in EPIC Y-Grade and EPIC Crude Holdings. The assets provide attractive economics and long-term growth potential for Noble Midstream Partners and will provide near-term flow assurance and long-term out-of-basin takeaway capacity for our E&P volumes. The EPIC crude oil pipeline will provide Noble Energy with firm transport of up to 100 MBbl/d from the Delaware Basin to Corpus Christi, Texas. In-service is expected in first quarter 2020; however, EPIC announced it will provide early access to crude oil transportation through the EPIC Y-grade pipeline in third quarter 2019. The EPIC Y-Grade pipeline, also running from the Delaware Basin to Corpus Christi, Texas, will have an NGL throughput capacity of approximately 440 MBbl/d with multiple origin points. 
Delaware Crossing Joint Venture In February 2019, Noble Midstream Partners executed definitive agreements with Salt Creek Midstream LLC (Salt Creek) to form a 50/50 joint venture, Delaware Crossing LLC (Delaware Crossing), to construct a 160 MBbl/d day crude oil pipeline system in the Delaware Basin. The 95-mile pipeline system will originate in Pecos County, Texas, with additional connections in Reeves and Winkler Counties, Texas. The project footprint will be served by a combination of in-field crude oil gathering lines and a trunkline to a hub in Wink, Texas. The project is underpinned by approximately 192,000 dedicated gross acres and nearly 100 miles of gathering pipeline in Pecos, Reeves, Ward and Winkler Counties, Texas. The pipeline is expected to be operational in third quarter 2019.
Results of Operations
First Quarter 2019 Significant Midstream Operating Highlights and Financial Results Included:
total revenues of $165 million, as compared with $128 million for first quarter 2018;
pre-tax income of $73 million, as compared with pre-tax income of $247 million for first quarter 2018;
capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, of $66 million, as compared with $253 million for first quarter 2018; and
investments in equity method investees of $271 million, primarily related to investments in EPIC Y-Grade and EPIC Crude Holdings, as compared with zero for first quarter 2018.

The following is a summarized statement of operations for our Midstream segment:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Midstream Services Revenues – Third Party
$
24

 
$
13

Sales of Purchased Oil
33

 
22

Income from Equity Method Investees
2

 
12

Intersegment Revenues
106

 
81

Total Revenues
165

 
128

Operating Costs and Expenses
36

 
39

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
25

 
17

Gain on Divestitures, Net

 
(196
)
Cost of Purchased Oil
31

 
21

Total Expense (Income)
92

 
(119
)
Income Before Income Taxes
$
73

 
$
247

Revenues The amount of revenue generated by the Midstream segment depends primarily on the volumes of crude oil, natural gas and water for which services are provided to dedicated acreage for our E&P business and to third-party customers. These volumes are affected by the level of drilling and completion activity and by changes in the supply of, and demand for, crude oil, NGLs and natural gas in the markets served directly or indirectly by our midstream assets.
Total revenues for first quarter 2019 increased as compared with 2018, primarily due to increases in crude oil, natural gas and produced water gathering services and fresh water delivery. This increase was due primarily to an increase in Delaware Basin throughput volumes, commencement of services in the Mustang IDP in 2018, and services related to the Black Diamond system, which was acquired during first quarter 2018 in the Saddle Butte Acquisition.
Sales of purchased crude oil also increased due to a full quarter of services related to the Black Diamond system.
Operating Costs and Expenses Operating costs and expenses for first quarter 2019 increased as compared with 2018, primarily due to an increase in gathering systems operating expense associated with the Delaware Basin central gathering facilities (CGF) that were completed during 2018, additional expenses associated with the Black Diamond system and expenses associated with the commencement of gathering services in the Mustang IDP in 2018.

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DD&A Expense DD&A expense for first quarter 2019 increased as compared with 2018, primarily due to certain assets being placed in service subsequent to first quarter 2018, including the Mustang IDP gathering system, the Delaware Basin CGFs, and additional Black Diamond assets. In addition, DD&A expense includes a full quarter of amortization related to intangible assets acquired in the Saddle Butte Acquisition.
Cost of Purchased Oil Cost of purchased crude oil for first quarter 2019 increased as compared with 2018 due to a full quarter of services related to the Black Diamond system.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CORPORATE
Our Corporate costs include exit costs, certain costs associated with mitigating the effects of our retained Marcellus Shale firm transportation agreements and expenses related to debt, headquarters depreciation, and corporate general and administrative expenses.
Firm Transportation Exit Cost Revenues and expenses associated with retained Marcellus Shale firm transportation contracts were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Sales of Purchased Gas (1)
$
27

 
$
31

Cost of Purchased Gas (1)
42

 
36

Firm Transportation Exit Cost (2)
92

 

(1) 
Relates to third party mitigation activities which we engage in to utilize a portion of our Marcellus Shale firm commitment.
(2) 
Represents exit costs related to future commitments to a third party resulting from a permanent pipeline capacity assignment. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 9. Exit Cost – Transportation Commitments.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expense   G&A expense was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions, except unit rate)
2019
 
2018
G&A Expense
$
102

 
$
104

Unit Rate per BOE (1)
$
3.41

 
$
3.18

(1) 
Consolidated unit rates exclude sales volumes and expenses attributable to equity method investees.
G&A expense for first quarter 2019 remained relatively flat as compared with 2018 primarily due to decreases in third party transaction-related fees, offset by increases in employee costs. The increase in the unit rate per BOE for first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018 was due to the net decrease in total sales volumes primarily as a result of the sale of our Gulf of Mexico assets and sale of 7.5% interest in the Tamar field. See Results of Operations – Exploration & Production.
Interest Expense and Capitalized Interest   Interest expense and capitalized interest were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions, except unit rate)
2019
 
2018
Interest Expense, Gross
$
87

 
$
90

Capitalized Interest
(21
)
 
(17
)
Interest Expense, Net
$
66

 
$
73

Unit Rate per BOE (1)
$
2.21

 
$
2.24

(1) 
Consolidated unit rates exclude sales volumes and expenses attributable to equity method investees.
Interest expense, gross, for first quarter 2019 remained flat as compared with 2018. Lower interest rates applicable to the Noble Midstream Partners Revolving Credit Facility were offset by interest expense related to the Noble Midstream Services Term Loan Credit Facility which commenced in third quarter 2018. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 7. Debt.
Capitalized interest for first quarter 2019 increased as compared with 2018, primarily due to higher work in progress amounts related to the Leviathan development.

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The unit rate of interest expense, net, per BOE for first quarter 2019 decreased as compared with 2018, primarily due to the reduction in net interest expense, noted above, partially offset by the net decrease in total sales volumes. See Results of Operations – Exploration & Production.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Capital Structure/Financing Strategy
In seeking to effectively fund and monetize our discovered hydrocarbons, we employ a capital structure and financing strategy designed to provide sufficient liquidity throughout commodity price cycles, including a sustained period of low prices. Specifically, we strive to retain the ability to fund long cycle, multi-year, capital intensive development projects throughout a range of scenarios, while also funding a continuing exploration program and maintaining capacity to capitalize on financially attractive merger and acquisition opportunities. We endeavor to maintain a strong balance sheet and an investment grade debt rating in service of these objectives.
We strive to maintain a minimum liquidity level to address volatility and risk. Traditional sources of liquidity are cash flows from operations, cash on hand, proceeds from divestitures of properties and other investments, and available borrowing capacity under our $4.0 billion unsecured Revolving Credit Facility. We occasionally access the capital markets to ensure adequate liquidity exists in the form of unutilized capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility or to refinance scheduled debt maturities. In first quarter 2019, we established a $4.0 billion commercial paper program, which can be accessed as needed to supplement operating cash flows for short-term funding needs. We also evaluate potential strategic farm-out arrangements of our working interests for reimbursement of our capital spending. We periodically consider repatriations of foreign cash to increase our financial flexibility and fund our capital investment program. We also enter into crude oil and natural gas price hedging arrangements in an effort to mitigate the effects of commodity price volatility and enhance the predictability of cash flows relating to the marketing of a portion of our crude oil and natural gas production.
Thus far in 2019, we have funded our capital program with cash flows from operations, cash on hand, and proceeds from divestments of non-strategic assets. We did not repurchase any shares of Noble Energy common stock under the Board of Directors-authorized $750 million share repurchase program during first quarter 2019.
As of March 31, 2019, our consolidated outstanding debt (excluding finance lease obligations) totaled $6.6 billion. We may periodically seek to access the capital markets to refinance a portion of our outstanding indebtedness. In addition, we may from time to time seek to retire or purchase our outstanding senior notes through cash purchases in the open market, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.
First Quarter and Year-to-Date 2019 Highlights
During first quarter 2019, we completed the following financing activities:
established a $4.0 billion commercial paper program, supported by Noble Energy’s Revolving Credit Facility; and
secured the $200 million GIP preferred equity commitment for Noble Midstream Partners, with $100 million funded during the quarter.
Available Liquidity
The following table summarizes our cash, debt and available liquidity:
(millions, except percentages)
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Total Cash (1)
$
530

 
$
719

Amount Available to be Borrowed Under Revolving Credit Facility (2)
4,000

 
4,000

Total Liquidity
$
4,530

 
$
4,719

Total Debt (3)
$
6,837

 
$
6,675

Noble Energy Share of Equity
9,071

 
9,426

Ratio of Debt-to-Book Capital (4)
43
%
 
41
%
(1) 
As of March 31, 2019, total cash includes cash and cash equivalents of $10 million related to Noble Midstream Partners and $2 million of restricted cash. As of December 31, 2018, total cash includes cash and cash equivalents of $11 million related to Noble Midstream Partners and $3 million of restricted cash.
(2) 
Excludes amounts available to be borrowed under the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility, which is not available to Noble Energy for general corporate purposes.
(3) 
Total debt includes long-term finance lease obligations and excludes unamortized debt discount/premium and debt issuance costs. Additionally, it includes Noble Midstream Partners' debt of $730 million and $560 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 7. Debt.

