OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has published its North American Exploration and Production Handbook, which provides an analysis of trends in the North American oil and gas sector. The handbook includes: rig counts by fuel type and by basin; pricing trends for crude and natural gas differentials and forwards; and summary financial information for 27 individual companies. Company level summaries include the credit thesis for each issuer; rating sensitivities; liquidity calculations and maturity schedules; production profiles; cash flow and credit metrics summaries; and organizational debt diagrams.

The report analyzes the following rated entities:

--Anadarko Petroleum Corporation ('BBB', Outlook Stable);
--Apache Corporation ('BBB+', Outlook Stable);
--Chesapeake Energy Corporation ('BB', Outlook Stable);
--ConocoPhillips ('A', Outlook Negative);
--Devon Energy Corporation ('BBB+', Outlook Stable);
--Energy XXI Ltd. ('B-', Outlook Negative);
--EQT Corporation ('BBB-', Outlook Stable);
--Hess Corporation ('BBB', Outlook Stable);
--Marathon Oil Corporation ('BBB+', Outlook Stable);
--Murphy Oil Corporation ('BBB-', Outlook Stable);
--Newfield Exploration Company ('BB+', Outlook Stable);
--Occidental Petroleum Corporation ('A', Outlook Stable);
--Pioneer Natural Resources Company ('BBB-', Outlook Stable);
--Southwestern Energy Company ('BBB-', Outlook Stable);
--Unit Corporation ('BB', Outlook Stable).

Non-rated entities:

--Chevron Corporation;
--Cimarex Energy Co.;
--Concho Resources Inc.;
--Continental Resources, Inc. ;
--Denbury Resources Inc.;
--EOG Resources, Inc.;
--Exxon Mobil Corporation;
--Linn Energy, LLC;
--Noble Energy, Inc.;
--Range Resources Corporation;
--SandRidge Energy, Inc.;
--SM Energy Company.

The North American Exploration and Production Handbook is available on the Fitch web site at 'www.fitchratings.com' or by clicking on the link.