EX-99.1 2 pengrowth2015aif.htm PENGROWTH ENERGY CORP ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 Exhibit







nTABLE OF CONTENTS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
CONVERSION
PRESENTATION OF OUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PRESENTATION OF OUR RESERVE AND RESOURCE INFORMATION
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION
Introduction
General Development of the Business
DESCRIPTION OF OUR BUSINESS
General
Business Strategy
OPERATIONAL INFORMATION
Principal Producing Properties
Statement of Oil and Gas Reserves and Reserves Data
Additional Information Relating to Reserves Data
Significant Factors or Uncertainties Affecting Reserves Data
Future Development Costs
Finding, Development and Acquisition Costs
Recycle Ratio
Reserve Life Index
Reserve Replacement
Other Oil and Gas Information
Forward Contracts
Tax Horizon
Costs Incurred
Exploration and Development Activities
Production Estimates
Production History (Netback)
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
DIVIDENDS
INDUSTRY CONDITIONS
RISK FACTORS
MARKET FOR SECURITIES
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Corporate Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Personal Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions
AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS
AUDITORS, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
CODE OF ETHICS
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
 
APPENDIX A - Supplemental Disclosure - Contingent Resources
 
 
 
SCHEDULE I - Report on Reserves Data by Independent Qualified Reserves Evaluator on Form 51-101F2
 
 
SCHEDULE II - Report of Management and Directors on Oil and Gas Disclosure on Form 51-101F3
 
 
SCHEDULE III - Audit and Risk Committee Terms of Reference
 
Unless otherwise indicated, all of the information provided in this Annual Information Form is as at December 31, 2015




GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
The following terms in this Annual Information Form have the meanings set forth below:
Corporate
"6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures" means the $137 million aggregate principal amount of 6.25 percent convertible unsecured subordinated debentures of the Corporation due March 31, 2017, which are convertible at the option of the holder, at any time, into fully paid Common Shares at a conversion price of $11.5116 per Common Share;
"2007 Note Purchase Agreements" means, collectively, the separate and several note purchase agreements each dated July 26, 2007 among us and the purchasers listed therein, as amended;
"2007 US Senior Notes" means the US$400 million of senior unsecured notes issued under the 2007 Note Purchase Agreements;
"2008 Note Purchase Agreements" means, collectively, the separate and several note purchase agreements dated August 21, 2008 among us and the purchasers listed therein, as amended;
"2008 Senior Notes" means the US$285 million and $15 million of senior unsecured notes collectively issued under the 2008 Note Purchase Agreements;
"2010 Note Purchase Agreements" means, collectively, the separate and several note purchase agreements dated May 11, 2010 among us and the purchasers listed therein, as amended;
"2010 Senior Notes" means the US$115.5 million of senior unsecured notes issued under the 2010 Note Purchase Agreements;
"2012 Note Purchase Agreements" means, collectively, the separate and several note purchase agreements dated October 18, 2012 among us and the purchasers listed therein, as amended;
"2012 Senior Notes" means the US$335 million, £15 million and $25 million of senior unsecured notes collectively issued under the 2012 Note Purchase Agreements;
"ABCA" means the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), R.S.A. 2000, c.B-9, as amended, including the regulations promulgated thereunder;
"Board" or "Board of Directors" refers to our board of directors;
"CCAA" means the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada);
"Common Shares" means our common shares;
"Corporation" and "Pengrowth", "we", "us" and "our" refers to Pengrowth Energy Corporation and all of our wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiary entities on a consolidated basis as well as our predecessors, Pengrowth Corporation and Pengrowth Energy Trust;
"Credit Facility" refers to Pengrowth's $1.0 billion extendible revolving term credit facility syndicated among eleven financial institutions;
"Shareholders" means holders of Common Shares; and
"Tax Act" refers to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time.
Engineering
"abandonment and reclamation costs" means all costs associated with the process of restoring a property that has been disturbed by oil and gas activities to a standard imposed by applicable government or regulatory authorities;
"Best Estimate" is a best estimate of the quantity of oil or gas that will be recovered from the accumulation, which under probabilistic methodology reflects a fifty percent confidence level;
"Bitumen" means a naturally occurring solid or semi-sold hydrocarbon: (a) consisting of mainly of heavier hydrocarbons, with a viscosity greater than 10,000 mPa-s or 10,000 cP measured at the hydrocarbon's original temperature in the reservoir and at atmospheric pressure on a gas-free basis, and (b) that is not primarily recoverable at economic rates through a well without the implementation of enhanced recovery methods;
"by-product" means a substance that is recovered as a consequence of producing a product type;
"coal bed methane" means natural gas that: (a) primarily consists of methane, and (b) is contained in a coal deposit;
"COGE Handbook" means the "Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook" maintained by the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (Calgary Chapter), as amended from time to time;

 
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"Company Interest" is equal to our gross interest plus Pengrowth's Royalty Interest; that is, the Working Interest share of production or reserves prior to the deduction of royalties plus any Royalty Interest in production or reserves at the wellhead;
"Contingent Resources" are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. The contingencies may include factors such as economics, legal, environmental, political, regulatory or lack of markets. Contingent Resources are classified in accordance with the level of certainty associated with the estimates and further sub-classified and risked according to their project maturity and chance of development. Contingent Resources do not constitute, and should not be confused with, reserves;
"conventional natural gas" means natural gas that has been generated elsewhere and has migrated as a result of hydrodynamic forces and is trapped in discrete accumulations by seals that may be formed by localized structural, depositional or erosional geological features;
"Developed Non-Producing Reserves" refers to those reserves that either have not been on production, or have previously been on production but are shut-in and the date of resumption of production is unknown;
"Developed Producing Reserves" refers to those reserves that are expected to be recovered from completion intervals open at the time of the estimate. These reserves may be currently producing or, if shut in, they must have previously been on production, and the date of resumption of production must be known with reasonable certainty;
"Developed Reserves" refers to those reserves that are expected to be recovered from existing wells and installed facilities or, if facilities have not been installed, that would involve a low expenditure (e.g. when compared to the cost of drilling a well) to put the reserves on production;
"Future Development Costs" or "FDC" refers to the amount of capital estimated by the independent evaluator that will be required to maintain production or bring non-producing, undeveloped or probable reserves on stream;
"Future Net Revenue" means a forecast of revenue, estimated using forecast prices and costs or constant prices and costs, arising from the anticipated development and production of resources, net of the associated royalties, operating costs, development costs and abandonment and reclamation costs;
"GLJ" refers to GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., independent petroleum consultants, Calgary, Alberta;
"GLJ Report" refers to the reserve report prepared by GLJ, dated February 23, 2016 with an effective date of December 31, 2015;
"gross" with respect to: (i) our interest in production or reserves, refers to our Working Interest share (operated or non-operated) before the deduction of royalties and without including any of our Royalty Interests; (ii) our wells, refers to the total number of wells in which we have an interest; and (iii) our properties, refers to the total area of properties in which we have an interest;
"heavy crude oil" means crude oil with a relative density greater than 10 oAPI and less than or equal to 22.3 oAPI;
"High Estimate" is an optimistic estimate of the quantity of oil or gas that will be recovered from the accumulation, which under probabilistic methodology reflects a ten percent confidence level;
"hydrocarbon" means a compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon, which, when naturally occurring, may also contain other elements such as sulphur;
"Instantaneous Steam-Oil Ratio" or "ISOR" refers to the efficiency of a steam injection recovery process and is the measure of the volume of steam, in equivalent barrels of water, required to produce one barrel of bitumen, currently or at any time;
"light crude oil" means crude oil with a relative density greater than 31.1 oAPI;
"Low Estimate" is a conservative estimate of the quantity of oil or gas that will be recovered from the accumulation, which under probabilistic methodology reflects a ninety percent confidence level;
"medium crude oil" means crude oil with a relative density greater than 22.3 oAPI and less than or equal to 31.1 oAPI;
"natural gas" means a naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon gases and other gases;
"natural gas liquids" means those hydrocarbon components that can be recovered from natural gas as a liquid including, but not limited to, ethane, propane, butanes, pentanes plus, and condensates;
"net" with respect to: (i) our interest in production or reserves, refers to our Working Interest share (operated or non-operated) after the deduction of royalty obligations, plus our Royalty Interests in production or reserves; (ii) our interest in wells, refers to the number of wells obtained by aggregating our Working Interest in each of our gross wells; and (iii) our interest in a property, refers to the total area in which we have an interest multiplied by the Working Interest owned by us;