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(4) 
We define our ratio of debt-to-book capital as total debt (long-term debt excluding unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs, the current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings) divided by the sum of total debt plus Noble Energy's share of equity.
Cash and Cash Equivalents   We had approximately $528 million in cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2019, primarily denominated in US dollars and invested in money market funds and short-term deposits with major financial institutions. Approximately $361 million of this cash is attributable to our foreign subsidiaries. We do not expect to incur any significant US income tax expense with respect to future repatriation of foreign cash.
Revolving Credit Facilities Noble Energy's Revolving Credit Facility of $4.0 billion and the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility of $800 million both mature in 2023. These facilities are used to fund capital investment programs and acquisitions and may periodically provide amounts for working capital purposes. At March 31, 2019, no amounts were outstanding under the Noble Energy Revolving Credit Facility and $230 million was outstanding under the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility, leaving $4.0 billion and $570 million in remaining availability under the respective facilities. 
Commercial Paper Program In first quarter 2019, we established a commercial paper program to provide for short-term funding needs. The program allows for a maximum of $4.0 billion of unsecured commercial paper notes and is supported by the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2019, no commercial paper was outstanding. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 7. Debt.
GIP Preferred Equity Commitment On March 25, 2019, Noble Midstream Partners secured a $200 million preferred equity commitment from GIP to fund capital contributions to Dos Rios Crude Intermediate LLC, a newly-formed subsidiary holding Noble Midstream Partners’ 30% equity interest in EPIC Crude Holdings. Of the $200 million total commitment, $100 million was funded, with the remaining $100 million available for a one-year period, subject to certain conditions precedent. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
Contractual Obligations
Marcellus Shale Firm Transportation Agreements We have remaining financial commitments of approximately $1.1 billion, undiscounted, associated with Marcellus Shale firm transportation contracts. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 9. Exit Cost – Transportation Commitments.
Credit Rating Events We do not have any triggering events on our consolidated debt that would cause a default in case of a downgrade of our credit rating. In addition, there are no existing ratings triggers in any of our commodity hedging agreements that would require the posting of collateral. However, a series of downgrades or other negative rating actions could increase our cost of financing and may increase our requirements to post collateral as financial assurance of performance under certain other contractual arrangements, such as pipeline transportation contracts, crude oil and natural gas sales contracts, work commitments and certain abandonment obligations. A requirement to post collateral could have a negative impact on our liquidity.
Letters of Credit In the ordinary course of business, we maintain letters of credit and bank guarantees with a variety of banks in support of certain performance obligations of our subsidiaries. Outstanding letters of credit and bank guarantees, including those of Noble Midstream Partners, totaled approximately $100 million at March 31, 2019.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our total cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 (millions)
2019
 
2018
Operating Activities
$
528

 
$
583

Investing Activities
(911
)
 
(572
)
Financing Activities
194

 
298

(Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
$
(189
)
 
$
309

Operating Activities   Cash provided by operating activities for first quarter 2019 decreased $55 million as compared with 2018, primarily due to a decrease in net revenues driven by declining crude oil and NGL sales prices, partially offset by higher production costs attributable to increased operational activity and rising costs in US onshore. In addition, we received cash in settlements for commodity derivatives of $14 million, as compared with cash payments of $28 million in the prior year.
Investing Activities   Cash used in investing activities increased $339 million for first quarter 2019 as compared with 2018, primarily due to a decrease in net proceeds provided by divestitures, partially offset by a decrease in capital spending for property, plant and equipment. In addition, in first quarter 2019, Noble Midstream Partners' invested $271 million on equity

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method investees compared to none in prior year. Finally, there were no acquisitions in first quarter 2019 compared to $650 million in prior year. See Operating Outlook – 2019 Capital Investment Program.
Financing Activities   Our financing activities during first quarter 2019 include net borrowings of $170 million on the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility and the receipt of $99 million of GIP preferred equity, net of offering costs. In addition, during first quarter 2019, we paid $53 million of cash dividends to Noble Energy shareholders.
Our financing activities during first quarter 2018 included a net repayment of $230 million on the Revolving Credit Facility and net borrowings of $350 million on the Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility used primarily to fund the Saddle Butte acquisition. In addition, we made common stock repurchases totaling $67 million pursuant to our share repurchase program and paid $48 million of cash dividends to Noble Energy shareholders.
See Item 1. Financial Statements – Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Capital Expenditure Activities
Our capital expenditures (on an accrual basis) were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(millions)
2019
 
2018
Unproved Property Acquisition (1)
$
35

 
$
4

Proved Property Acquisition (1)
4

 

Exploration and Development
628

 
652

Midstream (2)
66

 
459

Corporate and Other
18

 
11

Total
$
751

 
$
1,126

Other
 
 
 
Investment in Equity Method Investees (3)
$
271

 
$

Increase in Finance Lease Obligations
2

 

(1) 
Costs for first quarter 2019 relate to US onshore leasehold activity.
(2) 
Midstream expenditures for first quarter 2018 include $206 million related to the Saddle Butte Acquisition.
(3) 
Costs include primarily Noble Midstream Partners' $227 million investment in EPIC Y-Grade and EPIC Crude Holdings and $38 million investment in Delaware Crossing. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures.
Exploration and development costs for first quarter 2019 decreased as compared with 2018, due to our focus on US onshore capital efficiencies and the near-term completion of Leviathan development activities. Exploration and development costs include approximately $487 million for US onshore and $132 million for Eastern Mediterranean, primarily related to Leviathan.
Midstream capital spending, excluding acquisitions, for first quarter 2019 decreased as compared with 2018. First quarter 2019 activities focused primarily on well connections in the Mustang IDP and Black Diamond system while 2018 activities included construction of the Mustang IDP gathering and fresh water systems, Delaware Basin CGFs, and connecting the Black Diamond system to a major crude oil takeaway outlet in the DJ Basin.
Dividends
On April 22, 2019, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 12 cents per Noble Energy common share, which will be paid on May 20, 2019 to shareholders of record on May 6, 2019. The amount of future dividends will be determined on a quarterly basis at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors.

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Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of business operations, and the volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices continues to impact the oil and gas industry. See Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations – Exploration & Production.
Derivative Instruments Held for Non-Trading Purposes   At March 31, 2019, our open commodity derivative instruments were in a net liability position with a fair value of $73 million. Based on the March 31, 2019 published commodity futures price curves for the underlying commodities, a hypothetical price increase of 10% per Bbl for crude oil and 10% per MMBtu for natural gas would increase the fair value of our net commodity derivative liability by approximately $508 million. Even with certain hedging arrangements in place to mitigate the risk of commodity price volatility, our 2019 revenues and results of operations could be adversely affected if commodity prices decline. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 12. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
Interest Rate Risk
Changes in interest rates affect the amount of interest we pay on certain of our borrowings. Issuances of commercial paper under our commercial paper program and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, Noble Midstream Services Revolving Credit Facility and Noble Midstream Services Term Loan Credit Facility, which as March 31, 2019 total $730 million and have a weighted average interest rate of 3.49%, are subject to variable interest rates which expose us to the risk of earnings or cash flow loss due to potential increases in market interest rates. While we currently have no interest rate derivative instruments as of March 31, 2019, we may invest in such instruments in the future in order to mitigate interest rate risk.
A change in the interest rate applicable to amounts, if any, outstanding under the facilities or commercial paper issuances mentioned above, would have had a de minimis impact on interest expense for first quarter 2019. See Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 7. Debt.
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
our growth strategies;
our future results of operations;
our liquidity and ability to finance our exploration and development activities;
our ability to successfully and economically explore for and develop crude oil, NGL and natural gas resources;
anticipated trends in our business;
market conditions in the oil and gas industry;
the impact of governmental regulation, including US federal, state, local, and foreign host government tax regulations, fiscal policies and terms, as well as that involving the protection of the environment or marketing of production and other regulations;
our ability to make and integrate acquisitions or execute divestitures; and
access to resources.
Any such projections or statements reflect Noble Energy’s views (as of the date such projects were published or such statements were made) about future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, information technology and security risks, competition, government regulation or other action, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy’s business that are detailed in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements may be expressed differently. These forward-looking statements are made based upon our current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should consider carefully the statements under Item 1A. Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which describe factors that could

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cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 is available on our website at www.nblenergy.com.
Item 4.     Controls and Procedures
Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures by our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, each of them has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)), are effective. There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. These forms can also be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Alternatively, you may access these reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Part II. Other Information
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
See discussion of legal proceedings in Part I. Financial Information, Item 1. Financial Statements – Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies of this Form 10-Q, which is incorporated by reference into this Part II. Item 1, as well as discussion in Item 3. Legal Proceedings, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our share repurchase activity:
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
 
Average Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(millions)
1/1/2019 - 1/31/2019
933

 
$
20.68

 

 
 
2/1/2019 - 2/28/2019
217,821

 
22.54

 

 
 
3/1/2019 - 3/31/2019
902

 
24.65

 

 
 
Total
219,656

 
$
22.54

 

 
$
455

 
(1) 
Stock repurchases during the period related to common stock received by us from employees for the payment of withholding taxes due on shares of common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans.
(2) 
During first quarter 2019, we did not repurchase shares under the $750 million share repurchase program, authorized by the Board of Directors, which expires December 31, 2020.
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None. 
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable. 
Item 5.    Other Information
None.

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Item 6.    Exhibits

Exhibit Number
 
Exhibit*
 
 
 
2.1
 
 
 
 
2.2
 
 
 
 
3.1
 
 
 
 
3.2
 
 
 
 
10.1*
 
 
 
 
10.2*
 
 
 
 
10.3*
 
 
 
 
10.4*
 
 
 
 
10.5*
 
 
 
 
31.1
 
 
 
 
31.2
 
 
 
 
32.1
 
 
 
 
32.2
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to filed as an exhibit hereto.

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Signatures
 
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 thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
Date
 
May 3, 2019
 
By: /s/ Kenneth M. Fisher
 
 
 
 
Kenneth M. Fisher
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


38
Exhibit 10.1

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(Amended and Restated Effective April 23, 2019)

ARTICLE I. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
1.1    Establishment. Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), previously established the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan for the benefit of certain officers, employees, consultants and others performing services for Noble and its Affiliates, as set forth in this Plan.

1.2    Purpose. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain highly qualified individuals to perform services for Noble and its Affiliates, to further align the interests of those individuals with those of the stockholders of Noble, and to more closely link compensation with the performance of Noble and its Affiliates. Noble is committed to creating long-term stockholder value. Noble’s compensation philosophy is based on the belief that Noble can best create stockholder value if officers, employees, consultants and others performing services for Noble and its Affiliates act and are rewarded as business owners. Noble believes that an equity stake through equity compensation programs effectively aligns service provider and stockholder interests by motivating and rewarding performance that will enhance stockholder value.

1.3    Effectiveness and Term. The Plan was originally effective as of April 25, 2017 (the “Effective Date”). This amended and restated Plan shall become effective on the later of (a) the date of its adoption by the Board and (b) the date it is approved by the stockholders of Noble in accordance with applicable law and upon such approval shall supersede the original plan document in its entirety. Unless terminated earlier by the Board pursuant to Section 14.1, this amended and restated Plan shall terminate on the day prior to the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (a) the date of its adoption by the Board and (b) the date it is approved by the stockholders of Noble.

ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS
2.1    “1992 Plan” means the Noble Energy, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated October 20, 2015, and as amended from time to time thereafter.

2.2    “Affiliate” means (a) with respect to Incentive Stock Options, a “parent corporation” or a “subsidiary corporation” of Noble, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively, and (b) with respect to other Awards, any corporation or other type of entity in a chain of corporations or other entities in which each corporation or other entity has a controlling interest in another corporation or other entity in the chain, starting with Noble and ending with the corporation or other entity that has a controlling interest in the corporation or other entity for which the Employee, consultant, or other individual provides direct services. For purposes of this Affiliate definition, the term “controlling interest” has the same meaning as provided in Treasury Regulation § 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), except that the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of the phrase “at least 80 percent” in each place the phrase “at least 80 percent” appears in Treasury Regulation § 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i).

2.3    “Award” means an award granted to a Participant in the form of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, Stock Awards or Other Incentive Awards, whether granted singly or in combination.




1


2.4    “Award Agreement” means a written agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to an Award, and which, in the discretion of the Committee, need not be countersigned by the Participant.

2.5    “Board” means the Board of Directors of Noble.

2.6    “Cause” means any of the following: (a) a Participant’s conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (b) a Participant’s conduct involving a material misuse of the funds or other property of the Company; (c) a Participant’s engagement in business activities which are in conflict with the business interests of the Company; (d) a Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; (e) a Participant’s conduct which is in violation of the Company’s safety rules or standards or which otherwise may cause or causes injury to another employee or any other person; or (f) a Participant’s material violation of Noble’s Code of Conduct.

