Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Equity [Abstract]

Equity

Note 16—Equity
Common Stock
The changes in our shares of common stock, as categorized in the equity section of the balance sheet, were:
	Shares
	2018	2017	2016
Issued
Beginning of year	1,785,419,175	1,782,079,107	1,778,226,388
Distributed under benefit plans	6,218,259	3,340,068	3,852,719
End of year	1,791,637,434	1,785,419,175	1,782,079,107
Held in Treasury
Beginning of year	608,312,034	544,809,771	542,230,673
Repurchase of common stock	44,976,179	63,502,263	2,579,098
End of year	653,288,213	608,312,034	544,809,771

Preferred Stock

We have authorized 500 million shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, none of which was issued or outstanding at December 31, 2018 or 2017.

Noncontrolling Interests

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had $125million and $194 million outstanding, respectively, of equity in less-than-wholly owned consolidated subsidiaries held by noncontrolling interest owners. For both periods, the amountswere related to the Darwin LNG and Bayu-Darwin Pipeline operating joint ventures we control.

Repurchase of Common Stock

On November 10, 2016, we announced plans to purchase up to $3 billion of our common stock through 2019. On March 29, 2017, we announced plans to repurchase an additional $3 billion of common stock through 2019. On July 12, 2018, we announced an authorization of an additional $9 billion for share repurchases bringing the total program authorization to $15 billion. Repurchase of shares began in November 2016, and totaled 111,057,540shares at a cost of $6.1billion, through December 31, 2018.