Devon Energy reported Nov. 4 net earnings of $499 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30 or $1.13 per common share ($1.12 per diluted common share). For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2008, Devon reported net earnings of $2.6 billion, or $5.93 per common share ($5.88 per diluted common share).

In the third quarter, production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids increased six percent to 61.9 million oil-equivalent barrels. Devon officials said costs in nearly every expense category were lower in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the same period in the previous year. Strong production growth and lower overall costs were more than offset by significantly lower product prices.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, Devon reported a net loss of $3.1 billion, or $7.09 per common share ($7.09 per diluted common share). A $4.2 billion non-cash, after-tax reduction in the carrying value of oil and gas properties in the first quarter of 2009 drove the year-to-date loss. For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2008, the company reported net earnings of $4.7 billion, or $10.50 per common share ($10.40 per diluted common share).

"Year to date, Devon increased oil and gas production eight percent compared with 2008," President John Richels said. "The performance of the company's oil and gas properties has continued to exceed our expectations throughout 2009."

Combined oil, gas and natural gas liquids production averaged 673 thousand Boe per day in the third quarter of 2009. This is the highest third-quarter production in Devon's history and a six percent increase compared with the third quarter of 2008.

Revenues from oil, gas and natural gas liquids sales decreased 54 percent to $1.7 billion in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the third quarter of 2008. Significantly lower product prices more than offset the growth in natural gas and liquids production.

Other income, net of expenses, increased 17 percent to $96 million in the third quarter of 2009. This amount includes an $84 million accrual reversal resulting from a favorable federal court ruling pertaining to royalties in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. For the third quarter of 2008, other income included $57 million of hurricane damage-related insurance recoveries.