2.7    “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date:

(a)    Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least 51% of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by Noble’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be, for purposes of this Plan, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board;

(b)    The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of Noble immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own outstanding voting securities representing at least 51% of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Securities”) of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company;

(c)    The stockholders of Noble shall approve a liquidation or dissolution of Noble or a sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of Noble; or

(d)    Any “person,” as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act (other than Noble, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of Noble or any of its subsidiaries, or any entity organized, appointed or established by Noble for or pursuant to the terms of such a plan), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person (as well as any “Person” or “group” as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), shall become the “beneficial owner” or “beneficial owners” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Noble representing in the aggregate 25% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) the Voting Securities of Noble, in either such case other than solely as a result of acquisitions of such securities directly from Noble. Without limiting the foregoing, a person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, or to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of Noble shall be deemed the beneficial owner of such shares or Voting Securities.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (d) of this definition solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by Noble which, by reducing

2


the number of shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of Noble outstanding, increases (i) the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by any person to 25% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) the proportionate voting power represented by the Voting Securities of Noble beneficially owned by any person to 25% or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that if any person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or other Voting Securities of Noble (other than a result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction), then a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of subparagraph (d) of this definition.

2.8    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations and other guidance thereunder and successor provisions, regulations and other guidance.

2.9    “Committee means the Compensation, Benefits and Stock Option Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board each of whom must be an Outside Director.
2.10    “Common Stock” means the common stock of Noble, or any stock or other securities hereafter issued or issuable in substitution or exchange for the Common Stock.

2.11    “Company” means Noble or any Affiliate.

2.12    “Disability” means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment for which the Participant is eligible to receive disability income benefits under a long-term disability insurance plan maintained by the Company; provided, however, that if the Participant is not covered by such a long-term disability insurance plan at the relevant time, “Disability” means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents the Participant from performing his or her duties in a satisfactory manner and is expected either to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months as determined by the Committee or its delegatee.

2.13    “Dividend Equivalent Cash Right means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific Restricted Stock Unit Award, to receive an amount in cash equal to the cash distributions made by Noble with respect to a share of Common Stock during the period such Award is outstanding.

2.14     “Dividend Equivalent Unit Right” means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific Restricted Stock Unit Award, to have an additional number of Restricted Stock Units credited to a Participant in respect of the Award equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that could be purchased at Fair Market Value with the amount of each cash distribution made by Noble with respect to a share of Common Stock during the period such Award is outstanding.

2.15    “Effective Date” means the date this Plan originally became effective as provided in Section 1.3.

2.16    “Employee” means an employee of the Company.

2.17    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.18    “Fair Market Value” means the closing sales price for the Common Stock as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of the determination (or if there was no reported sale on the New York

3


Stock Exchange on such date, on the last preceding day on which there was a reported sale on the New York Stock Exchange).

2.19    “Good Reason” means any of the following actions if taken by the Company with respect to and without the prior consent of a Participant:

(a)    A material reduction in the Participant’s base compensation;

(b)    A material change in the location at which the Participant must perform services for the Company;

(c)    A material reduction in the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities or in the authority, duties or responsibilities of the supervisor to whom the Participant is required to report; or

(d)    A material reduction in the budget over which the Participant retains authority.

2.20    “Grant Date” means the date an Award is determined to be effective by the Committee upon the grant of such Award.

2.21    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422(b) of the Code.

2.22    “Noble” means Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

2.23    “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.24    “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VII. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as determined by the Committee.

2.25    “Other Incentive Award” means an incentive award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article XII.

2.26    “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who (a) meets the independence requirements of the principal exchange or quotation system upon which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, (b) qualifies as a “non-employee director” of Noble under Rule 16b-3, and (c) satisfies independence criteria under any other applicable laws or regulations relating to the issuance of shares of Common Stock to Employees.

2.27    “Participant” means an individual who is an Employee, consultant or other individual performing services for the Company that has been granted an Award.

2.28    “Performance Award” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article XI to receive cash or Common Stock conditioned in whole or in part upon the satisfaction of specified performance criteria.

2.29    “Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 15.4(c).


4


2.30    “Plan” means the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as in effect from time to time.

2.31    “Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture.

2.32    “Restricted Stock” means a share of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IX that is subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be determined by the Committee.

2.33    “Restricted Stock Unit” means a fictional share of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article X that is subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be determined by the Committee.

2.34    “Retirement” means an Employee’s termination of employment with the Company for reasons other than for Cause that occurs on or after the date such Employee attains at least 55 years of age and has completed at least five years of credited service with the Company or in such other circumstances as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

2.35    “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation that may be in effect from time to time.

2.36    “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor agency or organization.

2.37    “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.

2.38    “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.39    “Stock Appreciation Right” or SAR” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII with respect to a share of Common Stock to receive upon exercise cash, Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock, equal to the appreciation in value of a share of Common Stock.

2.40    “Stock Award” means a share of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Article XII that is not subject to vesting or forfeiture restrictions.

ARTICLE III. PLAN ADMINISTRATION
3.1Plan Administrator and Discretionary Authority. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
The Committee shall have total and exclusive responsibility to control, operate, manage and administer this Plan in accordance with its terms. The Committee shall have all the authority that may be necessary or helpful to enable it to discharge its responsibilities with respect to this Plan. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Committee shall have the exclusive right to (a) interpret this Plan and the Award Agreements executed hereunder, (b) decide all questions concerning eligibility for, and the amount of, Awards granted under this Plan, (c) construe any ambiguous provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement, (d) prescribe the form of Award Agreements, (e) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or any Award Agreement, (f) issue administrative guidelines as an aid in administering this Plan and make changes in such guidelines as the Committee from time to time deems proper, (g) make regulations for carrying out this Plan and make changes in such regulations as the Committee from time to time

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deems proper, (h) determine whether Awards should be granted singly or in combination, (i) to the extent permitted under this Plan, grant waivers of Plan terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations, (j) accelerate the exercise, vesting or payment of an Award, (k) require Participants to hold a stated number or percentage of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award for a stated period, and (l) take any and all other actions the Committee deems necessary or advisable for the proper operation or administration of this Plan. The Committee shall have authority in its sole discretion with respect to all matters related to the discharge of its responsibilities and the exercise of its authority under this Plan, including without limitation its construction of the terms of this Plan and its determination of eligibility for participation in, and the terms of Awards granted under, this Plan. The decisions of the Committee and its actions with respect to this Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having or claiming to have any right or interest in or under this Plan, including without limitation Participants and their respective Permitted Transferees, estates, beneficiaries and legal representatives. In the case of an Award intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A, the Committee shall exercise its discretion consistent with such intent.

3.2Delegation of Authority. The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to delegate its duties and functions under the Plan to the Chief Executive Officer or other officer of Noble, other members of or committees of the Board or such other agents as it may appoint from time to time, provided the Committee may not delegate its duties where such delegation would violate state corporate law.

3.3Liability; Indemnification. No member of the Committee, nor any person to whom it has delegated authority, shall be personally liable for any action, interpretation or determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan or Awards granted hereunder, and each member of the Committee (or delegatee of the Committee) shall be fully indemnified and protected by Noble with respect to any liability he may incur with respect to any such action, interpretation or determination, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE IV. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1Available Shares.

(a)    Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that shall be available for grant of Awards under this Plan shall be 44,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

(b)    The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options is 14,000,000 shares. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Options and SARs granted under the Plan to any one Participant during a fiscal year is 800,000 shares. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Awards (other than Options and SARs) granted under the Plan to any one Participant during a fiscal year is 800,000 shares. The limitations provided in this Section 4.1(b) shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2.

(c)    Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Plan may be original issue or treasury shares or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall from time to time determine. During the term of this Plan, Noble will at all times reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, which efforts shall not include registration of the Plan or Awards under the Securities Act, Noble is unable to obtain authority from any applicable regulatory body, which authorization is deemed necessary by legal counsel for Noble for the lawful issuance of shares under
the Plan, Noble shall be relieved of any liability with respect to its failure to issue and sell the shares for which such requisite authority was so deemed necessary unless and until such authority is obtained.

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(d)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Board or the Committee shall have the right to substitute or assume awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code or Section 409A applies, provided such substitutions or assumptions are permitted by Section 424 of the Code or Section 409A, as applicable.

4.2Adjustments for Recapitalizations and Reorganizations. Subject to Article XIII, if there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Common Stock outstanding effected without Noble's receipt of consideration (a) by reason of a stock dividend, spin-off, recapitalization, stock split or combination or exchange of shares, (b) by reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (c) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value or (d) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Common Stock as, or if the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock is reduced as a result of a spin-off or Noble’s payment of an extraordinary cash dividend, or distribution, or dividend or distribution consisting of any assets of Noble other than cash, the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan, the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock for which any individual may receive Awards in any fiscal year or under this Plan, the number and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards, and the price per share or the applicable market value or performance target of such Awards shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, issued shares of Common Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights under such Awards. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.2, (i) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options under this Plan shall be adjusted only in accordance with Sections 422 and 424 of the Code, and (ii) outstanding Awards and Award Agreements shall be adjusted in accordance with (A) Sections 422 and 424 of the Code with respect to Incentive Stock Options and (B) Section 409A with respect to Nonqualified Stock Options, SARs and, to the extent applicable, other Awards.

4.3Adjustments for Awards. The following rules shall apply for the purpose of determining the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant of Awards under this Plan:

(a)    Options and SARs. The grant of Options shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant of Awards under this Plan by the number of shares subject to such an Award. The grant of SARs that may be paid or settled only in Common Stock, or in either cash or Common Stock (or a combination thereof), shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant of Awards under the Plan by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award, and any shares of Common Stock not delivered upon exercise of such SARs or portion thereof shall not again be available for grant of Awards under this Plan and shall not be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan. Any grant of SARs or portion thereof that may be paid or settled only for cash shall not affect the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant of Awards under the Plan.

(b)    Restricted Stock and Stock Awards. The grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Awards shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant of Awards under this Plan by the product of 2.39 multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such an Award.


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(c)    Restricted Stock Units. The grant of Restricted Stock Units (including those credited to a Participant in respect of a Dividend Equivalent Unit Right) that may be paid or settled (i) only in Common Stock or (ii) in either cash or Common Stock shall reduce the number of shares available for grant of Awards under this Plan by the product of 2.39 multiplied by the number of shares subject to such an Award. The grant of Restricted Stock Units that may be paid or settled only for cash shall not affect the number of shares available for grant of Awards under this Plan.

(d)    Performance Awards and Other Incentive Awards. The grant of a Performance Award or Other Incentive Award in the form of Common Stock or that may be paid or settled (i) only in Common Stock or (ii) in either Common Stock or cash shall reduce the number of shares available for grant of Awards under this Plan by the product of 2.39 multiplied by the number of shares subject to such an Award. The grant of a Performance Award or Other Incentive Award that may be paid or settled only for cash shall not affect the number of shares available for grant of Awards under this Plan.

(e)    Cancellation, Forfeiture and Termination. If any Award referred to in Section 4.3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (other than an Award that may be paid or settled only for cash) is canceled or forfeited, or terminates, expires or lapses, for any reason, the shares then subject to such Award shall again be available for grant of any Awards under this Plan and shall be added back to the number of shares available for grant on the same numerical basis as was used upon grant to reduce the number of shares available for grant of Awards.

(f)    Payment of Exercise Price and Withholding Taxes. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, shares (i) tendered (either actually or by attestation) or withheld to satisfy an exercise price or tax withholding obligation pertaining to an Award, or (ii) repurchased by Noble using Option proceeds shall not be available for grant of any Awards under this Plan and shall not be added back to the number of shares available for grant under this Plan.

