Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014

The Amsterdam-based oil & gas reservoir producer, Core Labs NV (CLB), reported third quarter earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday, which topped analyst projections.

Core Labs managed to rake in $273.16 million in revenues during the third quarter, marking a sizable improvement over last quarter’s revenues figure which came in at $267.21 million. In terms of earnings-per-share, the company generated $1.36 per share last quarter, beating the projected EPS of $1.34 by two pennies; looking back further, Core Labs has been growing its earnings when considering that its EPS in Q3 one year ago was $1.13.

Top 10 Japanese Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Dno International ASA (DTNOF.PK)

DNO International ASA is a Norway-based oil and gas exploration and production company. It is engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of oil and gas properties. Its activities are primarily undertaken in the Middle East and the North African (MENA) region. It holds stakes in oil and gas blocks in various stages of exploration, development and production both onshore and offshore in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the Republic of Yemen, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Tunisian Republic and Somaliland. The Company operates through its head office in Oslo, and a network of offices throughout the MENA region. Its subsidiaries include DNO Yemen AS, DNO UK Ltd, DNO Invest AS, DNO Tunisia AS, DNO Iraq AS and DNO Mena AS. In January 2014, it completed the the farm-in by its subsidiary DNO Tunisia AS to the Sfax Offshore Exploration Permit and the Ras El Besh Concession in Tunisia, in which DNO Tunisia AS now holds 87.5% participating (100% paying) interest. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Street Smart Investor]

  DNO International (DTNOF.PK), an independent exploration and production company, has surged by 43% in 2013. The upside trend is not over for the stock with potential triggers for further upside over the next one year. This research presents the reasons for the bullish outlook and the stock's upside potential considering the best case and worst case scenario for the company. The scenario analysis concludes on a 25-42% upside in the given time horizon.

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014: Golar LNG Partners LP (GMLP)

Golar LNG Partners LP (the Partnership), incorporated on September 24, 2007, is a limited partnership formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Golar LNG Limited (Golar), an independent owner and operator of floating storage re-gasification units (FSRUs) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, to own and operate FSRUs and LNG carriers under long-term charters. The vessels in its fleet are chartered to BG Group, Pertamina, Petrobras and Dubai Supply Authority. As of December 31, 2012, Golar owned its 2.0% general partner interest, all of its IDRs and a 49.9% limited partner interest in it. As of December 31, 2012, its fleet consisted of a 100% interest in the Golar Spirit, which is operating under a time charter with Petrobras; a 100% interest in the Golar Winter, which is operating under a time charter with Petrobras; a 100% interest in the Golar Freeze, which is operating under a time charter with Dubai Supply Authority (DUSUP), the purchaser of natural gas in Dubai; a 100% interest in the Methane Princess, which is operating under a time charter with BG Group PLC (BG Group), and a 60% interest in the Golar Mazo, an LNG carrier, which is operating under a time charter with PT Pertamina (Pertamina). In July 2012, Golar sold its interests in the companies that own and operate the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Nusantara Regas Satu to the Company. As of April 30, 2013, the Company has a fleet of four FSRUs and four LNG carriers. In November 2012, the Company acquired from Golar interests in subsidiaries that lease and operate the LNG carrier, the Golar Grand.

FSRU Charters

The Company provides the services of each of the Golar Spirit and the Golar Winter to Petrobras under separate time charter parties (or TCP) and operation and services agreements (OSAs). The TCPs and OSAs are interdependent and when combined have the same effect as the time charters for its LNG carriers. The services of the Golar Freeze are provided to DUSUP under a TCP. The Golar Spirit and ! Golar Winter charters also contained provisions giving Petrobras the option to purchase the vessels from it under certain circumstances.

LNG Carrier Charters

The Company provides the LNG marine transportation services of the Golar Mazo, Methane Princess and the Golar Maria under a time charters with LNG Shipping SpA. A time charter is a contract for the use of the vessel for a fixed period of time at a specified daily rate. Under a time charter, the vessel owner provides crewing and other services related to the vessel�� operation.