 
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"Possible Reserves" are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Probable Reserves. There is a ten percent probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of Proved Plus Probable plus Possible Reserves;
"Probable Reserves" refers to those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Proved Reserves; it is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable Reserves;
"Probable Undeveloped Reserves" refers to those Probable Reserves that are Undeveloped Reserves;
"Proved Developed Non-Producing Reserves" refers to those Proved Reserves that are Developed Non-Producing Reserves;
"Proved Developed Producing Reserves" refers to those Proved Reserves that are Developed Producing Reserves;
"Proved Developed Reserves" refers to those Proved Reserves that are Developed Reserves;
"Proved Reserves" refers to those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable; it is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated Proved Reserves;
"Proved Undeveloped Reserves" refers to those Proved Reserves that are Undeveloped Reserves;
"Recycle Ratio" refers to the ratio resulting from the quotient of operating netback and F&D or FD&A Costs;
"Remaining Reserve Life" refers to the expected productive life of the property or fifty years, whichever is less;
"Reserve Life Index" or "RLI" refers to the number of years determined by dividing Company Interest reserves of a property by the next year’s forecast Company Interest production for the corresponding reserve category from such property. The reserves and next year’s forecast production for such property come from the GLJ Report;
"reserves" refers to estimated remaining quantities of oil and natural gas and related substances anticipated to be recoverable from known accumulations, as of a given date, based on: (i) analysis of drilling, geological, geophysical and engineering data; (ii) the use of established technology; and (iii) specified economic conditions which are generally accepted as being reasonable and shall be disclosed; reserves are classified according to the degree of certainty associated with the estimate (e.g., proved, probable);
"risked" means adjusted for the probability of loss or failure in accordance with the COGE Handbook;
"Royalty Interest(s)" refers to Pengrowth's interest in production and payment that is based on the gross production at the wellhead; a royalty is paid in either cash or kind, but is paid on a value calculated at the wellhead;
"shale gas" means natural gas (a) contained in dense organic-rich rocks, including low-permeability shales, siltstones and carbonates, in which the natural gas is primarily adsorbed on the kerogen or clay minerals, and (b) that usually requires the use of hydraulic fracturing to achieve economic production rates;
"Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves" or "P+P" means the aggregate of Proved Reserves and Probable Reserves;
"Undeveloped Reserves" refers to those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (e.g. the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production; they must fully meet the requirements of the reserves classification (proved, probable, possible) to which they are assigned; and
"Working Interest" refers to the percentage of undivided interest, excluding Royalty Interests, held by Pengrowth in an oil and gas property.
Abbreviations
"$M" and "$MM" refers to thousands of dollars and millions of dollars, respectively;
"AECO" refers to AECO/NIT, the Alberta natural gas benchmark price;
"API" refers to the American Petroleum Institute;
"oAPI" refers to an indication of the specific gravity of crude oil measured on the API gravity scale;
"bbl", "Mbbl" and "MMbbl" refers to barrels, thousands of barrels and millions of barrels, respectively;
"bbl/d" refers to barrels per day;
"BOE", "Mboe" and "MMboe" refers to barrels of oil equivalent, thousands of barrels of oil equivalent and millions of barrels of oil equivalent, respectively, on the basis of one BOE being equal to one barrel of oil or NGL or six Mcf of natural gas;
"BOE/d" refers to barrels of oil equivalent per day;
"CBM" refers to natural gas, primarily methane, producible from coal seams, commonly called coal bed methane;

 
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"Cdn$" refers to Canadian dollars;
"CO2" refers to carbon dioxide which is a gas at room temperature and pressure. However, at higher pressures, such as those used in EOR miscible floods, carbon dioxide is a liquid;
"cP" refers to centipoise, a unit measure of viscosity;
"CSOR" refers to the efficiency of a steam injection recovery process and is a measure of the cumulative volume of steam, in equivalent barrels of water, required to produce a cumulative volume of bitumen as of the same point in time;
"EDGAR" refers to the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System maintained by the SEC;
"EIA" refers to Environmental Impact Assessment;
"EOR" refers to enhanced oil recovery;
"EPEA" means the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (Alberta), RSA 2000, c E-12, as amended, including the regulations promulgated thereunder;
"F&D Costs" refers to finding and development costs;
"FD&A Costs" refers to finding, development and acquisition costs;
"FDC" refers to Future Development Costs;
"GHG" refers to greenhouse gas;
"H2S" refers to hydrogen sulphide gas;
"IFRS" refers to International Financial Reporting Standards;
"ISOR" refers to Instantaneous Steam Oil Ratio;
"Mcf", "MMcf" and "Bcf" refers to thousands of cubic feet, millions of cubic feet and billions of cubic feet, respectively;
"McfGE" refers to thousand cubic feet of gas equivalent on the basis of one barrel of oil or one barrel of NGL being equal to six Mcf of natural gas;
"Mcf/d" and "MMcf/d" refers to thousands of cubic feet per day and millions of cubic feet per day, respectively;
"MMBtu" refers to million British thermal units;
"mPa-s" refers to millipascal-second, a derived metric system international measurement unit of dynamic viscosity;
"MW" refers to megawatts;
"NGL" refers to natural gas liquids;
"NYSE" refers to the New York Stock Exchange;
"P+P" refers to Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves;
"RLI" refers to Reserve Life Index;
"SAGD" refers to steam assisted gravity drainage;
"SEC" refers to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
"SEDAR" refers to the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval of the Canadian Securities Administrators;
"TSX" refers to the Toronto Stock Exchange;
"US$" refers to United States dollars;
"US GAAP" refers to United States generally accepted accounting principles;
"WCS" refers to Western Canada Select;
"WCSB" refers to the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin; and
"WTI" refers to West Texas Intermediate crude oil.