ARTICLE V. ELIGIBILITY
The Committee shall select Participants from those individuals who are Employees, consultants and other individuals performing services for the Company that, in the opinion of the Committee, are in a position to make a positive contribution to the success of the Company. Once a Participant has been selected for an Award by the Committee, the Committee shall determine the type and size of Award to be granted to the Participant and shall establish in the related Award Agreement the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Award, in addition to those set forth in this Plan and the administrative guidelines and regulations, if any, established by the Committee.

ARTICLE VI. FORM OF AWARDS
6.1    Form of Awards. Awards may be granted under this Plan, in the Committee’s sole discretion, in the form of Options pursuant to Article VII, SARs pursuant to Article VIII, Restricted Stock pursuant to Article IX, Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Article X, Performance Awards pursuant to Article XI and Stock Awards and Other Incentive Awards pursuant to Article XII, or any combination thereof. All Awards shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations of this Plan. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, subject any Award to such other terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations (including without limitation the time and conditions of exercise, vesting or payment of an Award and restrictions on transferability of any shares of Common Stock issued or delivered pursuant to an Award), provided they are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. Awards under a particular Article of this Plan need not be uniform, and Awards under more than one

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Article of this Plan may be combined in a single Award Agreement. Any combination of Awards may be granted at one time and on more than one occasion to the same Participant.

6.2    No Repricing or Reload Rights; No Buy-out of “Underwater” Awards. Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 4.2, no Award may be repriced, replaced, regranted through cancellation or otherwise modified without stockholder approval, if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the shares underlying such Award. The Committee may not cancel an outstanding Option or SAR having an exercise price that is known to be more than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock in exchange for a cash payment or for the purpose of granting a replacement Award of a different type.

6.3    Dividends, Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights and Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights. No Award that provides for the payment or accumulation of dividends, Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights or Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights shall allow such dividends, Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights or Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights to vest or otherwise become payable sooner than the date on which the underlying Award or portion thereof with respect to which it was granted has vested.

ARTICLE VII. OPTIONS
7.1General. Awards may be granted in the form of Options that may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, or any combination of both; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

7.2Terms and Conditions of Options. An Option shall be exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times as may be determined by the Committee. The price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee, but such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Grant Date unless the Option is granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became Employees (or other service providers) as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Company in a manner that complies with Section 409A with respect to a Nonqualified Stock Option or Section 422 of the Code with respect to an Incentive Stock Option. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.3, the term of each Option shall be as specified by the Committee; provided, however, that no Options shall be exercisable later than 10 years after the Grant Date. Options may be granted with respect to Restricted Stock or shares of Common Stock that are not Restricted Stock, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

7.3Restrictions Relating to Incentive Stock Options.

(a)    Options granted in the form of Incentive Stock Options shall, in addition to being subject to the terms and conditions of Section 7.2, comply with Section 422(b) of the Code. To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the dates the respective Incentive Stock Options are granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of Noble and its Affiliates exceeds $100,000, such excess Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as options that do not constitute Incentive Stock Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Code, which of a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options will not constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation and shall notify the Participant of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination. The price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee, but such

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exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an Employee under this Plan if, at the time such Option is granted, such Employee owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Noble or of its Affiliates unless (i) on the Grant Date of such Option, the exercise price of such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option and (ii) such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date of the Option.

(b)    Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option shall notify Noble in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a disqualifying disposition of any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including any sale) of such Common Stock before the later of (i) two years after the Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option or (ii) one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option.

7.4Exercise of Options.

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to Noble, setting forth the number of whole shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for such shares.

(b)    Upon exercise of an Option, the exercise price of the Option shall be payable to Noble in full either (i) in cash or an equivalent acceptable to the Committee, (ii) in the sole discretion of the Committee and in accordance with any applicable administrative guidelines established by the Committee, (A) by tendering (either actually or by attestation) one or more previously acquired nonforfeitable, unrestricted shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total exercise price or (B) by surrendering a sufficient portion of the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total exercise price or (iii) in a combination of the forms specified in (i) or (ii) of this subsection.

(c)    To the extent permissible under applicable law, payment of the exercise price of an Option may also be made, in the absolute discretion of the Committee, by delivery to Noble or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable instructions to a broker-dealer to sell or margin a sufficient portion of the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised and deliver the sale or margin loan proceeds directly to Noble to pay the exercise price and any required withholding taxes.

(d)    As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise of an Option and full payment of the exercise price and any required withholding taxes, Noble shall (i) deliver to the Participant, in the Participant’s name or the name of the Participant’s designee, a stock certificate or certificates in an appropriate aggregate amount based upon the number of shares of Common Stock purchased under the Option or (ii) cause to be issued in the Participant’s name or the name of the Participant’s designee, in book-entry form, an appropriate number of shares of Common Stock based upon the number of shares purchased under the Option.

7.5    Termination of Employment or Service. Each Award Agreement embodying the Award of an Option may set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following

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termination of the Participant’s employment or service with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion, need not be uniform among all Options granted under this Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment or service. Except to the extent provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement embodying the Award of an Option, the following termination provisions shall apply with respect to such Award:

(a)    Termination For Cause. If the employment or service of a Participant shall terminate for Cause, each outstanding Option, whether vested or unvested, held by the Participant shall automatically terminate as of the date of such termination of employment or service, and the right to exercise the Option shall immediately terminate.

(b)    Termination By Reason of Retirement. In the event of a Participant’s Retirement, each outstanding Option held by the Participant shall remain outstanding and may be exercised by the Participant, to the extent vested at the time of the Participant’s Retirement, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of five years from the date of such Retirement or (ii) the expiration of the Option. To the extent an Option is unvested at the time of the Participant’s Retirement, the Option shall automatically terminate as of the date of such Retirement, and the right to exercise the Option shall immediately terminate.

(c)    Termination By Reason of Death or Disability. In the event of a Participant’s termination of employment or service on account of death or Disability, each outstanding Option, whether vested or unvested, held by the Participant shall remain outstanding and may be exercised by the person who acquires the Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or by the Participant, as the case may be, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of five years from the date of death or termination on account of Disability or (ii) the expiration of the Option.

(d)    Termination For Reasons Other Than Cause, Retirement, Death or Disability. If a Participant’s employment or service is terminated under circumstances that are not covered by subsections (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7.5, an Option held by the Participant may be exercised by the Participant, to the extent vested as the time of the Participant’s termination, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of one year from the date of such termination or (ii) the expiration of the Option. To the extent an Option is unvested at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment or service, the Option shall automatically terminate as of the date of such termination, and the right to exercise the Option shall immediately terminate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case of a Participant’s death, an Option will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless at all times beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the day three months (one year in the case of a Participant who is “disabled” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) before the date of exercise of the Option, the Participant is an employee of Noble or a “parent corporation” or a “subsidiary corporation” of Noble, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively (or a corporation or a parent or subsidiary corporation of such corporation issuing or assuming an option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies).

ARTICLE VIII. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
8.1    General. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of SARs in such numbers and at such times as it shall determine. SARs shall vest and be exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times as may be determined by the Committee. The price at which SARs may be exercised shall be determined

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by the Committee but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Grant Date unless the SARs are granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who became Employees (or other service providers) as a result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Company in a manner that complies with Section 409A. The term of each SAR shall be as specified by the Committee; provided, however, that no SAR shall be exercisable later than 10 years after the Grant Date. In the case of an SAR that is granted in conjunction with all or a portion of an Option, the SAR shall expire no later than the expiration of the underlying Option. At the time of an Award of SARs, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the SARs as it determines are necessary or appropriate, provided they are not inconsistent with this Plan.

8.2    Exercise of SARs. SARs shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to Noble, setting forth the number of whole shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Award is being exercised. Upon the exercise of SARs, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Award is exercised (determined as of the date of such exercise) over the aggregate exercise price of such shares. Such amount shall be payable to the Participant in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as provided in the Award Agreement.

8.3    Termination of Employment or Service. Each Award Agreement embodying the Award of SARs may set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SARs following termination of the Participant’s employment or service with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion, need not be uniform among all SARs granted under this Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment or service. Except to the extent provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement embodying the Award of SARs, the following termination provisions shall apply with respect to such Award:

(a)    Termination For Cause. If the employment or service of a Participant shall terminate for Cause, each outstanding SAR, whether vested or unvested, held by the Participant shall automatically terminate as of the date of such termination of employment or service, and the right to exercise the SAR shall immediately terminate.

(b)    Termination By Reason of Retirement. In the event of a Participant’s Retirement, each outstanding SAR held by the Participant shall remain outstanding and may be exercised by the Participant, to the extent vested at the time of the Participant’s Retirement, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of five years from the date of such Retirement or (ii) the expiration of the SAR. To the extent an SAR is unvested at the time of the Participant’s Retirement, the SAR shall automatically terminate as of the date of such Retirement, and the right to exercise the SAR shall immediately terminate.

(c)    Termination By Reason of Death or Disability. In the event of a Participant’s termination of employment or service on account of death or Disability, each outstanding SAR, whether vested or unvested, held by the Participant shall remain outstanding and may be exercised by the person who acquires the SAR by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or by the Participant, as the case may be, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of five years from the date of death or termination on account of Disability or (ii) the expiration of the SAR.

(d)    Termination For Reasons Other Than Cause, Retirement, Death or Disability. If a Participant’s employment or service is terminated under circumstances that are not covered by

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subsections (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8.3, an SAR held by the Participant may be exercised by the Participant, to the extent vested as the time of the Participant’s termination, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of one year from the date of such termination or (ii) the expiration of the SAR. To the extent an SAR is unvested at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment or service, the SAR shall automatically terminate as of the date of such termination, and the right to exercise the SAR shall immediately terminate.

ARTICLE IX. RESTRICTED STOCK
9.1    General. Awards may be granted in the form of Restricted Stock in such numbers and at such times as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall impose such terms, conditions and restrictions on Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable, including without limitation prescribing the period over which and the conditions upon which the Restricted Stock may become vested or be forfeited and/or providing for vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals pursuant to a Performance Award. A Participant shall not be required to make any payment for Restricted Stock unless required by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.2.

9.2    Purchased Restricted Stock. The Committee may in its sole discretion require a Participant to pay a stipulated purchase price for each share of Restricted Stock.

9.3    Restricted Period. At the time an Award of Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee shall establish a Restricted Period applicable to such Restricted Stock. Each Award of Restricted Stock may have a different Restricted Period in the sole discretion of the Committee.

9.4    Other Terms and Conditions.

(a)    Restricted Stock shall constitute issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock for all corporate purposes. Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant under this Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant or, at the option of Noble, in the name of a nominee of Noble, and shall be issued in book-entry form or represented by a stock certificate.

(b)    At the time of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall prescribe such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Restricted Stock as it may determine in its sole discretion, including without limitation rules pertaining to the termination of employment or service (by reason of death, Disability, Retirement, Cause or otherwise) of a Participant prior to expiration of the Restricted Period. Except to the extent provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement embodying the Award of Restricted Stock, the following termination provisions shall apply with respect to such Award:

(i)    Termination By Reason of Death or Disability. In the event of a Participant’s termination of employment or service prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period on account of death or Disability, the restrictions applicable to the shares of Restricted Stock held by the Participant shall terminate, and as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) after such termination of employment or service the shares of Restricted Stock, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to such shares then being held by Noble, shall be delivered to the Participant (or in the event of the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s estate) free of such restrictions.