The Company competes with Royal Dutch Shell, BP, BG, Malaysian International Shipping Company, National Gas Shipping Company, Qatar Gas Transport Company, Excelerate Energy, Hoegh LNG, Exmar, Teekay LNG and MISC Berhad.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Golar LNG Partners LP (GMLP), a limited partnership, owns and operates floating storage and regasification units and LNG carriers under long-term charters. This stock closed up 3.5% at $32.74 in Monday's trading session.

  Monday's Volume: 432,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 81,559
  
  Volume % Change: 283%

  From a technical perspective, GMLP bounced notably higher here right off its 200-day moving average of $31.79 and back above its 50-day moving average of $32.56 with strong upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of GMLP within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if GMLP manages to take out Monday's intraday high at $32.96 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $33.15 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GMLP as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $31.79 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 81,559 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then GMLP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $34.78 to its 52-week high at $36.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Golar LNG Partners Limited Partnership (Nasdaq: GMLP  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014: Legacy Oil + Gas Inc (LEGPF.PK)

Legacy Oil + Gas Inc. (Legacy) is engaged in exploration, exploitation and development drilling for oil and natural gas reserves. Legacy's wholly owned subsidiary, Legacy Oil & Gas ND, Inc., holds properties and operates in the State of North Dakota. Its Southeast Saskatchewan properties are located in an area ranging from approximately 130 to 290 kilometers southeast of the city of Regina, Saskatchewan. Legacy has an average working interest of approximately 75% in 24,576 gross (18,647 net) acres of undeveloped land at Taylorton. It has an average working interest of approximately 70% in 32,959 gross (22,938 net) acres of undeveloped land in the Viewfield Bakken play with properties at Stoughton, Heward and Star Valley. On January 1, 2011, it amalgamated with its wholly owned subsidiaries Legacy VRI Ltd. and Legacy TV Ltd. In April 2013, it closed the acquisition of Villanova Oil Corp. (Villanova) and the acquisition of light oil assets. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Value Digger]

  To open up new Cardium opportunities, Manitok is also expanding to the Southern Alberta Foothills, where it plans to drill the first well of the farm-in with Legacy Oil & Gas (LEGPF.PK) before year end. Legacy Oil has a 99% average working interest in the Farm-in Lands prior to Manitok earning. Manitok will pay 100% of the cost to drill, complete and equip one horizontal Cardium oil well in order to earn 70% of Legacy's working interest, in a small block of land within the Farm-in Lands. If Manitok drills, completes and equips 3 horizontal Cardium oil wells at 100% of the cost, it will earn the entire 70% of working interest in Legacy's Farm-in Lands.

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014: LRR Energy LP (LRE)

LRR Energy, L.P (LRR Energy) is a limited partnership formed by affiliates of Lime Rock Resources to operate, acquire, exploit and develop producing oil and natural gas properties in North America. The Company�� properties are located in the Permian Basin region in West Texas and southeast New Mexico, the Mid-Continent region in Oklahoma and East Texas and the Gulf Coast region in Texas. As of March 31, 2011, the Company�� total estimated proved reserves were approximately 30.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which approximately 84% were proved developed reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2010, approximately 55% of its pro forma revenues were from oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) and approximately 37% of its total estimated proved reserves were oil and NGLs. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated 93% of its proved reserves. Based on its pro forma average net production of 6,503 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d) for December 31, 2010, the Company�� total estimated proved reserves as of March 31, 2011 had a reserve-to-production ratio of approximately 12.8 years. In January 2013, the Company acquired oil and natural gas properties in the Mid-Continent region in Oklahoma from its sponsor, Lime Rock Resources. In April 2013, it announced that it closed its acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the Mid-Continent region in Oklahoma.