 
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Disclosure provided herein in respect of a BOE and an McfGE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six (6) Mcf of natural gas to one barrel of oil and an McfGE conversion ratio of one barrel of oil to six (6) Mcf of natural gas is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In addition, given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalent of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.
CONVERSION
In this Annual Information Form, measurements are given in standard imperial or metric units only. The following table sets forth certain standard conversions:
To Convert From
To
Multiply by
Mcf
cubic metre
28.174
MMBtu
gigajoule
1.0546
cubic metre
bbl
6.29
metre
feet
3.281
mile
kilometre
1.609
hectare
acre
2.471

PRESENTATION OF OUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Financial information in this Annual Information Form has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). IFRS differs in some significant respects from United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP") and thus our financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of companies following US GAAP.
Unless otherwise stated, all sums of money referred to in this Annual Information Form are expressed in Canadian dollars.
PRESENTATION OF OUR RESERVE AND RESOURCE INFORMATION
National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") of the Canadian Securities Administrators permits oil and gas issuers, in their filings with Canadian securities regulators, to disclose not only Proved Reserves but also Probable Reserves, Possible Reserves and Contingent Resources, and to disclose reserves and production on a gross basis before deducting royalties. Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves are of a higher risk and are less likely to be accurately estimated or recovered than Proved Reserves. Contingent Resources are higher risk than Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves and are less likely to be accurately estimated or recovered than Probable Reserves or Possible Reserves. Because we are permitted to prepare this Annual Information Form in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, we have disclosed in this Annual Information Form resources designated as Probable Reserves, Possible Reserves and Contingent Resources and have disclosed reserves and production on a gross basis before deducting royalties.
Current SEC reporting requirements permit oil and gas companies to disclose Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves, in addition to the required disclosure of Proved Reserves. If this Annual Information Form was required to be prepared in accordance with US disclosure requirements, the SEC's requirements would prohibit Contingent Resources from being disclosed. Under current SEC requirements, net quantities of reserves are required to be disclosed, which requires disclosure on an after royalties basis and does not include reserves relating to the interests of others. For a description of these and additional differences between Canadian and US standards of reporting reserves, see "Risk Factors — Canadian and United States practices differ in reporting reserves and production and our estimates may not be comparable to those of companies in the United States". Additional information prepared in accordance with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Update (Extractive Activities-Oil and Gas (Topic 932)) relating to our oil and gas reserves is set forth in our current Form 40-F, which is available through EDGAR at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

 
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Information Form contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "forecast", "target", "project", "guidance", "may", "will", "should", "could", "estimate", "predict" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Information Form include, but are not limited to: business strategy and strengths, goals, focus and the effects thereof, capital expenditures, reserves, resources, reserve life indices, estimated production, remaining producing reserves lives, operating expenses, asset retirement obligations, royalty rates, net present values of Future Net Revenue from reserves, commodity prices and costs, dividend policy, exchange rates, development plans and programs, Future Development Costs and the funding thereof, tax horizon, future income taxes, Lindbergh development plans, Bernadet development plans, abandonment and reclamation costs and expiring acreage. Statements relating to reserves and resources are forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and can profitably be produced in the future.
Forward-looking statements and information are based on our current beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us concerning anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, future bitumen, oil and natural gas commodity prices and differentials between light crude oil, medium crude oil and heavy crude oil prices, future oil and natural gas production levels, future exchange rates, the proceeds of anticipated divestitures, the amount of future cash dividends paid by the Corporation, the cost of expanding our property holdings, our ability to obtain equipment in a timely manner to carry out development activities, our ability to market our oil and gas successfully to current and new customers, the impact of increasing competition, our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, and our ability to add production and reserves through our acquisition, development and exploration activities. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations and anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the volatility of oil and gas prices; production and development costs and capital expenditures; the imprecision of reserve estimates and estimates of recoverable quantities of oil, natural gas and liquids; unforeseen operating problems; pipeline or delivery constraints; our ability to replace and expand oil and gas reserves; environmental claims and liabilities; incorrect assessments of value when making acquisitions; increases in debt service charges; the loss of key personnel; the marketability of production; defaults by third party operators; unforeseen title defects; fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange rates; inadequate insurance coverage; counterparty risk; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; changes in tax and royalty laws; our ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital; and the implementation of GHG emissions legislation. Further information regarding these factors may be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in this Annual Information Form, under the heading "Business Risks" in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015, and in our most recent consolidated financial statements, management information circular, quarterly reports, material change reports and news releases.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward‑looking statements to make decisions with respect to Pengrowth, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Information Form are made as of the date of this document and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Information Form are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

 
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nPENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION
INTRODUCTION
The Corporation is engaged in the development, production and acquisition of, and the exploration for, oil and natural gas reserves in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. The Corporation is the successor to Pengrowth Energy Trust.
The Corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the ABCA on October 4, 2010, as 1562803 Alberta Ltd. and changed its name to Pengrowth Energy Corporation on December 2, 2010. The Corporation amalgamated with its wholly-owned subsidiaries NAL Energy Corporation, NAL Properties Inc. and NAL Canada West Inc. on January 1, 2013.
The head office and registered office of the Corporation is located at 2100, 222 – 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 0B4.
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS
Recent Developments
On January 20, 2016, we announced our 2016 capital program and provided guidance on 2016 expected production and costs. Our 2016 capital budget reflects our plan to spend between $60 and $70 million in 2016. We also announced, at the same time, the suspension of our dividend until further notice.
Three Year Historical Overview
2015
On December 1, 2015, our 5.46 percent £50,000,000 term notes matured and were repaid.
On December 10, 2015, we amended our Credit Facility by increasing the maximum permitted Senior Debt to Total Capitalization ratio from 50 percent to 55 percent. This amendment was obtained to align this covenant between our Credit Agreement and various note purchase agreements which already allowed a maximum Senior Debt to Total Capitalization ratio of 55 percent. All other material terms and conditions remained unchanged.
On November 30, 2015, we completed the sale of our non-core Jenner assets in southeastern Alberta for cash consideration of $77.6 million (after closing adjustments).
On November 3, 2015, we reported our third quarter financial results including a non-cash, after-tax impairment charge of $375 million.
On October 30, 2015, we completed the sale of our non-core Bodo property in eastern Alberta for $86.7 million (after closing adjustments).
On October 29, 2015, we announced the receipt of notification from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") of non-compliance with its continued listing standards resulting from the average closing price of our common shares being less than US$1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.
On September 1, 2015, we announced a change to our dividend policy, moving to a quarterly payment at a rate of $0.01 per share per quarter and suspending the dividend reinvestment and optional common share purchase plan.
On June 8, 2015, we reported that production from our Lindbergh thermal project exceeded the project's nameplate capacity of 12,500 bbl/d.
On May 12, 2015, we announced the appointments of Steve De Maio as Senior Vice President, Thermal Operations and Randy Steele as Senior Vice President, Conventional Operations.
On May 11, 2015, our 4.67 percent US$71.5 million senior notes, series A matured and were repaid.
On April 28, 2015, we announced the departures of Marlon McDougall and James Causgrove who were our Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Operations, respectively.
On April 14, 2015, we announced the appointment of Jamie Sokalsky to our Board.
On March 30, 2015 we renewed and extended our Credit Facility from July 26, 2017 to March 31, 2019. At this time we also amended the maximum permitted Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio from 3.0 to 3.5 and the Total Debt to EBITDA ratio from 3.5 to 4.0.
On February 26, 2015, we announced our 2014 year end results including a non-cash, after-tax impairment charge of approximately $858 million.