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(ii)    Termination For Reasons Other Than Death or Disability. If a Participant’s employment or service is terminated prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period under circumstances that are not covered by subsection (i) of this Section 9.4(b), then on the date of such termination of employment or service all of the shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restrictions shall be forfeited by the Participant and transferred to the Company at no cost to Noble.

(c)    Except to the extent provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement embodying the Award of Restricted Stock, the following provisions shall apply with respect to such Award:

(i)    Restricted Stock shall be held by Noble in escrow for the Participant’s benefit until such time as the Restricted Stock is either forfeited by the Participant to Noble or the restrictions thereon terminate as set forth in the Award Agreement. The Participant shall not retain physical custody of any certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock issued to the Participant until such time as the restrictions on such shares of Restricted Stock terminate as set forth in the Award Agreement. The Participant, by acceptance of the Restricted Stock, shall be deemed to appoint Noble and each of its authorized representatives as the Participant’s attorney(s)-in-fact to effect any transfer of forfeited shares of Restricted Stock to Noble as may be required pursuant to this Plan or the Award Agreement, and to execute such representations or other documents or assurances as Noble or such representatives deem necessary or advisable in connection with any such transfer. To the extent allowable by applicable law, Noble, or its designee, shall not be liable for any act it may do or omit to do with respect to holding the shares of Restricted Stock in escrow while acting in good faith in the exercise of its judgment.

(ii)    Subject to the further terms and conditions set forth below, upon the issuance of Restricted Stock to the Participant, the Participant shall become the owner thereof for all purposes and shall have all rights as a stockholder, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends and distributions, with respect to the Restricted Stock. If Noble shall pay or declare a dividend or make a distribution of any kind, whether due to a reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise, with respect to the shares of Common Stock constituting the Restricted Stock, then Noble shall pay or make such dividend or other distribution with respect to the Restricted Stock; provided, however, that with respect to any of the shares of Restricted Stock that are still subject to the restrictions of the Award Agreement, the cash, stock or other securities and other property constituting such dividend or other distribution pertaining to such Restricted Stock shall be held by Noble subject to the restrictions applicable under the Award Agreement to such Restricted Stock until such shares of Restricted Stock are either forfeited by the Participant and transferred to Noble or the restrictions thereon terminate as set forth in the Award Agreement. If the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividend or distribution was paid or made are forfeited by the Participant pursuant to the provisions hereof, then the Participant shall not be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and such dividend or distribution shall likewise be forfeited and transferred to Noble. If the restrictions applicable to the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividend or distribution was paid or made terminate in accordance with the provisions of the Award Agreement, then the Participant shall be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution with respect to such shares, without interest, and such dividend or distribution shall likewise be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) after the termination of such restrictions.


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(iii)    The Participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Stock during the Restricted Period other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(d)    Any provision of this Article IX to the contrary notwithstanding, no dividends or distributions made with respect to any share of Restricted Stock shall vest or be payable sooner than the date on which the underlying share of Restricted Stock with respect to which it was made has vested.

(e)    A breach of the terms and conditions established by the Committee pursuant to the Award of the Restricted Stock may result in a forfeiture of the Restricted Stock.

ARTICLE X. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
10.1    General. Awards may be granted in the form of Restricted Stock Units in such numbers and at such times as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall impose such terms, conditions and restrictions on Restricted Stock Units as it may deem advisable, including without limitation prescribing the period over which and the conditions upon which a Restricted Stock Unit may become vested or be forfeited and/or providing for vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals pursuant to a Performance Award. Upon the lapse of restrictions with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive one share of Common Stock or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, as provided in the Award Agreement. A Participant shall not be required to make any payment for Restricted Stock Units.

10.2    Restricted Period. At the time an Award of Restricted Stock Units is granted, the Committee shall establish a Restricted Period applicable to such Restricted Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units may have a different Restricted Period in the sole discretion of the Committee.

10.3    Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights and Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights. To the extent provided by the Committee in its sole discretion, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may include a tandem Dividend Equivalent Cash Right or Dividend Equivalent Unit Right grant. A grant of Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights shall be paid directly to the Participant at the time of payment of the related dividend, be credited to a bookkeeping account subject to the same vesting and payment provisions as the tandem Award (with or without interest in the sole discretion of the Committee), or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. A grant of Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights shall be subject to the same vesting and payment provisions as the tandem Award or be subject to such other provisions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any provision of this Article X to the contrary notwithstanding, no Dividend Equivalent Cash Right or Dividend Equivalent Unit Right shall vest or be payable sooner than the date on which the underlying Restricted Stock Unit with respect to which it was granted has vested.

10.4    Other Terms and Conditions. At the time of an Award of Restricted Stock Units, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Restricted Stock Units, including without limitation rules pertaining to the termination of employment or service (by reason of death, Disability, Retirement, Cause or otherwise) of a Participant prior to expiration of the Restricted Period. Except to the extent provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement

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embodying the Award of Restricted Stock Units, the following termination provisions shall apply with respect to such Award:

(a)    Termination By Reason of Death or Disability. In the event of a Participant’s termination of employment or service prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period on account of death or Disability, the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant shall terminate, and as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) after such termination of employment or service the Participant (or in the event of the Participant’s death, the Participant’s estate) shall receive the shares of Common Stock or cash associated with such Restricted Stock Units.

(b)    Termination For Reasons Other Than Death or Disability. If a Participant’s employment or service is terminated prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period under circumstances that are not covered by subsection (a) of this Section 10.4, then on the date of such termination of employment or service all of the Restricted Stock Units still subject to restrictions shall be forfeited by the Participant.

ARTICLE XI. PERFORMANCE AWARDS
11.1    General. Awards may be granted in the form of Performance Awards that may be payable in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination of both, in such amounts and at such times as the Committee shall determine. Performance Awards shall be conditioned upon the level of achievement of one or more stated performance goals over a specified performance period that shall not be shorter than one year. Performance Awards may be combined with other Awards to impose performance criteria as part of the terms of such other Awards.

11.2    Terms and Conditions. Each Award Agreement embodying a Performance Award shall set forth (a) the amount, including a target and maximum amount if applicable, a Participant may earn in the form of cash or shares of Common Stock or a formula for determining such amount, (b) the performance criteria and level of achievement versus such criteria that shall determine the amount payable or number of shares of Common Stock to be granted, issued, retained and/or vested, (c) the performance period over which performance is to be measured, (d) the timing of any payments to be made, (e) restrictions on the transferability of the Award and (f) such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine that are not inconsistent with this Plan.

11.3    Performance Goals. The performance measure(s) to be used for purposes of Performance Awards shall be set in the Committee’s sole discretion and may be described in terms of objectives that are related to the individual Participant or objectives that are Company-wide or related to a subsidiary, division, department, region, function or business unit of the Company in which the Participant is employed or with respect to which the Participant performs services, and may consist of one or more or any combination of the following criteria: (a) an amount or level of earnings or cash flow, (b) earnings or cash flow per share (whether on a pre-tax, after-tax, operational or other basis), (c) return on equity or assets, (d) return on capital or invested capital and other related financial measures, (e) cash flow or EBITDA, (f) revenues, (g) income, net income or operating income, (h) expenses or costs or expense levels or cost levels (absolute or per unit), (i) proceeds of sale or other disposition, (j) share price, (k) total stockholder return, (l) operating profit, (m) profit margin, (n) capital expenditures, (o) net borrowing, debt leverage levels, credit quality or debt ratings, (p) the accomplishment of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, or similar business transactions, (q) net asset value per share, (r) economic value added, (s) individual business objectives, (t) growth in reserves or production, (u)

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finding and development costs, and (v) safety results. The performance goals based on these performance measures may be made relative to the performance of other business entities.

11.4    Negative Discretion. The Committee in its sole discretion shall have the authority to reduce, but not to increase, the amount payable and the number of shares to be granted, issued, retained or vested pursuant to such a Performance Award.

ARTICLE XII. STOCK AWARDS AND OTHER INCENTIVE AWARDS
12.1    Stock Awards. Stock Awards may be granted to Participants upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued for cash consideration or for no cash consideration. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to a Stock Award. The Committee may in its sole discretion require a Participant to pay a stipulated purchase price for each share of Common Stock covered by a Stock Award.

12.2    Other Incentive Awards. Other Incentive Awards may be granted in such amounts, upon such terms and at such times as the Committee shall determine. Other Incentive Awards may be granted based upon, payable in or otherwise related to, in whole or in part, shares of Common Stock if the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that such Other Incentive Awards are consistent with the purposes of this Plan. Each grant of an Other Incentive Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the amount of the Other Incentive Award and the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to such Award. Payment of Other Incentive Awards shall be made at such times and in such form, which may be cash, shares of Common Stock or other property (or any combination thereof), as established by the Committee, subject to the terms of this Plan.

ARTICLE XIII. CHANGE OF CONTROL
13.1    Vesting of Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in the event of a Change of Control while a Participant is employed by the Company, followed by the termination of such Participant’s employment or service (i) by the Company for reasons other than Cause, or (ii) by the Participant on account of Good Reason, within the 24-month period beginning at the time of the occurrence of the Change of Control (the “Change Effective Time”), each Award outstanding under this Plan to such Participant immediately shall become vested and fully exercisable upon such termination, and any restrictions applicable to the Award shall lapse as of such date; provided, however, that notwithstanding the preceding, any Award that is a Performance Award with performance-based vesting will vest upon such termination of employment or service according to performance achieved as measured through the last day of the month immediately preceding the date of such termination of employment or service. For purposes of this Section 13.1, in order to terminate on account of Good Reason, Participant must provide written notice to the Company of his or her belief that Good Reason exists within 60 days of the initial existence of the Good Reason condition, and that notice must describe in reasonable detail the condition(s) believed to constitute Good Reason. The Company then shall have 30 days to remedy the Good Reason condition(s). If not remedied within that 30-day period, the Participant may submit a notice of termination to the Company; provided, however, that the notice of termination invoking the option to terminate employment for Good Reason must be given no later than 100 days after the date the Good Reason condition first arose; otherwise, the Participant shall be deemed to have accepted the condition(s), or the correction of such condition(s) that may have given rise to the existence of Good Reason.

    

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13.2    Assumption of Awards. Upon a Change of Control where Noble is not the surviving entity (or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity), unless the Committee determines otherwise, all outstanding Options and SARs that are not exercised at or before the Change Effective Time will be assumed by or replaced with comparable options and rights in the surviving entity (or a parent of the surviving entity) in accordance with Section 424 of the Code or Section 409A, as applicable, and other outstanding Awards will be converted into similar awards of the surviving entity (or a parent of the surviving entity).

13.3    Cancellation of Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change of Control of Noble, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, no later than the Change Effective Time, require any Participant holding an Award to surrender such Award in exchange for (a) with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR (whether or not vested), payment by the Company (or a successor), in cash, of an amount equivalent to the excess of the value of the consideration received for each share of Common Stock by holders of Common Stock in connection with such Change of Control (the “Change of Control Consideration”) over the exercise price or grant price per share, (b) with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock Units or Other Incentive Awards, and related Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights and Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights (if applicable), payment by the Company (or a successor), in cash, of an amount equivalent to the value of any such Dividend Equivalent Cash Rights and Dividend Equivalent Unit Rights plus the value of the Change of Control Consideration for each share covered by the Award, assuming all restrictions or limitations (including risks of forfeiture) have lapsed and (c) with respect to a Performance Award, payment by the Company (or a successor), in cash, of an amount equivalent to the value of such Award, as determined by the Committee, taking into account, to the extent applicable, the Change of Control Consideration, and assuming all performance criteria and other conditions to payment of such Awards are achieved or fulfilled to the maximum extent possible.

ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
14.1    Plan Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time suspend, terminate, amend or modify this Plan, in whole or in part; provided, however, that no amendment or modification of this Plan shall become effective without the approval of such amendment or modification by the stockholders of Noble if (a) such amendment or modification increases the maximum number of shares subject to this Plan (except as provided in Article IV) or changes the designation or class of persons eligible to receive Awards under this Plan or (b) counsel for Noble determines that such approval is otherwise required by or necessary to comply with applicable law or the listing requirements of an exchange or association on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted. An amendment to this Plan generally will not require stockholder approval if it curtails rather than expands the scope of this Plan, nor if it is made to conform this Plan to statutory or regulatory requirements, such as, without limitation, Section 409A. Upon termination of this Plan, the terms and provisions of this Plan shall, notwithstanding such termination, continue to apply to Awards granted prior to such termination. Except as otherwise provided herein, no suspension, termination, amendment or modification of this Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under this Plan, without the consent of the Participant (or the Permitted Transferee) holding such Award.

14.2    Award Amendment and Cancellation. The Committee may amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted pursuant to this Plan, but except as otherwise provided herein, no such amendment shall adversely affect in any material way the Participant’s (or a Permitted Transferee’s) rights under an outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant (or the Permitted Transferee) holding such Award.


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ARTICLE XV. MISCELLANEOUS
15.1    Award Agreements. After the Committee grants an Award under this Plan to a Participant, such award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement setting forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Award and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to the Participant in connection with any Award; provided, however, that any permitted deferrals shall be structured to meet the requirements of Section 409A. The terms and provisions of the respective Award Agreements need not be identical. All Award Agreements shall be subject to the provisions of this Plan, and in the event of any conflict between an Award Agreement and this Plan, the terms of this Plan shall govern. All Awards under this Plan are intended to be structured in a manner that will either comply with or be exempt from Section 409A so that no tax will be owed under Section 409A.

15.2    Listing; Suspension.

(a)    If and as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on such exchange or system. Noble shall have no obligation to issue such shares unless and until such shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

(b)    If at any time counsel to Noble or its Affiliates shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, Noble or its Affiliates shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act, or otherwise, with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of such counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful.

(c)    Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 15.2, any Award affected by such suspension that shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all shares available before such suspension and as to shares that would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

15.3    Additional Conditions. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary (a) the Committee may, if it shall determine it necessary or desirable in its sole discretion, at the time of grant of any Award or the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Award, require the recipient of the Award or such shares of Common Stock, as a condition to the receipt thereof, to deliver to Noble a written representation of present intention to acquire the Award or such shares of Common Stock for his own account for investment and not for distribution, (b) the certificate for shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer and (c) all certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange or association upon which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, any applicable federal or state securities law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee

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may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

15.4    Transferability.

(a)    All Awards granted to a Participant shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by such Participant, or if applicable, a Permitted Transferee as provided in subsection (c) of this Section 15.4; provided, however, that in the event of a Participant’s legal incapacity, an Award may be exercised by his guardian or legal representative. When a Participant dies, the personal representative, beneficiary, or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Participant may acquire the rights under an Award. Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to Noble of the successor’s entitlement to receive the rights under an Award under the Participant’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b)    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 15.4, no Award shall be subject to execution, attachment or similar process, and no Award may be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, other than by will or pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Any attempted sale, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecation or other disposition of an Award not specifically permitted by this Plan or the Award Agreement shall be null and void and without effect.
(c)    If provided in the Award Agreement, Nonqualified Stock Options may be transferred by a Participant to a Permitted Transferee. For purposes of this Plan, “Permitted Transferee” means (i) a member of a Participant’s immediate family or a person sharing a Participant’s household (other than a tenant or an employee), (ii) trusts in which the Participant or a person listed in (i) above has more than 50% of the beneficial interest, (iii) a foundation in which the Participant or a person listed in (i) above controls the management of assets, (iv) any other entity in which the Participant or a person listed in (i) above owns more than 50% of the voting interests, provided that in the case of the preceding clauses (i) through (iv), no consideration is provided for the transfer and (v) any transferee permitted under applicable securities and tax laws as determined by counsel to Noble. In determining whether a person is a “Permitted Transferee,” immediate family members shall include a Participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

(d)    Incident to a Participant’s divorce, the Participant may request that Noble agree to observe the terms of a domestic relations order which may or may not be part of a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code) with respect to all or a part of one or more Awards made to the Participant under this Plan. Noble’s decision regarding such a request shall be made by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, based upon the best interests of Noble. The Committee’s decision need not be uniform among Participants. As a condition of participation, a Participant agrees to hold Noble harmless from any claim that may arise out of Noble’s observance of the terms of any such domestic relations order.

15.5    Withholding Taxes. The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any payment made under this Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of all applicable income and employment taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment, may require the Participant to pay or may allow the Participant to elect to pay to the Company such withholding taxes prior to and as a condition of the making of any payment or the issuance or delivery of any shares of Common Stock under this Plan, and shall be entitled

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to deduct from any other compensation payable to the Participant any withholding obligations with respect to Awards. In accordance with any applicable administrative guidelines it establishes, the Committee may allow a Participant to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld from or with respect to an Award by (a) withholding shares of Common Stock from any payment of Common Stock due as a result of such Award, or (b) permitting the Participant to deliver to the Company (either actually or by attestation) previously acquired shares of Common Stock, in each case having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such required withholding taxes. No payment shall be made and no shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to any Award unless and until the applicable tax withholding obligations have been satisfied.

15.6    No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award granted hereunder. If the application of any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement would yield a fractional share of Common Stock, such fractional share shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share, provided that the Committee in its sole discretion may settle fractional shares in cash.

15.7    Notices; Method of Delivery. All notices required or permitted to be given or made under this Plan or pursuant to any Award Agreement (unless provided otherwise in such Award Agreement) shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made if (a) delivered personally, (b) transmitted by first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (c) sent by prepaid overnight courier service or (d) sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, with confirmation receipt, to the person who is to receive it at the address that such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith. Such notices shall be effective (i) if delivered personally or sent by courier service, upon actual receipt by the intended recipient, (ii) if mailed, upon the earlier of five days after deposit in the mail or the date of delivery as shown by the return receipt therefore or (iii) if sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, when the answer back is received. Noble or a Participant may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the address that it or such Participant had theretofore specified for receiving notices. Until such address is changed in accordance herewith, notices hereunder or under an Award Agreement shall be delivered or sent (A) to a Participant at his address as set forth in the records of the Company or (B) to Noble at the principal executive offices of Noble clearly marked “Attention: General Counsel.” Any provision of this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, any provision in this Plan setting forth a requirement for delivery of a written notice, agreement, consent, acknowledgement, or other documentation in writing, including a written signature, may be satisfied by electronic delivery of such notice, agreement, consent, acknowledgment, or other documentation, in a manner that the Committee has prescribed or that is otherwise acceptable to the Committee, provided that evidence of the intended recipient’s receipt of the electronic delivery is available to the Committee and that such delivery is not prohibited by applicable laws and regulations.

15.8    Compliance with Law and Stock Exchange or Association Requirements. It is the intent of Noble that Options designated Incentive Stock Options comply with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, and that all Awards either be exempt from Section 409A or, if not exempt, comply with the requirements of Section 409A. Any provision of this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may revoke any Award if it is contrary to law, governmental regulation or stock exchange or association requirements or modify an Award to bring it into compliance with any government regulation or stock exchange or association requirements.

15.9    Clawback. By accepting or exercising any Award granted under the Plan, the Participant agrees to abide and be bound by any policies adopted by Noble, including without limitation Noble’s compensation recoupment policy as contained in Noble’s Code of Conduct, as amended from time to time, and any other policies adopted to comply with Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer

21


Protection Act and any rules or exchange listing standards promulgated thereunder, providing for the repayment and/or forfeiture of any Award or payment resulting from an accounting restatement or similar circumstances. Such repayment and/or forfeiture provisions shall apply whether or not the Participant is employed by or affiliated with the Company.

15.10    Binding Effect. The obligations of Noble under this Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of Noble, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of Noble. The terms and conditions of this Plan shall be binding upon each Participant and his Permitted Transferees, heirs, legatees, distributees and legal representatives.

15.11    Severability. If any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Plan or such agreement, as the case may be, but such provision shall be fully severable and this Plan or such agreement, as the case may be, shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein or therein.

15.12    No Restriction of Corporate Action. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to prevent Noble or any Affiliate from taking any corporate action (including any corporate action to suspend, terminate, amend or modify this Plan) that is deemed by Noble or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on this Plan or any Awards made or to be made under this Plan. No Participant or other person shall have any claim against Noble or any Affiliate as a result of such action.

15.13    Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of Texas except as superseded by applicable federal law.

15.14    No Right, Title or Interest in Company Assets. No Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of Noble as a result of participation in this Plan until the date of issuance of Common Stock in his name and, in the case of Restricted Stock, unless and until such rights are granted to the Participant pursuant to this Plan. To the extent any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under this Plan, such rights shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured general creditor of the Company, and such person shall not have any rights in or against any specific assets of the Company. All Awards shall be unfunded.

15.15    Risk of Participation. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed either as a guarantee by Noble or its Affiliates, or their respective stockholders, directors, officers or employees, of the value of any assets of this Plan or as an agreement by Noble or its Affiliates, or their respective stockholders, directors, officers or employees, to indemnify anyone for any losses, damages, costs or expenses resulting from participation in this Plan.

15.16    No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. No person connected with this Plan in any capacity, including without limitation Noble and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, makes any representation, commitment or guarantee that any tax treatment, including without limitation federal, state and local income, estate and gift tax treatment, will be applicable with respect to any Awards or payments thereunder made to or for the benefit of a Participant under this Plan or that such tax treatment will apply to or be available to a Participant on account of participation in this Plan.


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15.17    Continued Employment or Service. Nothing contained in this Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue in the employ or service of the Company, or interfere in any way with the rights of the Company to terminate a Participant’s employment or service at any time, with or without cause. The loss of existing or potential profit in Awards will not constitute an element of damages in the event of termination of employment or service for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of Noble or an Affiliate to the Participant.

15.18    Miscellaneous. Headings are given to the articles and sections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction of this Plan or any provisions hereof. The use of the masculine gender shall also include within its meaning the feminine. Wherever the context of this Plan dictates, the use of the singular shall also include within its meaning the plural, and vice versa.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan has been executed on this 23rd day of April, 2019.

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.



By: /s/ David L. Stover
Name: David L. Stover

Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


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Exhibit 10.2



NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD NOTICE
[3-YEAR TIME VESTED]

You, the Participant named below, have been awarded the following restricted stock award of shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth below and in accordance with the Restricted Stock Award Agreement to which this Restricted Stock Award Notice is attached (the “Agreement”) and the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”):

Participant Name:
 

Number of Restricted
Shares Awarded:
 

Award Date:
 

Vesting Schedule:
The Restricted Shares will be subject to a restricted period (the “Restricted Period”) that will commence on the Award Date and end on the third anniversary of the Award Date. During the Restricted Period, the Restricted Shares will be subject to the restrictions described in the Agreement, provided, however, that the restrictions will be removed as to:

(i)
one third (1/3) of the Restricted Shares (or if such percentage results in a number of shares that includes a fraction, then the next lower whole number of shares) on the first anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble Energy, Inc. (“Noble”) or an Affiliate until such date;

(ii)
one third (1/3) of the Restricted Shares (or if such percentage results in a number of shares that includes a fraction, then the next lower whole number of shares) on the second anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble or an Affiliate until such date; and

(iii)
the remaining Restricted Shares on the third anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble or an Affiliate until such date.

