Oct 30 (Reuters) - Hess Corp ( HES ) beat estimates for

third-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by higher oil

production in Guyana.

The Guyana assets are at the center of an ongoing dispute

between oil giants Chevron ( CVX ) and Exxon that has

delayed Chevron's ( CVX ) $53 billion takeover of Hess.

Hess agreed to the buyout last October, but the deal has

been challenged by Exxon claiming a right to the company's

Guyana assets.

The deal recently cleared a U.S. Federal Trade Commission

review, and a three-judge arbitration panel is set to consider

Exxon's right to first refusal next May.

Hess's production rose 16.7% to 461,000 barrels of oil and

gas per day (boepd) in the quarter, bolstered by an increase of

about 57% in Guyana to 170,000 bpd. Output from the Bakken shale

patch in the U.S. also rose on increased drilling and completion

activity.

The higher output helped offset lower commodity prices in

the quarter.

The company's average realized crude oil selling price was

$77.06 per barrel in the third quarter, compared with $81.53 per

barrel last year.

However, average realized natural gas liquids (NGL) selling

price slightly improved from the prior-year quarter.

Hess expects current-quarter net production in the range of

475,000 boepd to 485,000 boepd, due to a recovery from planned

downtime in Guyana and Southeast Asia.

The company expects full-year production and exploratory

expenditures to be about $4.9 billion, compared with its prior

guidance of $4.2 billion, reflecting the decision to accelerate

the purchase of some offshore vessels to the fourth quarter

instead of in 2025.

Quarterly profit of $2.14 per share was above analysts'

average estimate of $1.77 per share, according to data compiled

by LSEG.