 
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On January 21, 2015, we announced our 2015 capital program and provided guidance on 2015 expected production and costs. We also announced a reduction in our dividend from $0.04 per share per month to $0.02 per share per month beginning with the dividend payable on March 16, 2015. Our 2015 capital budget reflected our plan to spend between $220 million and $240 million in 2015.
2014
On December 31, 2014, our $97.9 million principal amount 6.25 percent series A convertible debentures matured.
On December 15, 2014, we announced the commencement of steam injection at our Lindbergh commercial project.
On December 1, 2014, we announced the appointment of Margaret Byl to our Board.
On November 5, 2014, we acquired a 100 percent interest in 32.6 sections of Montney prospective lands at Bernadet in northeastern British Columbia for $123.6 million.
On June 24, 2014, we announced a reserve evaluation update, effective May 31, 2014, with respect to our Lindbergh property, noting a 24 percent increase in Proved Reserves and a 61 percent increase in Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves from December 31, 2013.
On January 24, 2014, we amended our Credit Facility by increasing the maximum permitted consolidated Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio from 3.0 to 3.5 and the consolidated Total Debt to EBITDA ratio from 3.5 to 4.0 until December 31, 2015.
On January 16, 2014, we announced our 2014 capital program and provided guidance on 2014 expected production and costs. Our 2014 capital budget reflected our plan to spend between $700 million and $730 million in 2014 including $365 million at Lindbergh.
2013
On September 9, 2013, we announced the closing of our southeast Saskatchewan asset disposition for proceeds of $510 million prior to closing adjustments.
On July 23, 2013, we renewed our Credit Facility until July 26, 2017.
On July 15, 2013, we announced that we received EPEA approval for the 12,500 bbl/d first commercial phase of our Lindbergh thermal project. We also released a reserve update with respect to our Lindbergh property, noting the reclassification of 69.2 MMbbl of Probable Reserves to Proved Reserves and an increase of 48.1 MMbbl in P+P reserves.
On March 11, 2013, we announced the completion of the sale of the Weyburn Unit disposition for proceeds of approximately $316 million net of interim closing adjustments.
On January 11, 2013, we announced our 2013 capital program as well as the sanctioning of the initial 12,500 bbl/d commercial phase of our Lindbergh thermal project. Our 2013 capital budget reflected our plan to spend up to $770 million in 2013 including $300 million at Lindbergh. The budget also contemplated up to $700 million of asset dispositions in addition to the Weyburn disposition.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR BUSINESS
GENERAL
We are engaged in the development, production and acquisition of, and the exploration for, oil and natural gas reserves in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. Our long term goal is to maximize value creation for the benefit of our Shareholders. Our competitive position is dependent on our ability to execute our business strategy. We believe we have the skills and financial capacity to develop our opportunities. A key factor affecting our finances is commodity prices over which we have no control.
As at December 31, 2015, we had 449 permanent employees.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Our corporate strategy is to build a sustainable entity through the development of our large accumulations of oil, bitumen and natural gas with low declines and low cost structures.
Our operational expertise is in the WCSB. We rely on our expertise to partially offset production declines in our mature oil and gas properties as well as develop new production in less mature oil and gas properties. We continue to develop our significant expertise in horizontal well multi-stage fracturing technology and waterflood optimization. Additionally, we have assembled a highly skilled team experienced in thermal development. Our inventory of undeveloped land and opportunities on our properties provide future drilling opportunities for the short-term and mid-term. In the mid-term, we anticipate continuing to develop our thermal project at Lindbergh, with the potential for 40,000 to 50,000 bbl/d of bitumen, as well as our light crude oil and liquids-rich gas properties in the Greater Olds/Garrington and Swan Hills areas and our significant natural gas operations at Groundbirch and Bernadet. See additional details on these properties under “Operational Information – Principal Producing Properties” below.

 
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For 2016, we have established a lean $60 million to $70 million, capital spending level that reflects the current low commodity price environment. Our 2016 capital budget represents a significant decrease from our 2015 capital budget and is focused on safety and the maintenance and integrity of existing assets.
We have rigorous health, safety and environmental protection policies aimed at ensuring that our operations are conducted in a safe and prudent manner. These policies also encompass our remediation, abandonment and site reclamation activities.
OPERATIONAL INFORMATION
PRINCIPAL PRODUCING PROPERTIES
The following table summarizes our principal producing properties as of December 31, 2015 based on the GLJ Report using forecast prices and costs. The following table utilizes data from the GLJ Report in respect of our oil and gas properties effective December 31, 2015. The table also contains our average daily production of oil, bitumen, natural gas, shale gas and NGL for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Summary of Company Interest at December 31, 2015(1)
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
(2) 
 
P+P
Remaining
P+P Reserve
P+P Value Before Tax
2015 Oil
2015 Bitumen
2015 Gas
2015 Shale Gas
2015 NGL
2015 Total
 
Reserves
Reserve Life
Life Index
Discounted at 10%(4)
Production
Production
Production
Production
Production
Production
Field
(Mboe(3))
(years)
(years)
($MM)
(bbl/d)
(bbl/d)
(MMcf/d)
(MMcf/d)
(bbl/d)
(BOE/d(3))
Lindbergh
263,396
30
42.7
1,559
-
10,384
-
-
-
10,384
Greater Olds/Garrington Area
62,887
50
12.7
530
4,270
-
53,145
-
3,511
16,639
Swan Hills Area
55,416
50
13.7
512
8,013
-
9,461
-
2,607
12,197
Groundbirch
115,519
50
144.2
279
-
-
-
16,945
-
2,824
Subtotal
497,218
50
31.2
2,880
12,283
10,384
62,606
16,945
6,118
42,044
Remainder(5)
71,908
50
10.9
389
9,577
-
103,725
-
2,501
29,365
Total
569,126
50
25.2
3,268
21,860
10,384
166,331
16,945
8,619
71,409
Notes:
(1)
The estimates of reserves and Future Net Revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and Future Net Revenue for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation.
(2)
Forecast prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(3)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil.
(4)
Estimated Future Net Revenues disclosed do not represent fair market value.
(5)
"Remainder" includes our Working Interests and Royalty Interests in approximately 70 other properties.
Lindbergh
The Lindbergh oil sands property is located approximately 420 kilometres north east of Calgary, Alberta and 50 kilometres south of Bonnyville, Alberta. We have a 100 percent Working Interest in the Lindbergh oil sands leases, located in the Cold Lake oil sands district in northeastern Alberta and covering 20,800 net acres (32.5 sections). Our Lindbergh area assets include our 100 percent owned Muriel Lake property located approximately eight kilometres to the north east of the Lindbergh lease and is comprised of an additional 6,400 net acres (10 sections). The Corporation has drilled and evaluated 82 delineation wells since acquiring the Lindbergh property in 2004. In addition, 116 existing wells have been used in the geological evaluation including 10 on the Muriel Lake property. Additionally, 64 square kilometres of three dimensional seismic along with 105 kilometres of two dimensional seismic has been shot and evaluated.
The main bitumen resource at Lindbergh is located within the Lloydminster Formation of the Mannville Group, at an approximate depth of 500 metres. Oil gravity (quality) ranges from 9.5 - 11 oAPI. The average exploitable reservoir pay thickness is 19.2 metres in the 12,500 bbl/d first phase commercial project area. There appears to be no top water or top gas thief zones within the Lloydminster Formation in the project development area. A competent cap-rock is provided by the General Petroleum shale, which is pervasive and consistent throughout the area.
The Lindbergh pilot facility, well pad and two SAGD well pairs were constructed, drilled and completed in December 2011. The wells were drilled from a single pad with each having an effective horizontal well length of approximately 840 metres within the bitumen-bearing Lloydminster formation. Both well pairs encountered high quality reservoir throughout with no lean zones or shale barriers in any of the well bores. We began steam injection into the SAGD pilot project in early February 2012 and results have outperformed expectations since that time. The original two pilot well pairs, have been producing for close to four years and, as of the five days ending February 5, 2016, were producing an aggregate of approximately 1,360 bbl/d of bitumen, with an ISOR of approximately 3.47. These same two well pairs have produced approximately 2.1 million bbl of bitumen as of December 31, 2015 with a CSOR of 2.3.
Based on the excellent pilot results, Pengrowth developed a commercial project with a first phase design capacity of 12,500 bbl/d of bitumen (including the pilot area) with an expected project life of 29 years. In July 2013, the project received regulatory approval to proceed