The Company�� general partner, LRE GP, LLC, is controlled by Lime Rock Management LP. The Company�� general partner has sole responsibility for conducting its business and for managing its operations. The Company�� properties consist of mature, low-risk onshore oil and natural gas reservoirs with long-lived, predictable production profiles located across three diverse producing regions: the permian basin region in west texas and southeast new mexico, the mid-continent region in oklahoma and east texas, and the gulf coast region in texas. As of March 31, 2011, the Company�� estimated proved developed non-! producing reserves included 192 gross (158 net) recompletion, refracture stimulation and workover projects. In addition, as of March 31, 2011, the Company�� proved undeveloped reserves included 213 gross (140 net) identified drilling locations.

As of March 31, 2011, approximately 55% of the Company�� estimated proved reserves and approximately 44% of its pro forma average daily net production for the three months ended December 31, 2010, were located in the Permian Basin region. Approximately 60% of the Company�� estimated net proved reserves in the Permian Basin region are oil and NGLs. The Permian Basin is one of the oil and natural gas producing basins in the United States, extending over 100,000 square miles in West Texas and southeast New Mexico, and has produced over 24 billion barrels of oil. The Company owns an 83% average working interest across 665 gross (552 net) wells and operates approximately 92% of its properties in the Permian Basin. The Company�� estimated proved reserves for its Permian Basin properties as of March 31, 2011 totaled 16.6 MMBoe and had a standardized measure of $237.7 million, which represented 69% of the total standardized measure for all of its estimated proved reserves.

The Company�� properties in the Red Lake area is an oil-weighted field located in Eddy County, New Mexico. The Red Lake properties have produced approximately 4.9 MMBoe. The primary producing formations are the San Andres and Yeso at a depth of approximately 2,000 to 5,000 feet. The Company operates approximately 99% of its proved reserves in the Red Lake area, including 157 gross (144 net) producing wells in the field with an average working interest of 92%, and own a non-operated working interest in 10 gross (3 net) additional wells in the area with an average working interest of 31%. The Company�� properties in the field contained 9.6 MMBoe of estimated net proved reserves as of March 31, 2011, approximately 86% of which are oil and NGLs, and generated average n! et produc! tion of 1,410 Boe/d for December 31, 2010. These properties represented 32% of its total estimated proved reserves as of March 31, 2011 and 22% of the Company�� pro forma average net production for December 31, 2010. In addition, these properties had a standardized measure of $163.3 million as of March 31, 2011, which represented 48% of the total standardized measure for all of the Company�� estimated proved reserves.

The Company�� properties in the Pecos Slope area is a gas-weighted field located in Eddy, Chaves, Lea and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico. The Company operates approximately 100% of its proved reserves in the Pecos Slope area, including 434 gross (382 net) producing wells in the field with an average working interest of 88%. The Company�� Willow Lake field is an oil-weighted field located in Eddy County, New Mexico. There are 41 gross (8 net) producing wells in this area with an average non-operated working interest of 19%. The Cowden Ranch area is an oil-weighted field located in Crane County, Texas. The Company operate s100% of its proved reserves in the Cowden Ranch area, including 8 gross (approximately 5 net) producing wells in the field with an average working interest of 71%. The Company�� properties in the Corbin and Vacuum have produced approximately 3.0 MMBoe. The Company operates 100% of its proved reserves in the Corbin and Vacuum areas, including 8 gross (8 net) producing wells with an average working interest of 100%.

As of December 31, 2010, approximately 33% of the Company�� estimated proved reserves and approximately 38% of its pro forma average daily net production for December 31, 2010 were located in the Mid-Continent region. The Company�� Potato Hills Area is an Arkoma Basin natural gas property located in Latimer and Pushmataha Counties in Southeast Oklahoma. The Company�� Reklaw properties have produced approximately 5.6 MMBoe. The Company operates 100% of its proved reserves in the Reklaw area, including 63 gross (61 net) pro! ducing we! lls in the field with an average working interest of 97%. Its properties in the Black Bayou-Doyle Creek area is a natural gas-weighted field located in Angelina, Cherokee and Nacogdoches Counties, Texas, in close proximity to the Reklaw area. The Company�� non-operated interest in 43 gross (approximately 12 net) producing wells in the field with an average non-operated working interest of 26%.

