Report

A train derailment on BHP Billiton's (ASX:BHP) main iron ore railway in the Pilbara region may affect output, which can reflect in the company’s fourth quarter production.

Santos (STO) has announced in their forth quarter report that the output has dropped by 3% due to unplanned outages and repairs at a key oil field and said 2009 production would be broadly steady on the previous year. Santos has reported production of 54.4 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2008, compared to 59.1 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2007. In 2008, the company has reported revenue of $2.76 billion, compared to $2.49 billion in 2007.

Woodside Petroleum (WPL) released its 4Q report on Thursday. The company has reported an increase in the output by 28% and has said its profits will be high when compared to last year. Woodside also reported profit was expected to be reduced by various significant items, such as a write-down charge for the now suspended OceanWay gas development in California, which could amount to around $50 million after tax.

Rio Tinto (RIO) has warned in the forth quarter report which was submitted on Thursday that its iron ore output will fall by 18% with a drop in demand from the Chinese steel mills. The company delivered its December-quarter operations report on Thursday. Rio Tinto, which is cutting costs and selling assets to pay debt, reported fourth-quarter iron ore output at 31.8 million tonnes, and sales down 23 percent to 33.6 million tonnes, just meeting its lowered target.