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LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
NOTE 13 - LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL MATTERS Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage or other losses, punitive damages, civil penalties, or injunctive or declaratory relief. Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries also are involved in proceedings under CERCLA and similar federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international environmental laws. These environmental proceedings seek funding or performance of remediation and, in some cases, compensation for alleged property damage, natural resource damages, punitive damages, civil penalties, injunctive relief and government oversight costs. Usually Occidental or such subsidiaries are among many companies in these environmental proceedings and have to date been successful in sharing remediation costs with other financially sound companies. Further, some lawsuits, claims and legal proceedings involve acquired or disposed assets with respect to which a third party or Occidental or its subsidiary retains liability or indemnifies the other party for conditions that existed prior to the transaction. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, Occidental or its subsidiaries accrue reserves for outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. Reserves for matters, other than for the arbitration award (disclosed below), tax matters or environmental remediation, that satisfy these criteria as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, were not material to Occidental’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. If unfavorable outcomes of these matters were to occur, future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially adversely affected. Occidental’s estimates are based on information known about the legal matters and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. Occidental will reassess the probability and estimability of contingent losses as new information becomes available. ANDES ARBITRATION In 2016, Occidental received payments from the Republic of Ecuador of approximately $1.0 billion pursuant to a November 2015 arbitration award for Ecuador’s 2006 expropriation of Occidental’s Participation Contract for Block 15. The awarded amount represented a recovery of Occidental's 60% of the value of Block 15. In 2017, Andes commenced an arbitration against OEPC, claiming it is entitled to a 40% share of the judgment amount obtained by Occidental. Occidental believes that Andes is not entitled to any of the amounts paid under the 2015 arbitration award because Occidental’s recovery was limited to Occidental’s own 60% economic interest in the block. In March 2021, the arbitration tribunal issued an award in favor of Andes and against OEPC in the amount of $391 million plus interest. In June 2021, OEPC filed a motion to vacate the award due to concerns regarding the validity of the award. In December 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed the arbitration award, plus prejudgment interest, in the aggregate amount of $558 million. OEPC appealed the judgment. In June 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit confirmed the District Court's ruling with respect to the arbitration award but overturned the District Court's decision to add prejudgment interest in the amount of $166 million, ordering the District Court to recalculate the interest amount. The parties completed briefing on the interest issue in December 2023. Simultaneously, OEPC sought review of the Second Circuit ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court. Andes responded to OEPC’s request on February 2, 2024 and OEPC’s reply is due later in February. Andes also filed state court claims in New York and Delaware against OEPC, Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OPC) and OXY USA to attempt to recover on its judgment against OEPC during the pendency of the appeal. The New York state court dismissed Andes’ action against OPC with prejudice in March 2023. Andes appealed this ruling and oral argument was set for March 2024. Andes also seeks to recover its judgment from other Occidental entities (which were not a party to the Andes arbitration) in New York federal court and in Delaware state court. Both OXY USA and Andes filed motions for summary judgment in the Delaware state court action. The Delaware state court heard argument on these motions in November 2023. In addition, OEPC commenced an arbitration against Andes to recover significant additional claims not addressed by the prior arbitration tribunal relating to Andes' 40% share of costs, liabilities, losses and expenses due under the farmout agreement and joint operating agreement to which Andes and OEPC are parties. In July 2023, a majority of the arbitration tribunal declined to award any costs to OEPC based upon the doctrine of res judicata. One arbitrator dissented, noting that the prior arbitration panel expressly noted that it was not ruling on the types of claims asserted by OEPC. Andes has moved to confirm this award and OEPC has moved to vacate the award because of, among other things, what OEPC believes are fundamental legal errors embodied in the award. Regarding the pending matters discussed above, Andes and the Occidental entities named in the pending actions have jointly requested that the relevant courts adjourn all rulings for sixty days while Andes and OEPC attempt to negotiate settlement terms acceptable to both parties. If acceptable terms cannot be agreed upon, then all Occidental entities will continue to vigorously defend against these actions. ALDEN LEEDS AND OTHER LITIGATION As described in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, OxyChem intends to challenge vigorously the proposed settlement and Amended Consent Decree in the Alden Leeds litigation, as well as the allocation report and process upon which they are based. In the 2018 Contribution Action and 2023 Cost Recovery Action, OxyChem also intends to defend and prosecute vigorously its right to seek contribution and cost recovery from all potentially responsible parties to pay remediation costs in the DASS and to seek a judicial allocation of responsibility under CERCLA. The 2018 Contribution Action and the 2023 Cost Recovery Action are currently stayed pending the outcome of the Alden Leeds litigation. As the Alden Leeds litigation is in its early stages, OxyChem is unable to estimate the timing of the District Court’s decision, its outcome, or the outcome of any appeals from the District Court’s decision. MAXUS LIQUIDATING TRUST As described in Note 12 – Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, Maxus was contractually obligated to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless OxyChem against environmental liabilities arising from the former operations of DSCC. In June 2016, Maxus filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy Court). In June 2017, the Bankruptcy Court approved a Plan of Liquidation to liquidate Maxus and create the Trust for the benefit of Maxus’ creditors, including OxyChem, to pursue claims against Maxus’ current and former parents, YPF and Repsol, certain of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, and others to satisfy claims by OxyChem and other creditors for past and future remediation and other costs. In July 2017, the court-approved Plan of Liquidation became final, and the Trust became effective. Pursuant to the Plan, the Trust is governed by an independent trustee and is not controlled by OxyChem. The Plan authorizes the Trust to distribute any assets it recovers from such litigation claims to the Trust’s beneficiaries, which include OxyChem and other creditors, in accordance with the Plan and governing Trust Agreement. In June 2018, the Trust filed its complaint against YPF and Repsol in the Bankruptcy Court asserting claims based upon, among other things, fraudulent transfer and alter ego. In April 2023, the Trust, YPF and Repsol reached an agreement to resolve the claims pending in the Bankruptcy Court. Related agreements were executed among the United States Government, YPF and Repsol as well as among OxyChem, YPF and Repsol. Under the settlement, which became final in August 2023, YPF and Repsol paid the Trust $575 million, which the Trust is distributing according to the Plan. OxyChem’s share of these settlement proceeds, under the Plan, is approximately $350 million. OxyChem adjusted its valuation allowance established against its claims against Maxus, resulting in a gain of approximately $260 million in the second quarter of 2023. In October 2023, OxyChem recovered proceeds of $341 million and expects to recover approximately $9 million during 2024. TAX MATTERS AND OTHER DISPUTES During the course of its operations, Occidental is subject to audit by tax authorities for varying periods in various federal, state, local and international tax jurisdictions. Tax years through 2021 for U.S. federal income tax purposes have been audited by the IRS pursuant to its Compliance Assurance Program and subsequent taxable years are currently under review. Tax years through 2018 have been audited for state income tax purposes. There are no outstanding significant audit matters in international jurisdictions. During the course of tax audits, disputes have arisen and other disputes may arise as to facts and matters of law. For Anadarko, its taxable years through 2014 and tax year 2016 for U.S. federal tax purposes have been audited and closed by the IRS. Tax years 2015 and 2017 through 2019 have been audited by the IRS but remain open pending the outcome of the Tronox U.S. Tax court litigation discussed below. Tax years through 2010 have been audited for state income tax purposes. There is one outstanding significant tax matter in an international jurisdiction related to a discontinued operation. As stated above, during the course of tax audits, disputes have arisen and other disputes may arise as to facts and matters of law. Other than the dispute discussed below, Occidental believes that the resolution of these outstanding tax disputes would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. Anadarko received an $881 million tentative refund in 2016 related to its $5.2 billion Tronox Adversary Proceeding settlement payment in 2015. In September 2018, Anadarko received a statutory notice of deficiency from the IRS disallowing the net operating loss carryback and rejecting Anadarko’s refund claim. As a result, Anadarko filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court to dispute the disallowances in November 2018. Trial was held in May 2023. The parties filed simultaneous post-trial briefs on September 1, 2023 and will file reply briefs on December 7, 2023. Closing arguments are scheduled for May 2024. An opinion by the Tax Court could be issued at any time. If any tax liability is due as a result of the Tax Court’s opinion, it must be fully bonded or paid in full within 90 days of the entry of decision by the Tax Court. If an appeal is not pursued by Anadarko, any resulting tax deficiency will be assessed by the IRS and would be due within 30 days of receiving a formal notice of tax assessment. In accordance with ASC 740’s guidance on the accounting for uncertain tax positions, Occidental has recorded no tax benefit on the tentative cash tax refund of $881 million. Additionally, Occidental has recorded no tax benefit on approximately $500 million of additional cash tax benefits realized from the utilization of tax attributes generated as a result of the deduction of the $5.2 billion Tronox Adversary Proceeding settlement payment in 2015. As a result, should Occidental not ultimately prevail on the issue, there would be no additional tax expense recorded relative to this position for financial statement purposes other than future interest. However, in that event, as of December 31, 2023, Occidental would be required to repay approximately $1.4 billion in federal taxes, $28 million in state taxes and accrued interest of $574 million. A liability for the taxes and interest is included in deferred credits and other liabilities - other. INDEMNITIES TO THIRD PARTIES Occidental, its subsidiaries, or both, have indemnified various parties against specified liabilities those parties might incur in the future in connection with purchases and other transactions that they have entered into with Occidental or its subsidiaries. These indemnities usually are contingent upon the other party incurring liabilities that reach specified thresholds. As of December 31, 2023, Occidental is not aware of circumstances that it believes would reasonably be expected to lead to indemnity claims that would result in payments materially in excess of reserves. PURCHASE OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS Occidental, its subsidiaries, or both, have entered into agreements providing for future payments, primarily to secure terminal and pipeline capacity, and also for drilling rigs and services, electrical power, non-lease components, steam and certain chemical raw materials. Occidental has certain other commitments under contracts, guarantees and joint ventures, including purchase commitments for goods and services at market-related prices and certain other contingent liabilities. The amounts that will be paid for such outstanding off-balance sheet purchase obligations as of December 31, 2023 are $3.2 billion in 2024, $4.1 billion in 2025 and 2026, $2.5 billion in 2027 and 2028 and $2.6 billion in 2029 and thereafter.

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