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     9




under the EPEA application number 1713445. Construction commenced in August 2013 on the commercial project. The project achieved first steam in December 2014. This first commercial phase is comprised of a central processing facility ("CPF"), three additional well pads, surface pipelines, 20 new well pairs, a 15 MW cogeneration plant and other associated infrastructure. The drilling of the additional wells went as anticipated and the characteristics of the wells as drilled were similar to those observed for the pilot well pairs.
Over the life of the 12,500 bbl/d commercial project, a total of 97 well pairs (including the 22 existing well pairs) are expected to be drilled from several central pad sites within the project area, recovering Proved Reserves of 103.4 MMbbl of bitumen. The production life for each individual well pair is expected to be eight to nine years. Under our development plan, as individual well pair production declines, additional well pairs would be drilled throughout the project area to maintain production. The initial phase reached over 16,000 bbl/d production in December 2015 and averaged 15,098 bbl/d for the month of December 2015.
With the Phase 2 expansion to 30,000 bbl/day of capacity, the project is expected to recover 263.4 MMbbl of Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves from a total of 251 well pairs including the 22 existing well pairs. Given the strong results to-date, additional productivity is thought to be possible and anticipated from Phase 1 and Phase 2. There is also potential for further expansion to attain 40,000 to 50,000 bbl/d over all the Pengrowth lands in the Lindbergh region. The EIA application for the first of these expansions to 30,000 bbl/d was submitted in December 2013. Approval for the expansion is anticipated in the first half of 2016.
For additional information, see “Lindbergh Oil Sands Reserves and Contingent Resources” in Appendix A to this Annual Information Form.
Greater Olds/Garrington Area
Our Greater Olds/Garrington area is located approximately 100 kilometres north of Calgary, Alberta. Our interests in this area include a 100 percent ownership of the Olds Gas Field Unit No. 1. In addition, we have an 86 percent average Working Interest in the adjacent non-unit reserves. The Olds Gas Field Unit No. 1 produces sour natural gas from the Wabamun formation, with H2S concentrations ranging from less than one percent to 35 percent. The non-unit reserves are contained within formations from the Wabamun to the Edmonton group, and are predominantly sweet natural gas.
The Greater Olds/Garrington area is characterized by stacked reservoirs with multi-zone potential. Pengrowth has been exploiting several development opportunities over the past number of years in the Harmattan gas field, including the development of our liquids-rich (50 bbl/MMcf) Elkton gas play and more recently, the liquids-rich (100-120 bbl/MMcf) Mannville gas play and Elkton oil play.
We operate and own 100 percent of the sour gas processing plant at Olds, Alberta, which processes both our production and third party volumes. Third party volumes represent approximately 33 percent of the total volumes processed at the plant.
Pengrowth has a large contiguous land base in this area with approximately 480 gross sections with Cardium rights, averaging an approximately 46 percent Working Interest. In addition to the Cardium, other zones of interest in the area include the liquids-rich Mannville and Elkton formations. In 2015, we spent approximately $25 million in the Greater Olds/Garrington area on activities targeting the Cardium, Mannville, and Elkton plays, drilling seven gross wells (3.4 net) during the year.
In 2015, our drilling activity was significantly curtailed in response to the low commodity price environment. The drilling that did occur was focused on developing Cardium oil production in the Lochend and Garrington fields as well as Mannville and Elkton opportunities in the Greater Olds/Garrington area. Our drilling and completion expertise in these fields continues to deliver results that exceed type curve expectations.
The Harmattan gas field, within the Greater Olds/Garrington area, is located approximately 90 kilometres northwest of Calgary, Alberta. It is comprised of wells and pools in formations from the Wabamun to the Cardium, as well as two partner-operated Elkton units. The production is predominantly sweet liquids-rich natural gas and sweet oil with Working Interests averaging 65 percent in the non-unit lands (operated) and 25 percent in the partner-operated units.
Swan Hills Area
We have varied Working Interests within the Swan Hills area in all of the key properties throughout this significant regional Beaverhill Lake resource base. These are both operated and non-operated, unit and non-unit properties in Judy Creek, Carson Creek, House Mountain, Deer Mountain, Swan Hills, South Swan Hills and Freeman. The properties are primarily located approximately 200 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, Alberta.
The two major operated properties in the area are:
The Judy Creek Beaverhill Lake Unit and the Judy Creek West Beaverhill Lake Unit are both oil properties (together referred to as "Judy Creek"), where we have a 100 percent Working Interest in both. Judy Creek covers an area of approximately 38,300 acres, was discovered in 1959, placed on waterflood in 1962 and hydrocarbon miscible flood in 1985. We also have a 54.4 percent Working Interest in and operate the Judy Creek Gas Conservation Plant that services a number of other properties in the area including Swan Hills, Virginia Hills and South Swan Hills.
Carson Creek is comprised of two Pengrowth operated units (one oil and one natural gas) covering approximately 46,200 acres. The Carson Creek North Beaverhill Lake Unit No. 1, in which we have a 90.6 percent Working Interest, was discovered in 1958 and the current waterflood was initiated in 1964. The Carson Creek Beaverhill Lake Unit No. 1, in which we have a 95.1 percent Working Interest, was discovered in 1958.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     10




