Despite lower oil prices, ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) booked higher-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter as quarterly production in the Permian basin and offshore Guyana set new records. Exxon reported on Friday earnings excluding identified items of $7.3 billion for the fourth quarter, or $1.71 per share. This beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.70 per share. Earnings were lower in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, due to lower oil prices and weak chemicals margins. Early this month, Exxon had flagged an $800 million to $1.2…