Please note that this Restricted Stock Award Notice serves as your notice of the Award and is for your personal files. You are not required to sign and return any documents. You will be deemed to accept the Award unless you promptly notify the compensation department of Noble in writing that you reject the Award. By accepting this Award, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Restricted Stock Award Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.
                            
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

 


David L. Stover
Chairman and Chief Executive Office





NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

This Restricted Stock Award Agreement (“Agreement”), made and entered into as of the Award Date (as set forth on the Restricted Stock Award Notice), is by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), and the Participant named in the Restricted Stock Award Notice, pursuant to the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

1.    Restricted Stock Award. Effective as of the Award Date, Noble hereby awards to Participant, and Participant hereby accepts, a restricted stock award (“Award”) of Restricted Shares on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions, including forfeiture, set forth in this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Award Notice and the Plan (including but not limited to the terms relating to Participant’s right to vote the Restricted Shares and right to receive any dividends with respect to the Restricted Shares). The Restricted Shares will be issued in book-entry or stock certificate form in the name of Participant as of the Award Date and will be held by Noble in escrow for Participant’s benefit as described in the Plan.

2.    Vesting and Forfeiture.

(a)    The Restricted Shares will be subject to restrictions during the Restricted Period in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Notice. During the Restricted Period, but subject to the provisions set forth in (i) the Plan, including those providing for earlier vesting and removal of restrictions in certain circumstances, or (ii), if applicable, the Noble Energy, Inc. 2016 Severance Benefit Plan or any other severance benefits or early retirement plan or program maintained at any time by Noble (each referred to herein as a “Severance Plan”), which Severance Plan specifically provides for earlier vesting of the Restricted Shares upon a qualifying termination from employment, the Restricted Shares will be subject to being forfeited by Participant to Noble as provided in this Agreement. In addition, Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, discount, exchange, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of the Restricted Shares, other than by will or pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b)    As soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) after the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to a portion of the Restricted Shares, that portion of the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to those shares then being held by Noble, will be delivered to Participant free of such restrictions.

(c)    Immediately after termination of Participant’s employment or service with Noble and its Affiliates, all Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions applicable hereunder that have not by that time been removed or are not, as of such date, being removed pursuant to (i) the Restricted Stock Award Notice and this Agreement or (ii) the applicable provisions of the Plan or a Severance Plan, will be forfeited (the “Forfeited Shares”), which forfeiture will also include any accumulated dividends or distributions with respect to such Forfeited Shares. Neither Participant nor any of his or her heirs, beneficiaries, executors, administrators or other personal representatives will have any rights whatsoever in and to any of the Forfeited Shares or related dividends or

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distributions, and all of the Forfeited Shares and related dividends or distributions will automatically revert to Noble at no cost.

3.    Withholding Taxes.

(a)    Participant may elect within 30 days of the Award Date and on notice to Noble to realize income for federal income tax purposes equal to the fair market value of the Restricted Shares on the Award Date. In such event, Participant will make arrangements satisfactory to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate to pay at such time any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such shares.

(b)    If no election is made by Participant pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, then upon the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to all or any portion of the Restricted Shares, Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate) will pay to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to Noble or such Affiliate regarding payment of, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

(c)    Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if Participant does not satisfy his or her obligations under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section, Noble and its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payments of any kind otherwise due from the Noble or an Affiliate to or with respect to Participant, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement, or the Plan and regardless of the form of payment, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

4.    Effect on Employment or Services. Nothing contained in the Plan or in this Agreement will confer upon Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by or service with Noble or an Affiliate, or interfere in any way with the right of Noble or an Affiliate, (subject to the terms of any separate agreement to the contrary) at any time to terminate such employment or service or to increase or decrease the compensation of Participant from the rate in existence at the date of this Agreement.

5.    The Plan and Restricted Stock Award Notice. The terms and provisions of the Plan and the attached Restricted Stock Award Notice are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

6.    Assignment/Transferability. Noble may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement. The Award, the Restricted Shares and the rights and obligations of Participant under this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may issue such instructions to Noble’s transfer agent in connection with the restrictions on transfer of the Restricted Shares as it deems appropriate. Any certificate for shares of Common Stock issued to Participant pursuant to the Award may include any legend

2


that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect the restrictions on transfer of the Restricted Shares and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable as described in the Plan. Should such shares of Common Stock be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law.

7.    Binding Effect/Governing Law. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) Noble and its successors and assigns, and (ii) Participant and his or her heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and personal representatives. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of Texas, except as superseded by federal law.

8.    Compensation Recoupment Policy. By accepting the Award, Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that Participant and the Award are subject to Noble’s compensation recoupment policy as contained in Noble’s Code of Conduct (the “Policy”), as amended from time to time, and the terms and conditions of the Policy are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.


3
Exhibit 10.3



NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
SUMMARY OF STOCK OPTION AWARD

You, the Participant named below, have been granted the following option (the “Option”) to purchase shares of the common stock (the “Common Stock”), of Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), on the terms and conditions set forth below and in accordance with the Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) to which this Summary of Stock Option Award is attached and the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”):

Participant Name:
 

Number of Option Shares
Granted:
 

Type of Option:
Nonqualified Stock Option

Grant Date:
 

Exercise Price Per Share:
$

Vesting Schedule:
The Option will vest over a period of time and shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will become purchasable in installments in accordance with the following schedule:

(i)
one third (1/3) of such shares (if a fractional number, then the next lower whole number) will become purchasable on the first anniversary of the Grant Date;
(ii)
one third (1/3) of such shares (if a fractional number, then the next lower whole number) will become purchasable on the second anniversary of the Grant Date; and
(iii)
the remaining shares will become purchasable on the third anniversary of the Grant Date.

Please note that this Summary of Stock Option Award serves as your notice of the Option and is for your personal files. You are not required to sign and return any documents. You will be deemed to accept the Option unless you promptly notify the compensation department of Noble in writing that you reject the Option. By accepting this Award, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Summary of Stock Option Award, the attached Stock Option Award Agreement and the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
    
                            
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
 



David L. Stover
Chairman and Chief Executive Office








NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
    
This Stock Option Award Agreement (“Agreement”), made and entered into as of the Grant Date (as set forth on the Summary of Stock Option Award), is by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), and the Participant named in the Summary of Stock Option Award pursuant to the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

1.     Grant of Option. Effective as of the Grant Date, Noble hereby grants to Participant the right and option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Summary of Stock Option Award at the Exercise Price per share set forth on the Summary of Stock Option Award on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Summary of Stock Option Award and the Plan. The Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as provided in the Summary of Stock Option Award.

2.    Vesting. This Option may be exercised only to the extent it is vested on the vesting dates in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Summary of Stock Option Award. The vested percentage indicated in such Vesting Schedule will be exercisable, as to all or part of the vested shares, at any time or times after the respective vesting date and until the expiration or termination of the Option. The vesting of this Option may be accelerated in certain events as set forth in (i) the Plan, or (ii), if applicable, the Noble Energy, Inc. 2016 Severance Benefit Plan or any other severance benefits or early retirement plan or program maintained at any time by Noble (each referred to herein as a “Severance Plan”), which Severance Plan specifically provides for earlier vesting of the Option upon a qualifying termination from employment.

3.    Term.

(a)    Term of Option. This Option may not be exercised after the expiration of ten years from the Grant Date (five years from the Grant Date if the Option is an Incentive Stock Option and Participant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Noble or of its Affiliates, within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, as of the Grant Date).

(b)    Early Termination. Except as provided in the Plan or a Severance Plan, this Option may not be exercised unless Participant has been in the continuous employ or service of Noble or any Affiliate from the Grant Date to the date of exercise of the Option; provided, however, that this Option may be exercised after the date of Participant’s termination of employment or service with Noble and its Affiliates in the circumstances described in the Plan or a Severance Plan, as applicable.

(c)    Termination for Cause. This Option will automatically terminate and be null and void in the event of Participant’s termination for Cause.

4.    Manner of Exercise and Payment. Participant may exercise any portion of this Option that has become exercisable in accordance with the terms hereof as to all or any of the shares of Common Stock then available for purchase by delivering to Noble written or electronic notice, in a form satisfactory to the Committee, specifying the number of shares as to which the Option is exercised and accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price of such shares in a manner allowed by the Plan.

5.    Withholding Tax. Promptly after demand by Noble, and at its direction, Participant will pay to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate an amount equal to the applicable withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option. In accordance with the Plan, such withholding taxes may be

1


paid in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in whole or in part, by having Noble withhold from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option a number of shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount of such withholding taxes or by delivering (either actually or by attestation) to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate a number of previously acquired shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount of such withholding taxes. An election by Participant to have shares withheld or to deliver shares to pay withholding taxes will be made in accordance with administrative guidelines established by the Committee.

6.    Delivery of Shares. Delivery of the shares representing the shares of Common Stock purchased will be made in certificate or book-entry form and will be made as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of notice of exercise and full payment of the Exercise Price and any required withholding taxes, provided that Noble will have such time as it reasonably deems necessary to qualify or register such shares on any exchange that it deems desirable or necessary.

7.    Assignment/Transferability. Noble may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement. This Option is not transferable by Participant other than (i) by will or pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution or (ii) if the Option is a Nonqualified Stock, to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

8.    The Plan and Summary of Stock Option Award. The terms and provisions of the Plan and the attached Summary of Stock Option Award are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or the Summary of Stock Option Award will have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

9.    Effect on Employment or Services. Nothing contained in the Plan or in this Agreement will confer upon Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by or service with Noble or an Affiliate, or interfere in any way with the right of Noble or an Affiliate, (subject to the terms of any separate agreement to the contrary) at any time to terminate such employment or service or to increase or decrease the compensation of Participant from the rate in existence at the date of this Agreement.

10.    Binding Effect/Governing Law. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) Noble and its successors and assigns, and (ii) the Participant and his or her heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and personal representatives. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of Texas, except as superseded by applicable federal law.

11.    Compensation Recoupment Policy. By accepting the Option, Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that Participant and this Option are subject to Noble’s compensation recoupment policy as contained in Noble’s Code of Conduct (the “Policy”), as amended from time to time, and the terms and conditions of the Policy are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.



2
Exhibit 10.4



NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD NOTICE
[3-YEAR CLIFF VESTED]

You, the Participant named below, have been awarded the following restricted stock award of shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth below and in accordance with the Restricted Stock Award Agreement to which this Restricted Stock Award Notice is attached (the “Agreement”) and the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”):

Participant Name:
 

Number of Restricted
Shares Awarded:
 

Award Date:
 

Vesting Schedule:
The Restricted Shares will be subject to a restricted period (the “Restricted Period”) that will commence on the Award Date and end on the third anniversary of the Award Date. During the Restricted Period, the Restricted Shares will be subject to the restrictions described in the Agreement, provided, however, that the restrictions will be removed as to:

(i)
100% of the Restricted Shares on the third anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble or an Affiliate until such date.

Please note that this Restricted Stock Award Notice serves as your notice of the Award and is for your personal files. You are not required to sign and return any documents. You will be deemed to accept the Award unless you promptly notify the compensation department of Noble in writing that you reject the Award. By accepting this Award, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Restricted Stock Award Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.
    