In 2015, as a result of depressed commodity prices, no development work was conducted in the Swan Hills area. Capital spending in 2015 was focused on safety, integrity, maintenance and enhancement activities on the operated and partner operated properties, with a total year-end spend of approximately $30 million (net).
Groundbirch
Our Groundbirch property is located approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John, British Columbia and covers an area of 13,855 gross (12,536 net) acres. We have an average 90 percent Working Interest in these lands. At Groundbirch, we currently have 17 producing wells producing approximately 18 MMcf/d of gas from the Montney formation, with little or no liquids.
The gas bearing Montney formation occurs at a vertical depth of approximately 2,200 metres and has a gross thickness of up to 230 metres. The Montney consists of thin, laminated interbedded sands, silts and shales and has very low permeability, in the order of 1 micro-Darcy. As a result of the very low permeability, the reservoir is developed with horizontal wells using multi-stage fracture technology.
The first six wells were drilled at Groundbirch in 2010 and a central gas processing facility with a capacity of approximately 30 MMcf/d was constructed with the wells being brought on stream in December 2010. Additional drilling occurred in 2011 resulting in 15 producing wells by later that year. In 2014, two additional horizontal wells were drilled with an increased number of fracture stages in the completions. This resulted in higher initial rates and higher recoverable reserves with each well producing at a controlled rate of 5.5 MMcf/d per well for six months, prior to the start of production decline. These wells have exceeded type curve expectations and have demonstrated the effectiveness of current fracture techniques as corroborated by other more recent regional developments.
For additional information, see “Groundbirch Reserves and Contingent Resources” in Appendix A to this Annual Information Form.
STATEMENT OF OIL AND GAS RESERVES AND RESERVES DATA
Disclosure of Reserves Data
The information in this section is based upon an evaluation by GLJ, prepared in accordance with NI 51-101, with an effective date of December 31, 2015 contained in the GLJ Report, with the exception of information relating to income tax and the after-tax Future Net Revenues associated with our reserves, which we determined. The effective date of the information in this section is December 31, 2015 and the preparation date is January 14, 2016 when the final information was provided. The information in this section summarizes our oil, liquids and natural gas reserves and the net present values of Future Net Revenue for these reserves using GLJ's forecast prices and costs and constant prices and costs. We engaged GLJ to provide an independent evaluation of Proved Reserves and Proved Plus Probable Reserves for all our properties. It is our practice to obtain an engineering report evaluating all of our Proved Reserves and Probable Reserves as at December 31 of each year. Only in respect of the Lindbergh oil sands property and the Groundbirch natural gas property did GLJ evaluate Possible Reserves and Contingent Resources. The GLJ evaluation of Possible Reserves and Contingent Resources is discussed in Appendix A to this Annual Information Form. All of our reserves are in Canada in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. In certain instances in this Annual Information Form, we have presented estimates of reserves, Future Net Revenue and Contingent Resources for individual properties. The estimates of reserves, Future Net Revenue and Contingent Resources for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves, Future Net Revenue and Contingent Resources for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation.
The following tables set forth certain information relating to our oil and natural gas reserves and the net present value of the estimated Future Net Revenue associated with such reserves as at December 31, 2015 contained in the GLJ Report. These tables summarize the data contained in the GLJ Report, and, as a result, may contain slightly different numbers than the GLJ Report due to rounding. Columns may not add due to rounding.
Our Future Net Revenues associated with the production and reserves contained in this Annual Information Form reflect the royalty programs in-place on December 31, 2015.
The information set forth below is derived from the GLJ Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the standards contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation ("COGE") Handbook and the reserves definitions contained in NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook. The GLJ Report incorporates estimates of abandonment and reclamation costs for existing and future wells to which reserves have been assigned and for certain facilities. The GLJ forecasts of Future Net Revenue are stated prior to any provision for income taxes, interest costs or general and administrative costs and after the deduction of estimated future capital expenditures for wells to which reserves have been assigned. The estimated Future Net Revenue shown below does not represent the fair market value of the properties. There is no assurance that such price and cost assumptions will be attained and variances could be material. The recovery and estimates of crude oil, NGL and natural gas reserves provided herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Actual crude oil, NGL and natural gas reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates provided herein.
We determined the Future Net Revenue and present value of Future Net Revenue after income taxes by utilizing GLJ’s before income tax Future Net Revenue and our estimate of income tax. Our estimate of cash income tax makes use of the following assumptions:
Corporate income tax at the current legislated rate;
Annual general and administrative expenses at the current rate;

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     11




Interest expense at the current rate;
Tax pool deductions utilizing our existing $3.5 billion of tax pools and forecasted additions to our tax pools from capital expenditures as forecast by GLJ; and
Any such other additional deductions and adjustments as is and would be consistent with the manner in which we file and would file future tax returns.
The after-tax net present value of our oil and gas properties reflects the tax burden of our properties on a stand-alone basis. It does not provide an estimate of the value of us as a business entity, which may be significantly different.
The net revenues estimated in the GLJ Report represent estimates of the revenues from oil and gas sales from our petroleum and natural gas properties together with an estimate of processing revenues less royalties (net of incentives), mineral taxes, field operating expenses, certain abandonment and reclamation costs and capital obligations. These net revenues are not the same as cash flows from operating activities reported by the Corporation in our statement of cash flows. The GLJ Report does not estimate general and administrative expenses and interest.
In accordance with the requirements of NI 51-101, the Report on Reserves Data, Contingent Resources Data by Independent Qualified Reserves Evaluator or Auditor in Form 51-101F2 and the Report of Management and Directors on Oil and Gas Disclosure in Form 51-101F3 are attached to this Annual Information Form as Schedules I and II, respectively.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     12




Reserves Data (Forecast Prices and Costs)
Summary of Oil and Gas Reserves as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
(1) 
 

Light Crude Oil and
Medium Crude Oil
 
Heavy Crude Oil
 
Bitumen
 
Natural Gas Liquids
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net Interest
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net Interest
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net Interest
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net Interest
Reserves Category
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
 
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
 
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
 
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
39,975
39,897
33,771
 
2,092
2,092
1,752
 
21,147
21,147
20,449
 
18,592
18,570
13,289
Proved Developed Non-Producing
1,339
1,339
1,094
 
-
-
25
 
-
-
-
 
390
390
283
Proved Undeveloped
6,418
6,418
5,326
 
1,512
1,512
1,307
 
82,204
82,204
69,765
 
1,277
1,277
991
Total Proved Reserves
47,732
47,654
40,192
 
3,604
3,604
3,084
 
103,351
103,351
90,213
 
20,259
20,237
14,562
Probable Reserves
20,778
20,751
16,674
 
6,194
6,194
5,049
 
160,046
160,046
130,990
 
8,218
8,209
6,009
Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
68,510
68,405
56,866
 
9,798
9,798
8,133
 
263,396
263,396
221,203
 
28,477
28,445
20,571
 
Conventional Natural Gas
 
Shale Gas
 
Coal Bed Methane
 
Total Oil Equivalent Basis(2)
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net
Interest
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net
Interest
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net
Interest
 
Company Interest
Gross Interest
Net
Interest
Reserves Category
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
 
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
 
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
 
(Mboe)
(Mboe)
(Mboe)
Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
283,557
282,599
244,819
 
34,250
34,250
31,294
 
14,052
13,799
12,930
 
137,117
136,815
117,434
Proved Developed Non-Producing
14,569
14,561
12,250
 
-
-
-
 
1,711
1,711
1,553
 
4,443
4,441
3,702
Proved Undeveloped
21,512
21,512
19,493
 
86,662
86,662
74,540
 
6,373
6,336
6,027
 
110,501
110,495
94,066
Total Proved Reserves
319,638
318,673
276,562
 
120,911
120,911
105,834
 
22,136
21,845
20,509
 
252,060
251,751
215,202
Probable Reserves
148,280
147,915
128,414
 
572,206
572,206
476,113
 
10,502
10,402
9,233
 
317,066
316,953
261,015
Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
467,918
466,588
404,975
 
693,117
693,117
581,947
 
32,638
32,247
29,742
 
569,126
568,703
476,218
Notes:
(1)
Forecast prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     13




Summary of Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as of December 31, 2015
Before and After Income Taxes (Forecast Prices and Costs)
(1) 
 
Before Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year) - $MM
 
Unit Value Before Income Tax Discounted at 10%/year(2) (3)
Reserves Category
0
%
5
%
10
%
15
%
20
%
 
$/BOE
$/McfGE
Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
1,605

1,312

1,096

939

822

 
9.33
1.56
Proved Developed Non-Producing
54

40

30

23

18

 
8.18
1.36
Proved Undeveloped
2,283

1,210

678

394

232

 
7.20
1.20
Total Proved Reserves
3,941

2,563

1,804

1,356

1,072


8.38
1.40
Probable Reserves
6,315

2,902

1,465

774

408

 
5.61
0.94
Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
10,256

5,465

3,268

2,130

1,481

 
6.86
1.14
 
After Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year)(4) - $MM
Reserves Category
0
%
5
%
10
%
15
%
20
%
Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
1,605

