Jan 30 (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips reported on Wednesday a drop in quarterly profit as oil and gas prices were either flat or lower and its production remained steady compared with a year before, even though it is on the decline.

The third-largest U.S. oil and gas producer said its adjusted fourth-quarter profit was $1.8 billion, or $1.43 per share, compared with $2.1 billion, or $1.55 per share. The figures exclude special items such as discontinued operations, most notably its spun-off refining arm Phillips 66.

Production in the quarter totaled 1.607 million barrels of oil or oil equivalent per day, compared with 1.60 million a year before. The company said first-quarter output would be between 1.58 million and 1.60 million barrels per day, while full-year 2013 production would be 1.475 million to 1.525 million.

(Reporting by Braden Reddall in San Francisco; Editing by Richard Chang) Keywords: CONOCOPHILLIPS RESULTS/

(braden.reddall@thomsonreuters.com)(+1 415 677 2543)(Reuters Messaging: braden.reddall.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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