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NEW YORK (AP) - ConocoPhillips said it plans to slash spending on projects by 25 percent next year as the energy company and its rivals deal with plunging oil prices.

The Houston company said it expects to spend $7.7 billion in 2015, down from the $10.2 billion it expects to spend this year. The money is used for oil exploration, drilling and other projects around the world.

Oil prices reached their lowest levels since 2009 this week. There's an oversupply of oil, bringing prices down.

ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance said in a statement that the current environment for the company "remains challenging."

Several energy companies have reduced spending on weakened demand for oil. Chevron Corp., for example, said this week that it expects to spend $25.6 billion on projects next year, down 24 percent from this year.

ConocoPhillips also said Thursday that it expects operating costs to be $7.7 billion for 2016, down from $10.5 billion in 2014.

Shares of ConocoPhillips rose $1.26, or 2,6 percent, to $49.73 in morning trading Thursday. Its shares are down about 28 percent since the beginning of the year.

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