<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000797468-16-000028.txt : 20160802
<SEC-HEADER>0000797468-16-000028.hdr.sgml : 20160802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160630180030
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000797468-16-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160630

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000797468
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				954035997
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 GREENWAY PLAZA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 110
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7132157000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 GREENWAY PLAZA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 110
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77046
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="sa39a7326b1b54415af326e7c67d4cacc"></a></div><div></div><div><br></div><div style="padding:144px 48px 24px 48px; border:1pt solid #ffffff;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Via Edgar and Email</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">June 30, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">United States Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">100 F Street NE, Stop 4628</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Attention:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Brad Skinner</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Senior Assistant Chief Accountant</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:96px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Office of Natural Resources</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Re:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Occidental Petroleum Corporation</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Filed February 26, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Filed May 5, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Form 8-K</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Filed May 5, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:144px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">File No. 001-09210</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:24px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Dear Mr. Skinner:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The information set forth below is submitted by Occidental Petroleum Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221; or "Occidental") in response to comments received by the staff of the Division of Corporate Finance (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) by letter dated June 23, 2016 with respect to the above referenced filings. Capitalized terms used in this letter and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the referenced filings. The numbered paragraphs and headings correspond to the numbered paragraphs and headings of your letter. For your convenience, the Company&#8217;s response is prefaced by the exact text of the Staff&#8217;s comment in bolded text.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page 13</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Oil and Gas Segment, page 14</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">United States Assets, Permian Basin, page 15</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">1.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">You disclose that you have over 8,500 drilling location in your horizontal inventory. Expand this disclosure to clarify the nature of these locations, including whether </font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Occidental Petroleum Corporation</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">2</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#32;of 4</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="padding:144px 48px 24px 48px; border:1pt solid #ffffff;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-left:48px;text-align:left;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">they are individual, specifically identified drilling locations and the extent to which they represent proved or unproved locations.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Response to Comment 1:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The Company acknowledges the Staff&#8217;s comment. In any future filings in which the Company discloses the number of its drilling locations, the Company will expand this disclosure to clarify the nature of these locations, including whether they are individual, specifically identified drilling locations and the extent to which they represent proved or unproved locations. The Company proposes to revise any such disclosure in a manner similar to the following in reports going forward:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">&#8220;The Company has over [       ] individual, specifically identified drilling locations in its horizontal inventory located in the Midland and Delaware sub-basins of the Permian Basin. This inventory was developed using data gathered from our appraisal efforts and development drilling, along with offset operators drilling activities. As of year end, [    ] of these represented proved locations.&#8221; </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Form 8-K Filed May 5, 2016</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">2.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">The discussion of quarterly results appearing on pages two and three of the earnings release provided under Exhibit 99.1 is based on non-GAAP &#8220;core earnings&#8221;, and does not include a corresponding presentation and discussion of GAAP results. This is inconsistent with the updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations issued on May 17, 2016, in particular C&amp;DI 102.10. Please review this guidance when preparing your next earnings release.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Response to Comment 2:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The Company acknowledges the Staff&#8217;s comment on the updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations issued subsequent to the filing of the Form 8-K. In future documents filed or furnished with the Commission, the Company will include a corresponding presentation and discussion of GAAP results along with the presentation of non-GAAP &#8220;core earnings&#8221;, as applicable. The Company will apply the guidance consistent with the updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations issued on May 17, 2016, in particular C&amp;DI 102.10.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Occidental Petroleum Corporation</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">3</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#32;of 4</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="padding:144px 48px 24px 48px; border:1pt solid #ffffff;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2016</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page 17</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 23</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">3.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">We note that cash used for capital expenditures plus dividends exceeded cash flow from operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, despite significant reductions in capital expenditures in response to the current commodity price environment. We also note that restricted cash, which had been used to fund dividends in recent periods, had been fully utilized as of March 31, 2016. Expand your discussion under this section to describe the impact of these trends on your cash management decisions, including with respect to the payment of dividends. See Section IV of SEC Release 34-48960.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Response to Comment 3:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The Company acknowledges the Staff&#8217;s comment and will provide additional disclosures in future annual and quarterly reports, as applicable, describing the impact of capital expenditure and cash flow trends on the Company&#8217;s cash management decisions, including with respect to dividends. The Company expects that such additional disclosure will vary from quarter-to-quarter in response to fluctuations in the commodity price environment, demand for the Company&#8217;s products, and other market conditions and contingencies. In the future, the Company proposes to revise its disclosure in a manner similar to the following, to be modified as appropriate to actual results and market conditions:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#8220;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">At [         ], 2016, Occidental had $[     ] billion in cash. Income and cash flows are largely dependent on the oil and gas segment&#8217;s realized prices, sales volumes and operating costs. In the [    ] quarter, Occidental continued to significantly reduce its capital expenditures compared to the prior year period. Subsequent to the quarter end, the oil and natural gas commodity price environment continued to improve, and, with a continued reduction in capital expenditures and forecasted operational improvements, Occidental expects to fund its liquidity needs, including future dividend payments, through cash on hand, cash generated from operations, monetization of non-core assets or investments and, if necessary, through future borrowings or proceeds from other forms of capital issuance.</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#8221; </font></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Occidental Petroleum Corporation</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Page </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">4</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">&#32;of 4</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="padding:144px 48px 24px 48px; border:1pt solid #ffffff;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Occidental acknowledges that:</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:12px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Occidental is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing;</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:12px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:12px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8226;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Occidental may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:12px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">If you need any further information or elaboration, or if you wish to discuss any of the information presented above, please call me at your convenience at 713-215-7123. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Very truly yours,</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:24px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:24px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Christopher G. Stavros</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Christopher G. Stavros</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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