As of March 31, 2011, approximately 12% of the Company�� estimated proved reserves and approximately 18% of its pro forma average daily net production for December 31, 2010 were located in the Gulf Coast region. Approximately 31% of the Company�� estimated net proved reserves in the Gulf Coast region are oil and NGLs. The Company owns an 82% average working interest across 42 gross (35 net) wells and operates 100% of its properties in the Gulf Coast region. The Company�� property New Years Ridge area is a natural gas-weighted field located in DeWitt County, Texas. The Company�� George West-Stratton areas consist of natural gas-weighted fields located in Live Oak and Hidalgo Counties, Texas. The Company�� operates 100% of its proved reserves in the George West-Stratton areas, including 23 gross (17 net) producing wells in the George West-Stratton areas with an average working interest of 73%.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  LRR Energy (NYSE: LRE) was another name I covered in the article Upstream Turbulence Yields Bargains. LRE is an upstream MLP focused on acquiring and developing oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent region, and the Gulf Coast region in Texas. Total proved reserves at the end of 2012 were 31.7 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), of which 50 percent were liquids. The partnership is ~85 percent hedged through 2017 at average prices of $92.73/barrel for oil, $37.04/bbl for NGLs, and $5.06 per MMBtu for natural gas.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  LRR Energy (NYSE: LRE) is an upstream MLP focused on acquiring and developing oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent region, and the Gulf Coast region in Texas. Total proved reserves at the end of 2012 were 31.7 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), of which 50 percent were liquids. The partnership is ~85 percent hedged through 2017 at average prices of $92.73/barrel for oil, $37.04/bbl for NGLs, and $5.06 per MMBtu for natural gas.

• [By CRWE]

  LRR Energy, L.P. (NYSE:LRE) reported that its management will present at the National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships��2012 Master Limited Partnership Investor Conference in Greenwich, CT on Thursday, May 24, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of LRR Energy (NYSE: LRE  ) dropped as much as 10% today after the company released earnings.

  So what: Revenue dropped nearly 50%, to $15.8 million, and the company swung to a loss of $7.5 million, or $0.32 per share. Analysts had expected $28.4 million in revenue, and earnings of $0.13 per share.�

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014: Murphy Oil Corp (MUR)

Murphy Oil Corporation, incorporated on June 29, 1964, is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company with retail and wholesale gasoline marketing operations in the United States and refining and marketing operations in the United Kingdom. In August 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the spin-off of its United States retail marketing business into an independent public company called Murphy USA Inc.

Murphy's exploration and production activities are subdivided into five geographic segments, including the United States, Canada, Malaysia, the Republic of the Congo and all other countries. Murphy's refining and marketing activities are subdivided into segments for the United States and the United Kingdom.

Exploration and Production

During the year ended December 31, 2012, Murphy's principal exploration and production activities were conducted in the United States by wholly owned Murphy Exploration & Production Company - USA (Murphy Expro USA), in Malaysia, Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Suriname, Australia, Brunei, the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Cameroon, Vietnam and Equatorial Guinea by wholly owned Murphy Exploration & Production Company - International (Murphy Expro International) and its subsidiaries, in Western Canada and offshore Eastern Canada by wholly owned Murphy Oil Company Ltd. (MOCL) and its subsidiaries, and in the U.K. North Sea and the Atlantic Margin by wholly owned Murphy Petroleum Limited.

Murphy's crude oil and natural gas liquids production in 2012 was in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, the Republic of the Congo and the United Kingdom; its natural gas was produced and sold in the United States, Canada, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. MOCL owns a 5% undivided interest in Syncrude Canada Ltd. in northern Alberta, one of the producers of synthetic crude oil. Murphy's worldwide crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids production in 2012, averaged 112,591 barrels per day. The Company's worldwi! de sales volume of natural gas averaged 490 million cubic feet per day in 2012.