                            
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.




David L. Stover
Chairman and Chief Executive Office






NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

This Restricted Stock Award Agreement (“Agreement”), made and entered into as of the Award Date (as set forth on the Restricted Stock Award Notice), is by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), and the Participant named in the Restricted Stock Award Notice, pursuant to the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

1.    Restricted Stock Award. Effective as of the Award Date, Noble hereby awards to Participant, and Participant hereby accepts, a restricted stock award (“Award”) of Restricted Shares on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions, including forfeiture, set forth in this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Award Notice and the Plan (including but not limited to the terms relating to Participant’s right to vote the Restricted Shares and right to receive any dividends with respect to the Restricted Shares). The Restricted Shares will be issued in book-entry or stock certificate form in the name of Participant as of the Award Date and will be held by Noble in escrow for Participant’s benefit as described in the Plan.

2.    Vesting and Forfeiture.

(a)    The Restricted Shares will be subject to restrictions during the Restricted Period in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Notice. During the Restricted Period, but subject to the provisions set forth in (i) the Plan, including those providing for earlier vesting and removal of restrictions in certain circumstances, or (ii), if applicable, the Noble Energy, Inc. 2016 Severance Benefit Plan or any other severance benefits or early retirement plan or program maintained at any time by Noble (each referred to herein as a “Severance Plan”), which Severance Plan specifically provides for earlier vesting of the Restricted Shares upon a qualifying termination from employment, the Restricted Shares will be subject to being forfeited by Participant to Noble as provided in this Agreement. In addition, Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, discount, exchange, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of the Restricted Shares, other than by will or pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b)    As soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) after the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to a portion of the Restricted Shares, that portion of the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to those shares then being held by Noble, will be delivered to Participant free of such restrictions.

(c)    Immediately after termination of Participant’s employment or service with Noble and its Affiliates, all Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions applicable hereunder that have not by that time been removed or are not, as of such date, being removed pursuant to (i) the Restricted Stock Award Notice and this Agreement or (ii) the applicable provisions of the Plan or a Severance Plan, will be forfeited (the “Forfeited Shares”), which forfeiture will also include any accumulated dividends or distributions with respect to such Forfeited Shares. Neither Participant nor any of his or her heirs, beneficiaries, executors, administrators or other personal representatives will have any rights whatsoever in and to any of the Forfeited Shares or related dividends or

1


distributions, and all of the Forfeited Shares and related dividends or distributions will automatically revert to Noble at no cost.

3.    Withholding Taxes.

(a)    Participant may elect within 30 days of the Award Date and on notice to Noble to realize income for federal income tax purposes equal to the fair market value of the Restricted Shares on the Award Date. In such event, Participant will make arrangements satisfactory to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate to pay at such time any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such shares.

(b)    If no election is made by Participant pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, then upon the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to all or any portion of the Restricted Shares, Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate) will pay to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to Noble or such Affiliate regarding payment of, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

(c)    Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if Participant does not satisfy his or her obligations under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section, Noble and its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payments of any kind otherwise due from the Noble or an Affiliate to or with respect to Participant, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement, or the Plan and regardless of the form of payment, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

4.    Effect on Employment or Services. Nothing contained in the Plan or in this Agreement will confer upon Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by or service with Noble or an Affiliate, or interfere in any way with the right of Noble or an Affiliate, (subject to the terms of any separate agreement to the contrary) at any time to terminate such employment or service or to increase or decrease the compensation of Participant from the rate in existence at the date of this Agreement.

5.    The Plan and Restricted Stock Award Notice. The terms and provisions of the Plan and the attached Restricted Stock Award Notice are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

6.    Assignment/Transferability. Noble may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement. The Award, the Restricted Shares and the rights and obligations of Participant under this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may issue such instructions to Noble’s transfer agent in connection with the restrictions on transfer of the Restricted Shares as it deems appropriate. Any certificate for shares of Common Stock issued to Participant pursuant to the Award may include any legend

2


that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect the restrictions on transfer of the Restricted Shares and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable as described in the Plan. Should such shares of Common Stock be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law.

7.    Binding Effect/Governing Law. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) Noble and its successors and assigns, and (ii) Participant and his or her heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and personal representatives. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of Texas, except as superseded by federal law.

8.    Compensation Recoupment Policy. By accepting the Award, Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that Participant and the Award are subject to Noble’s compensation recoupment policy as contained in Noble’s Code of Conduct (the “Policy”), as amended from time to time, and the terms and conditions of the Policy are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.


3
Exhibit 10.5



NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD NOTICE
[3-YEAR TIME VESTED]

You, the Participant named below, have been awarded the following restricted stock award of shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth below and in accordance with the Restricted Stock Award Agreement to which this Restricted Stock Award Notice is attached (the “Agreement”) and the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”):

Participant Name:
 

Number of Restricted
Shares Awarded:
 

Award Date:
 

Vesting Schedule:
The Restricted Shares will be subject to a restricted period (the “Restricted Period”) that will commence on the Award Date and end on the third anniversary of the Award Date. During the Restricted Period, the Restricted Shares will be subject to the restrictions described in the Agreement, provided, however, that the restrictions will be removed as to:

(i)
20% of the Restricted Shares (or if such percentage results in a number of shares that includes a fraction, then the next lower whole number of shares) on the first anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble Energy, Inc. (“Noble”) or an Affiliate until such date;

(ii)
30% of the Restricted Shares (or if such percentage results in a number of shares that includes a fraction, then the next lower whole number of shares) on the second anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble or an Affiliate until such date; and

(iii)
the remaining Restricted Shares on the third anniversary of the Award Date, provided Participant is in the continuous employ or service of Noble or an Affiliate until such date.

Please note that this Restricted Stock Award Notice serves as your notice of the Award and is for your personal files. You are not required to sign and return any documents. You will be deemed to accept the Award unless you promptly notify the compensation department of Noble in writing that you reject the Award. By accepting this Award, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Restricted Stock Award Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.
    
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
 

David L. Stover
Chairman and Chief Executive Office





NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
2017 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

This Restricted Stock Award Agreement (“Agreement”), made and entered into as of the Award Date (as set forth on the Restricted Stock Award Notice), is by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), and the Participant named in the Restricted Stock Award Notice, pursuant to the Noble Energy, Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

1.    Restricted Stock Award. Effective as of the Award Date, Noble hereby awards to Participant, and Participant hereby accepts, a restricted stock award (“Award”) of Restricted Shares on the terms and conditions and subject to the restrictions, including forfeiture, set forth in this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Award Notice and the Plan (including but not limited to the terms relating to Participant’s right to vote the Restricted Shares and right to receive any dividends with respect to the Restricted Shares). The Restricted Shares will be issued in book-entry or stock certificate form in the name of Participant as of the Award Date and will be held by Noble in escrow for Participant’s benefit as described in the Plan.

2.    Vesting and Forfeiture.

(a)    The Restricted Shares will be subject to restrictions during the Restricted Period in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Notice. During the Restricted Period, but subject to the provisions set forth in (i) the Plan, including those providing for earlier vesting and removal of restrictions in certain circumstances, or (ii), if applicable, the Noble Energy, Inc. 2016 Severance Benefit Plan or any other severance benefits or early retirement plan or program maintained at any time by Noble (each referred to herein as a “Severance Plan”), which Severance Plan specifically provides for earlier vesting of the Restricted Shares upon a qualifying termination from employment, the Restricted Shares will be subject to being forfeited by Participant to Noble as provided in this Agreement. In addition, Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, discount, exchange, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of the Restricted Shares, other than by will or pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b)    As soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) after the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to a portion of the Restricted Shares, that portion of the Restricted Shares, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect to those shares then being held by Noble, will be delivered to Participant free of such restrictions.

(c)    Immediately after termination of Participant’s employment or service with Noble and its Affiliates, all Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions applicable hereunder that have not by that time been removed or are not, as of such date, being removed pursuant to (i) the Restricted Stock Award Notice and this Agreement or (ii) the applicable provisions of the Plan or a Severance Plan, will be forfeited (the “Forfeited Shares”), which forfeiture will also include any accumulated dividends or distributions with respect to such Forfeited Shares. Neither Participant nor any of his or her heirs, beneficiaries, executors, administrators or other personal representatives will have any rights whatsoever in and to any of the Forfeited Shares or related dividends or

1


distributions, and all of the Forfeited Shares and related dividends or distributions will automatically revert to Noble at no cost.

3.    Withholding Taxes.

(a)    Participant may elect within 30 days of the Award Date and on notice to Noble to realize income for federal income tax purposes equal to the fair market value of the Restricted Shares on the Award Date. In such event, Participant will make arrangements satisfactory to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate to pay at such time any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such shares.

(b)    If no election is made by Participant pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, then upon the termination of the restrictions applicable hereunder to all or any portion of the Restricted Shares, Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate) will pay to Noble or the appropriate Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to Noble or such Affiliate regarding payment of, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

(c)    Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if Participant does not satisfy his or her obligations under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section, Noble and its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payments of any kind otherwise due from the Noble or an Affiliate to or with respect to Participant, whether or not pursuant to this Agreement, or the Plan and regardless of the form of payment, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Shares.

4.    Effect on Employment or Services. Nothing contained in the Plan or in this Agreement will confer upon Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by or service with Noble or an Affiliate, or interfere in any way with the right of Noble or an Affiliate, (subject to the terms of any separate agreement to the contrary) at any time to terminate such employment or service or to increase or decrease the compensation of Participant from the rate in existence at the date of this Agreement.

5.    The Plan and Restricted Stock Award Notice. The terms and provisions of the Plan and the attached Restricted Stock Award Notice are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

6.    Assignment/Transferability. Noble may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement. The Award, the Restricted Shares and the rights and obligations of Participant under this Agreement may not be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may issue such instructions to Noble’s transfer agent in connection with the restrictions on transfer of the Restricted Shares as it deems appropriate. Any certificate for shares of Common Stock issued to Participant pursuant to the Award may include any legend

2


that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect the restrictions on transfer of the Restricted Shares and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable as described in the Plan. Should such shares of Common Stock be represented by book or electronic entry rather than a certificate, the Company may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law.

7.    Binding Effect/Governing Law. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) Noble and its successors and assigns, and (ii) Participant and his or her heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and personal representatives. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of Texas, except as superseded by federal law.

8.    Compensation Recoupment Policy. By accepting the Award, Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that Participant and the Award are subject to Noble’s compensation recoupment policy as contained in Noble’s Code of Conduct (the “Policy”), as amended from time to time, and the terms and conditions of the Policy are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.


3


Exhibit 31.1
Certification Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(18 U.S.C. Section 7241)
I, David L. Stover, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Energy, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting, which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date:
May 3, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ David L. Stover
 
David L. Stover
 
Chief Executive Officer
 





Exhibit 31.2
Certification Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(18 U.S.C. Section 7241)
I, Kenneth M. Fisher, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Energy, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting, which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date:
May 3, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Kenneth M. Fisher
 
Kenneth M. Fisher
 
Chief Financial Officer
 





Exhibit 32.1
Certification Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019 (the “Report”), I, David L. Stover, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify that to my knowledge:
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date:
May 3, 2019
 
/s/ David L. Stover
 
 
 
David L. Stover
 
 
 
Chief Executive Officer




Exhibit 32.2
Certification Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019 (the “Report”), I, Kenneth M. Fisher, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify that to my knowledge:
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date:
May 3, 2019
 
/s/ Kenneth M. Fisher
 
 
 
Kenneth M. Fisher
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer