Apache sees 2008 production up 2 percent

HOUSTON, July 31 (Reuters) - The chief executive officer of Apache Corp (APA.N) on Thursday said he still expects the company's oil and natural gas production to grow 2 percent in 2008.

Apache CEO Steven Farris provided the forecast on a conference call to discuss the company's second quarter earnings.

The company's production growth has been hampered by a June 3 gas plant explosion in Australia. Before the explosion, Apache had forecast a 4 percent to 6 percent rise in output.

Analysts were looking for production growth of 1 percent to 2 percent in 2008. (Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston, editing by Phil Berlowitz)