In the United States, Murphy primarily has production of oil and/or natural gas from fields in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, in the Eagle Ford Shale area of South Texas and onshore in South Louisiana. The Company produced approximately 26,100 barrels of oil per day and 53 million cubic feet of natural gas per day in the U.S. in 2012. During 2012, approximately 54% of total U.S. hydrocarbon production was produced at fields in the Gulf of Mexico. The Company holds a 60% interest at Medusa in Mississippi Canyon Blocks 538/582, which produced total daily oil and natural gas of about 4,300 barrels and for million cubic feet, respectively, in 2012. At December 31, 2012, the Medusa field had total proved oil and natural gas reserves of approximately 9.2 million barrels and 9.4 billion cubic feet, respectively. Murphy has a 62.5% working interest in the Front Runner field in Green Canyon Blocks 338/339. Oil and natural gas production at Front Runner averaged about 3,900 barrels of oil per day and four million cubic feet per day in 2012. The Company also acquired additional working interests in the Thunder Hawk field in Mississippi Canyon Block 734 in 2012 and holds 62.5% of this field. In 2012 oil production from this field averaged 2,800 barrels per day and 1.7 million cubic feet per day and 3.2 million cubic feet per day due to a new well completed in 2012.

The Company is primarily concentrating drilling efforts in the areas of the Eagle Ford where oil is the primary hydrocarbon produced. Totals for 2012 oil and natural gas production in the Eagle Ford area were approximately 13,300 barrels per day and 13 MMCF per day, respectively. On a barrel of oil equivalent basis, Eagle Ford production accounted for 44% of total U.S. production volumes in 2012. At December 31, 2012, the Company's proved reserves in the Eagle Ford Shale area totaled 113.6 million barrels of oil and 108.7 billion cubic feet of natural! gas. Tot! al proved U.S. oil and natural gas reserves at December 31, 2012 were 142.6 million barrels and 209.7 billion cubic feet, respectively. The Company is developing the Dalmatian field located in DeSoto Canyon Blocks 4 and 48 in the Gulf of Mexico.

In Canada, the Company owns an interest in three non-operated assets - the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields offshore Newfoundland in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin and Syncrude Canada Ltd. in northern Alberta. In addition, the Company owns interests in one heavy oil area, two natural gas areas and light oil prospective acreage in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Murphy has a 6.5% working interest in Hibernia, while at Terra Nova the Company's working interest is 10.475%. Oil production in 2012 was about 5,300 barrels of oil per day at Hibernia and 1,700 barrels per day at Terra Nova. Total proved oil reserves at December 31, 2012 at Hibernia and Terra Nova were approximately 10.6 million barrels and 5.9 million barrels, respectively.

Murphy owns a 5% undivided interest in Syncrude Canada Ltd., a joint venture located about 25 miles north of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Syncrude utilizes its assets, which include three coking units, to extract bitumen from oil sand deposits and to upgrade this bitumen into a synthetic crude oil. Production in 2012 was about 13,800 barrels of synthetic crude oil per day. Total proved reserves for Syncrude at year-end 2012 were 119.1 million barrels. Daily production in 2012 in the WCSB averaged about 7,500 barrels of mostly heavy oil and about 217 million cubic feet of natural gas. Through 2012, the Company has acquired approximately 144 thousand net acres of mineral rights in the Montney area, including Tupper and Tupper West.

In Malaysia, the Company has majority interests in six separate production sharing contracts (PSCs). The Company serves as the operator of all these areas other than the Kakap field. The production sharing contracts cover approximately 2.79 million gross acres. Murphy h! as an 85%! interest in discoveries made in two shallow-water blocks, SK 309 and SK 311, offshore Sarawak. About 7,400 barrels of oil per day were produced in 2012 at Blocks SK 309/311, with almost 75% of this at the West Patricia field and the remainder mostly associated with gas liquids produced at other Sarawak fields. Total net natural gas sales volume offshore Sarawak was about 174 million cubic feet per day during 2012 . Total proved reserves of oil and natural gas at December 31, 2012 for Blocks SK 309/311 were 10.3 million barrels and 284.7 billion cubic feet, respectively.

