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SEC Comment Letter for MARATHON OIL CORP (MRO) (CIK 0000101778) — Jul 5, 2005

MARATHON OIL CORP (MRO) (CIK 0000101778)
Date: July 5, 2005 · CIK: 0000101778 · Accession: 0000000000-05-033950

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 001-5153

Date
June 30, 2005
Author
Risk
Form
UPLOAD
Company
MARATHON OIL CORP (MRO) (CIK 0000101778)

Letter

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-5546 DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE June 30, 2005 Via U.S. mail Mr. Clarence P. Cazalot Chief Executive Officer Marathon Oil Corporation 555 San Felipe Road Houston, TX 77056-2723

Re: Marathon Oil Corporation Form 10-K, Filed March 10, 2005 File No. 001-5153

Dear Mr. Cazalot:

We have reviewed the above filing and have the following comment. Please be as detailed as necessary in the explanation you provide for this comment. After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise additional comments.

Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filings. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome any questions you may have about our comment or on any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter.

10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004

General -

We note a June 13, 2005, article by the Associated Press states that you have an interest in a license to explore "Block B" in Sudan. Marathon`s 10-K makes no mention of Sudan or Block B. Please confirm the accuracy of the reported statement, the current state of activity in regard to the license, and when you anticipate commencing operations in Sudan.

In light of the fact that Sudan has been identified by the U.S. State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism, and is subject to economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Treasury Department`s Office of Foreign Assets Control, please describe for us the extent of your current and anticipated contacts with Sudan; their materiality to you; and your view as to whether those contacts constitute a material investment risk for your security holders. In preparing your response please consider that evaluations of materiality should not be based solely on quantitative factors, but should include consideration of all factors, including the potential impact of corporate activities upon a company`s reputation and share value, that a reasonable investor would deem important in making an investment decision.

Closing Comments

Please respond to this comment within 10 business days or tell us when you will provide us with a response. Please file your response letter on EDGAR.

We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to be certain that they have provided all information investors require for an informed decision. Since the company and its management are in possession of all facts relating to the company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made. In connection with responding to our comment, please provide, in writing, a statement from the company acknowledging that:

the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings;

staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filings; and

the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement has access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance in our review of your filings or in response to our comments on your filings.

Please understand that we may have additional comments after we review your response to our comment. Please contact Jack Guggenheim at (202) 551-3523 if you have any questions about the comment or our review. You may also contact me at (202) 551-3470.

Sincerely,
Cecilia D. Blye, Chief
Office of Global Security
Risk

Show Raw Text
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-5546

         DIVISION OF
CORPORATION FINANCE

							June 30, 2005

Via U.S. mail

Mr. Clarence P. Cazalot
Chief Executive Officer
Marathon Oil Corporation
555 San Felipe Road
Houston, TX 77056-2723

	Re:	Marathon Oil Corporation
		Form 10-K, Filed March 10, 2005
		File No. 001-5153

Dear Mr. Cazalot:

      We have reviewed the above filing and have the following
comment.  Please be as detailed as necessary in the explanation
you
provide for this comment.  After reviewing this information, we
may
or may not raise additional comments.

      Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your
filings.
We look forward to working with you in these respects.  We welcome
any questions you may have about our comment or on any other
aspect
of our review.  Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers
listed
at the end of this letter.

10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004

General -

We note a June 13, 2005, article by the Associated Press states
that
you have an interest in a license to explore "Block B" in Sudan.
Marathon`s 10-K makes no mention of Sudan or Block B.  Please
confirm
the accuracy of the reported statement, the current state of
activity
in regard to the license, and when you anticipate commencing
operations in Sudan.

In light of the fact that Sudan has been identified by the U.S.
State
Department as a state sponsor of terrorism, and is subject to
economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Treasury Department`s
Office of Foreign Assets Control, please describe for us the
extent
of your current and anticipated contacts with Sudan; their
materiality to you; and your view as to whether those contacts
constitute a material investment risk for your security holders.
In
preparing your response please consider that evaluations of
materiality should not be based solely on quantitative factors,
but
should include consideration of all factors, including the
potential
impact of corporate activities upon a company`s reputation and
share
value, that a reasonable investor would deem important in making
an
investment decision.

Closing Comments

      Please respond to this comment within 10 business days or
tell
us when you will provide us with a response.  Please file your
response letter on EDGAR.

      We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to
be
certain that they have provided all information investors require
for
an informed decision.  Since the company and its management are in
possession of all facts relating to the company`s disclosure, they
are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures
they
have made.  In connection with responding to our comment, please
provide, in writing, a statement from the company acknowledging
that:

the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filings;

staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff
comments
do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with
respect
to the filings; and

the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.

In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement
has
access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division
of
Corporation Finance in our review of your filings or in response
to
our comments on your filings.

      Please understand that we may have additional comments after
we
review your response to our comment.  Please contact Jack
Guggenheim
at (202) 551-3523 if you have any questions about the comment or
our
review.  You may also contact me at (202) 551-3470.

								Sincerely,

								Cecilia D. Blye, Chief
								Office of Global Security
Risk

cc: 	H. Roger Schwall
		Assistant Director
		Division of Corporation Finance

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>