Noble Energy narrowed its fourth-quarter loss as it dialed back expenses and pushed its fields to better-than-expected production levels.

The US independent posted a net loss of $252 million for the three months to December, compared to a loss of $2.02 billion in the year-ago period.

Total sales volumes were 410,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day while oil volumes were 131,000 barrels per day, measurements at the top end of guidance and above expectations respectively.

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