The Company made a discovery at the Kikeh field in deepwater Block K, offshore Sabah, Malaysia. Total gross acreage held by the Company in Block K as of December 31, 2012 was 80,000 acres. Production volumes at Kikeh averaged 44,900 barrels of oil per day during 2012. Total proved reserves booked in Block K as of year-end 2012 were 85.4 million barrels of oil and 72.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas.Total proved reserves booked in Block K in 2012, were 85.4 million barrels of oil and 72.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Total gross acreage held by the Company at year-end 2012 in Block H was 1.40 million acres. Murphy has a 75% interest in gas holding agreements for Kenarong and Pertang discoveries made in Block PM 311, located offshore peninsular Malaysia.

The Company had interests in Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) covering two offshore blocks in Republic of the Congo - Mer Profonde Sud (MPS) and Mer Profonde Nord (MPN) during 2012. These interests covered approximately 1.33 million gross acres with water depths ranging from 490 to 6,900 feet, and the Company operated both blocks. Total oil production in 2012 averaged 2,100 barrels per day at Azurite for the Company's 50% interest. Anticipated production in 2013 is 1,500 barrels per day.

The Company holds six exploration permits in Australia and serves as operator of four of them. Block NT/P80 in the Bonaparte Basin, offshore northwester! n Austral! ia, was acquired in June 2009 and covers approximately 1.20 million gross acres. In May 2012, Murphy was awarded permit WA-476-P in the Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western Australia. The Company holds 100% working interest in the permit which covers 177,000 gross acres. In August 2012, Murphy was awarded permit WA-481-P in the Perth Basin, offshore Western Australia. The permit covers approximately 4.30 million gross acres, with water depths ranging from 20 to 300 meters. The Company holds a 40% working interest. The work commitment calls for tw0- dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) seismic acquisition and processing, geophysical work and three exploration wells. In November 2012, Murphy acquired a 20% non-operated working interest in permit WA-408-P in the Browse Basin. This block is adjacent to AC/P36 and is in the midst of a two-well exploration campaign. The permit comprises approximately 417,000 gross acres.

The Company has interests in four exploration licenses in Indonesia and serves as operator of all these concessions. . Following contractually mandated acreage relinquishment in 2012, the block covers approximately 745 thousand gross acres. The Company has a 28.3% interest in the block which covers about 543 thousand gross acres after a required partial relinquishment of acreage during 2012. The permit calls for a 3D seismic program and three exploration wells. Murphy has a 100% interest in the block which covers 1.22 million gross acres. In November 2012, the Company signed a production sharing contract with Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and PetroVietnam Exploration Production Company, whereby it acquired 65% interest and operatorship of Blocks 144 and 145. The blocks cover approximately 4.42 million gross acres and are located in the outer Phu Khanh Basin. In late 2012, the Company was granted Vietnam's government approval to acquire a 60% working interest and operatorship of Block 11-2/11.

The Company operates and holds a 50% interest in the block. The Ce! ntral Doh! uk block covers approximately 153 thousand gross acres and is located in the Dohuk area of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. The Company shot seismic in 2011 and drilled an unsuccessful exploration well in 2012.The Company acquired a 100% working interest and operatorship of Block 48 offshore Suriname. The block encompasses 794 thousand gross acres with water depths ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters. Murphy relinquished Block 37 in July 2012.

Murphy was granted government approval to acquire a 50% working interest and operatorship of the NTEM concession. The working interest was acquired from Sterling Cameroon Limited (Sterling) via a farm-out agreement of the existing production sharing contract. Sterling retained a 50% non-operated interest in the block. The NTEM block, situated in the Douala Basin offshore Cameroon, encompasses 573 thousand gross acres, with water depths ranging from 300 to 1,900 meters. In October 2012, Murphy signed an agreement with Perenco Cameroon to acquire a 50% interest in the Elombo production sharing contract, immediately adjacent to the NTEM concession. The Company received government approval to acquire the acreage in December 2012. Perenco retained a 50% operating interest in the block. The Elombo block, situated in the Douala Basin offshore Cameroon, between the shoreline and the NTEM block, encompasses 594 thousand gross acres with water depths ranging up to 1,100 meters.

In December 2012, Murphy signed a production sharing contract for block W offshore Equatorial Guinea. Murphy has a 45% working interest and has been designated the operator. The government is expected to ratify the contract early in 2013. The block is located offshore mainland Equatorial Guinea and encompasses 557 thousand gross acres with water depths ranging from 60 to 2,000 meters. The initial exploration period of five years is divided into two sub-periods, a sub-period of three years and a second sub-period of two years. The sub-period may be extended one year and with this! extensio! n is the obligation to drill one well. Murphy has produced oil and natural gas in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea for many years. In 2012, Murphy entered into several contracts to sell all of its oil and gas properties in the United Kingdom.

Murphy's total proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2012 increased 42.0 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) from a year earlier. Approximately 44.0 MMBOE of proved undeveloped reserves were converted to proved developed reserves during 2012. During 2012, there were 26.6 million barrels of oil per day of positive revisions for proved undeveloped reserves. At December 31, 2012, proved reserves are included for several development projects that are ongoing, including natural gas developments at the Tupper West area in British Columbia and offshore Sarawak Malaysia, and an oil development at Kakap, offshore Sabah Malaysia. Total proved undeveloped reserves associated with various development projects at December 31, 2012 were approximately 219 million barrels of oil per day, which is 36% of the Company's total proved reserves.

Murphy Oil USA, Inc. (MOUSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation and markets its refined products through a network of Company stations, unbranded wholesale customers and bulk products customers in a 30-state area, primarily in the Southern and Midwestern United States. Murphy's Company stations are located in 23 states and are primarily located in the parking lots of Walmart Supercenters using the brand name Murphy USA. The Company stations also include stand-alone locations using the Murphy Express brand. During 2012, Company stations sold over 3.8 billion gallons of motor fuel. At December 31, 2012, the Company marketed fuel and convenience merchandise through 1,165 Company stations. Of these Company stations, 1,015 are located on parking lots of Walmart Supercenters or other Walmart stores and 150 are stand-alone Murphy Express locations.

The Company owns land und! erlying 9! 08 of the Company stations on Walmart parking lots. No rent is payable to Walmart for the owned locations. For the remaining 104 Company stations located on Walmart property that are not owned, Murphy has master agreements that allow the Company to rent land from Walmart. The master agreements contain general terms applicable to all rental sites on Walmart property in the United States. In addition to the motor fuel sold at the Company's Company stations, its stores carry a broad selection of snacks, beverages, tobacco products, and other non-food merchandise. The Company's merchandise offerings include two private label products, an isotonic drink offered in several flavors and a private label energy drink. In 2012, the Company purchased more than 88% of its merchandise from a single vendor, McLane's Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

Murphy owns an interest in a crude oil pipeline that connects storage at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) at Clovelly, Louisiana, to the formerly owned Meraux refinery. Murphy owns a 40.1% interest in its 22 miles of this pipeline from Clovelly to Alliance, Louisiana, and 100% of the remaining 24 miles from Alliance to Meraux. Murco Petroleum Limited (Murco), a wholly owned U.K. subsidiary, owns 100% interest in a refinery at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The refinery is located on a 938 acre site owned by the Company; 430 acres are used by the refinery and the remainder is rented for agricultural use. The refinery consistently performed near nameplate capacity during 2012. Murphy has announced its intention to sell the Milford Haven refinery and United Kingdom marketing assets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Sometime in the second half of this year, Murphy Oil� (NYSE: MUR  ) will split in two. When that happens, the company announced today, its current president and CEO, Steve Cosse, will be leaving Murphy proper to join the spun-off business running the firm's current downstream operations, Murphy USA.