1,312

1,096

939

822

Proved Developed Non-Producing
54

40

30

23

18

Proved Undeveloped
2,132

1,141

645

378

224

Total Proved Reserves
3,790

2,494

1,771

1,340

1,064

Probable Reserves
4,278

2,027

1,050

563

294

Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
8,068

4,521

2,822

1,903

1,359

Notes:
(1)
Forecast prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
Net present value of Future Net Revenue per reserve unit values are based on our net reserves.
(3)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil. Oil and NGL have been converted to thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent on the basis of one barrel of oil or NGL being equal to six (6) Mcf of natural gas.
(4)
After-tax values were calculated using current corporate tax rates, existing tax pools and additions to the tax pools through capital expenditures as forecast by GLJ. See – "Statement of Oil and Gas Reserves and Reserves Data – Disclosure of Reserves Data" for additional descriptions of the assumptions made in calculating the after-tax values.
Total Future Net Revenue (undiscounted) as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
(1) ($MM)
Reserves Category
Revenue
Royalties(2)
Operating Costs
Development Costs
Abandonment and Reclamation Costs(3)
Future Net Revenue Before Income Taxes
Income Tax
Future Net Revenue After Income Taxes
Total Proved
14,572
2,168
6,182
1,597
683
3,941
151
3,790
Total Proved Plus Probable
34,119
5,775
11,998
5,165
925
10,256
2,188
8,068
Notes:
(1)
Forecast prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
Crown royalties payable to the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, freehold and over-riding royalties payable and other minor burdens.
(3)
Includes GLJ’s forecast of well abandonment and reclamation costs, abandonment of Sable Island facilities and subsea pipelines and abandonment and reclamation of the Lindbergh central processing facility, based on estimates by the Corporation, but does not include abandonment and surface reclamation costs for any other facilities. See "Pengrowth – Operational Information – Significant Factors or Uncertainties Affecting Reserves Data - Additional Information Concerning Abandonment & Reclamation Costs".

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     14




Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue By Product Type as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
(1) 
 
 
Future Net Revenue Before Income Taxes
(discounted at 10%/year)
 
Unit Value(4)(5)
Reserves Category
Product Type
($MM)
 
($/BOE)
($/McfGE)
Total Proved
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
672
 
11.58
1.93
 
Heavy Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
26
 
8.30
1.38
 
Bitumen
761
 
8.43
1.41
 
Conventional Natural Gas (including by-products but excluding solution gas from oil wells)(3)
255
 
5.98
1.00
 
Shale Gas
78
 
4.44
0.74
 
Coal Bed Methane
11
 
3.25
0.54
 
Total
1,804
 
8.38
1.40
Total Proved Plus Probable
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
964
 
11.62
1.94
 
Heavy Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
106
 
12.93
2.15
 
Bitumen
1,489
 
6.73
1.12
 
Conventional Natural Gas (including by-products but excluding solution gas from oil wells)(3)
358
 
5.78
0.96
 
Shale Gas
335
 
3.45
0.58
 
Coal Bed Methane
16
 
3.28
0.55
 
Total
3,268
 
6.86
1.14
Notes:
(1)
Forecast prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
NGL associated with the production of solution gas are included as a by-product.
(3)
NGL associated with the production of natural gas are included as a by-product.
(4)
Net present value of Future Net Revenue per BOE or McfGE are based on our net reserves.
(5)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil. Oil and NGL have been converted to thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent on the basis of one barrel of oil or NGL being equal to six (6) Mcf of natural gas.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     15




Reserves Data (Constant Prices and Costs)
Summary of Oil and Gas Reserves as of December 31, 2015
(Constant Prices and Costs)
(1) 
 

Light Crude Oil
and Medium Crude Oil
 
Heavy Crude Oil
 
Bitumen
 
Natural Gas Liquids
 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net Interest

 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net Interest

 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net Interest

 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net Interest

Reserves Category
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
34,163

34,095

30,918

 
1,855

1,855

1,604

 
16,829

16,829

16,481

 
14,094

14,082

10,079

Proved Developed Non-Producing
1,444

1,444

1,304

 
(460
)
(460
)
(411
)
 
-

-

-

 
315

315

223

Proved Undeveloped
5,542

5,542

4,963

 
1,476

1,476

1,330

 
80,486

80,486

78,822

 
587

587

436

Total Proved Reserves
41,149

41,081

37,185

 
2,872

2,872

2,523

 
97,315

97,315

95,302

 
14,997

14,984

10,737

Probable Reserves
20,319

20,295

18,520

 
6,100

6,100

5,241

 
108,417

108,417

106,175

 
7,632

7,628

5,601

Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
61,468

61,376

55,704

 
8,972

8,972

7,764

 
205,732

205,732

201,477

 
22,629

22,612

16,339

 
Conventional Natural Gas
 
Shale Gas
 
Coal Bed Methane
 
Total Oil Equivalent Basis(2)
 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net
Interest

 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net
Interest

 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net
Interest

 
Company Interest

Gross Interest

Net
Interest

Reserves Category
(MMcf)

(MMcf)

(MMcf)

 
(MMcf)

(MMcf)

(MMcf)

 
(MMcf)

(MMcf)

(MMcf)

 
(Mboe)

(Mboe)

(Mboe)

Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
218,616

217,997

191,842

 
33,516

33,516

31,046

 
8,737

8,582

8,048

 
110,420

110,210

97,571

Proved Developed Non-Producing
11,791

11,789

10,102

 
-

-

-

 
1,518

1,518

1,379

 
3,518

3,518

3,029

Proved Undeveloped
10,436

10,436

9,587

 
85,293

85,293

76,309

 
3,253

3,253

3,086

 
104,589

104,589

100,381

Total Proved Reserves
240,842

240,222

211,531

 
118,810

118,810

107,355

 
13,509

13,354

12,514

 
218,526

218,316

200,981

Probable Reserves
121,827

121,634

108,206

 
568,717

568,717

492,429

 
6,774

6,691

6,274

 
258,687

258,613

236,688

Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
362,669

361,856

319,737

 
687,527

687,527

599,784

 
20,283

20,045

18,788

 
477,213

476,930

437,669

Notes:
(1)
Constant prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     16




Summary of Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as of December 31, 2015
Before and After Income Taxes (Constant Prices and Costs)
(1) 
 
Before Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year) - $MM
 
Unit Value Before Income Taxes
Discounted at 10%/year
(2)(3)
Reserves Category
0
%
5
%
10
%
15
%
20
%
 
$/BOE
$/McfGE
Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
771

725

667

615

570

 
6.84

1.14

Proved Developed Non-Producing
21

18

15

13

11

 
5.11

0.85

Proved Undeveloped
235

107

30

(14
)
(40
)
 
0.30

0.05

Total Proved Reserves
1,027

850

713

614

540

 
3.55

0.59

Probable Reserves
1,300

524

157

(27
)
(123
)
 
0.66

0.11

Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
2,327

1,374

871

586

417

 
1.99

0.33

 
After Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year)(4)  - $MM
Reserves Category
0
%
5
%
10
%
15
%
20
%
Proved Reserves
 
 
 
 
 