• [By Claudia Assis]

  Other top gainers included Newfield Exploration Co. (NFX) , with shares up 2.1%, and Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR) , up 1.4%.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The shares will likely react more to the fleet status report that was released last night, which saw the newbuild Ocean BlackRhino secure a contract, but only because it will take over the contract that the Ocean Confidence was set to begin in April 2015. The transfer of this backlog suggests that the BlackRhino could not secure its own contract that commenced in its delivery window. The customer (Murphy Oil (MUR)) has the option to extend the original 285-day contract at $550k/d to a 2-year contract at $500k/d, or a 3-year contract at $485k/d. The 485k/d rate represents the step down from recent 3-year contracts in the $550-$600 range. While the rate is above initial speculation of a flat $400k/d rate and our estimate of $450k/d, we think it will be perceived negatively as it serves as a reminder that the trend in ultra-deepwater dayrates remains firmly down. Several positive datapoints recently had seemed to instill a sense of complacency in the market that this contract will likely help dispel.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The sales big spender was Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) which posted 16 high bids, totaling just over $321 million. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) offered six high bids, totaling $106 million, followed by Murphy Oil Corp. (NYSE: MUR) with 16 high bids, totaling nearly $50 million, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NYSE: RDS-A) with four high bids, totaling more than $45 million.

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014: Frontline Ltd (FRO)

Frontline Ltd., incorporated on June 12, 1992, is a shipping company. The Company is engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of oil tankers and oil/bulk/ore (OBO) carriers. The Company operates tankers of two sizes: very large crude carriers (VLCCs), which are between 200,000 and 320,000 deadweight tons, and Suezmax tankers, which are vessels between 120,000 and 170,000 deadweight tons. As of December 31, 2010, its tanker and OBO fleet consisted of 73 vessels. The fleet consists of 44 VLCCs, which are either owned or chartered in, 21 Suezmax tankers, which are either owned or chartered in and eight Suezmax OBOs, which are chartered in. The Company also had five VLCC newbuildings and two Suezmax newbuildings on order and three VLCCs under its commercial management. In February 2010, it purchased the VLCC Front Vista from Ship Finance International Limited (Ship Finance). In January 2011, it sold the VLCC Front Shanghai.

The Company operates through subsidiaries and partnerships located in the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, India, the Isle of Man, Liberia, Norway, the United Kingdom and Singapore. The Company is also engaged in the charter, purchase and sale of vessels. In April 2010, the Company delivered the single hull Suezmax Front Voyager. During the year ended December 31, 2010, six newbuildings were completed. Four Suezmax vessels were delivered: the Northia, on January 5, 2010; the Naticina, on March 9, 2010; the Front Odin, on May 5, 2010, and the Front Njord on August 12, 2010. Two VLCCs were delivered: the Front Cecilie on June 10 and the Front Signe on August 9, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, the Company's newbuilding program consisted of two Suezmax tankers and five VLCCs.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Frontline (NYSE: FRO  )
  Shares of Frontline, a transporter of oil and oil products, as well as coal and iron ore, shot higher earlier this week despite no specific news. Many investors might remember Frontline as a company that paid out a double-digit yield as recently as a few years ago. However, the landscape of the shipping sector has drastically changed, and even at just $2 a share it's no longer the value it once was.

Top 10 Oil Stocks For 2014: Reliance Industries Ltd (RELIANCE)

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is a conglomerate with business in the energy and materials value chain. The Company operates in three segments: petrochemicals, refining and oil & gas. The petrochemicals segment includes production and marketing operations of petrochemical products which include, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, poly butadiene rubber, polyester yarn, polyester fibre, purified terephthalic acid, paraxylene, ethylene glycol, olefins, aromatics, linear alkyl benzene, butadiene, acrylonitrile, caustic soda and polyethylene terephthalate. The refining segment includes production and marketing operations of the petroleum products. The oil and gas segment includes exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. Its others segment includes textile, retail business, special economic zone (SEZ) development and telecom / broadband business. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  Vanguard favors India with investments in Infosys Ltd. (NSE: INFY), Reliance Industries Ltd. (NSE: RELIANCE), and Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. (NSE: HDFC) ranking among its top 20.