Proved Developed Producing
771

725

667

615

570

Proved Developed Non-Producing
21

18

15

13

11

Proved Undeveloped
235

107

30

(14
)
(40
)
Total Proved Reserves
1,027

850

713

614

540

Probable Reserves
1,300

524

157

(27
)
(123
)
Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
2,327

1,374

871

586

417

Notes:
(1)
Constant prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
Net present value of Future Net Revenue per reserve unit values are based on our net reserves.
(3)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil. Oil and NGL have been converted to thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent on the basis of one barrel of oil or NGL being equal to six (6) Mcf of natural gas.
(4)
After-tax values were calculated using current corporate tax rates, existing tax pools and additions to the tax pools through capital expenditures as forecast by GLJ. See – "Statement of Oil and Gas Reserves and Reserves Data – Disclosure of Reserves Data" for additional descriptions of the assumptions made in calculating the after-tax values.
Total Future Net Revenue (undiscounted) as of December 31, 2015
(Constant Prices and Costs)
(1) ($MM)
Reserves Category
Revenue
Royalties(2)
Operating Costs
Development Costs
Abandonment and Reclamation Costs(3)
Future Net Revenue Before Income Taxes
Income Tax
Future Net Revenue After Income Taxes
Total Proved
7,226
498
3,954
1,254
493
1,027
-
1,027
Total Proved Plus Probable
14,239
998
6,677
3,640
596
2,327
-
2,327
Notes:
(1)
Constant prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
Crown royalties payable to the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, freehold and over-riding royalties payable and other minor burdens.
(3)
Includes GLJ’s forecast of well abandonment and reclamation costs, abandonment of Sable Island facilities and subsea pipelines, and abandonment and reclamation of the Lindbergh central processing facilities, based on estimates by the Corporation, but does not include abandonment and surface reclamation costs for any other facilities. See "Pengrowth – Operational Information – Significant Factors or Uncertainties Affecting Reserves Data - Additional Information Concerning Abandonment & Reclamation Costs".

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     17




Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue By Product Type as of December 31, 2015
(Constant Prices and Costs)
(1) 
 
 
Future Net Revenue Before Income Taxes
(discounted at 10%/year)
 
Unit Value(4)(5)
Reserves Category
Product Type
($MM)
 
($/BOE)
($/McfGE)
Total Proved
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
377
 
7.13
1.19
 
Heavy Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
8
 
3.00
0.50
 
Bitumen
192
 
2.02
0.34
 
Conventional Natural Gas (including by-products but excluding solution gas from oil wells)(3)
105
 
3.47
0.58
 
Shale Gas
29
 
1.60
0.27
 
Coal Bed Methane
3
 
1.30
0.22
 
Total
713
 
3.55
0.59
Total Proved Plus Probable
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
504
 
6.33
1.05
 
Heavy Crude Oil (including solution gas and other by-products)(2)
34
 
4.30
0.72
 
Bitumen
99
 
0.49
0.08
 
Conventional Natural Gas (including by-products but excluding solution gas from oil wells)(3)
142
 
3.11
0.52
 
Shale Gas
88
 
0.88
0.15
 
Coal Bed Methane
4
 
1.39
0.23
 
Total
871
 
1.99
0.33
Notes:
(1)
Constant prices are shown under the heading "Pricing Assumptions".
(2)
NGL associated with the production of solution gas are included as a by-product.
(3)
NGL associated with the production of natural gas are included as a by-product.
(4)
Net present value of Future Net Revenue per BOE or McfGE are based on our net reserves.
(5)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil. Oil and NGL have been converted to thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent on the basis of one barrel of oil or NGL being equal to six (6) Mcf of natural gas.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     18




Pricing Assumptions
Forecast Prices used in Estimates
The forecast price and cost assumptions assume the continuance of current laws and regulations and changes in wellhead selling prices, and take into account forecasted two percent annual inflation with respect to future operating and capital costs. The forecast prices are provided in the table below and reflect GLJ's January 1, 2016 price forecast as referred to in the GLJ Report.
 
Oil
 
Natural Gas
 
Natural Gas Liquids(1)
 
 
 
WTI Cushing Oklahoma
Edmonton Par Price
40°API
Cromer Medium 29°API
WCS Stream Quality
Hardisty Heavy
12
°API
Lindbergh Bitumen Wellhead Calculated(5)
 
AECO
Gas Price
 
Propane
Butane
Pentanes Plus
Inflation Rates(2)
Exchange Rate(3)
Year
(US$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
 
(Cdn$/MMBtu)
 
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(%/year)
(US$/Cdn$)
2015(4)
48.82
57.23
51.91
44.85
39.31
35.02
 
2.70
 
6.54
36.78
60.45
1.1
0.7832
2016
44.00
55.86
50.80
42.26
35.70
26.62
 
2.76
 
9.58
41.90
60.79
2.0
0.7250
2017
52.00
64.00
59.52
51.20
45.02
36.00
 
3.27
 
16.00
48.00
68.48
2.0
0.7500
2018
58.00
68.39
63.60
55.39
49.06
40.02
 
3.45
 
20.52
51.29
73.17
2.0
0.7750
2019
64.00
73.75
68.59
60.84
54.42
45.36
 
3.63
 
25.81
55.31
78.91
2.0
0.8000
2020
70.00
78.79
73.27
66.18
59.75
50.68
 
3.81
 
27.58
59.09
84.30
2.0
0.8250
2021
75.00
82.35
76.59
70.00
63.56
54.50
 
3.90
 
28.82
61.76
88.12
2.0
0.8500
2022
80.00
88.24
82.06
75.88
69.32
60.24
 
4.10
 
30.88
66.18
94.41
2.0
0.8500
2023
85.00
94.12
87.53
81.41
74.62
65.50
 
4.30
 
32.94
70.59
100.71
2.0
0.8500
2024
87.88
96.48
89.73
84.90
78.40
69.33
 
4.50
 
33.77
72.36
103.24
2.0
0.8500
2025
89.63
98.41
91.52
86.60
79.99
70.72
 
4.60
 
34.44
73.81
105.30
2.0
0.8500
thereafter
+2%/year
+2%/year
+2%/year
+2%/year
+2%/year
+2%/year
 
+2%/year
 
+2%/year
+2%/year
+2%/year
2.0
0.8500
Notes:
(1)
FOB Edmonton.
(2)
Inflation rates for forecasting prices and costs.
(3)
The exchange rates used to generate the benchmark reference prices in this table.
(4)
Actual average historical prices for 2015.
(5)
Lindbergh forecast wellhead prices are calculated accounting for all diluent/blending and transportation costs.
Constant Prices used in Estimates
The constant price assumptions assume the continuance of current laws, regulations and operating costs in effect on the date of the GLJ Report. Product prices were determined from the actual prices on the first day of each month during 2015 and were not escalated. In addition to the product prices, operating and capital costs have no inflationary increase. The constant prices are as follows:
 
Oil
 
Natural Gas
 
Natural Gas Liquids(1)
 
 
 
WTI
Cushing Oklahoma
Edmonton Par Price
40°API
Cromer Medium 29°API
WCS Stream Quality
Hardisty Heavy
12
°API
Lindbergh Bitumen Wellhead Calculated(2)
 
AECO
Gas Price
 
Propane
Butane
Pentanes Plus
Inflation Rate
Exchange Rate
Year
(US$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
 
(Cdn$/MMBtu)
 
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(Cdn$/bbl)
(%/year)
(US$/Cdn$)
2016 and
thereafter
50.16
58.88
53.58
46.58
40.95
32.03
 
2.68
 
7.03
38.21
62.00
0.0
0.7877
Notes:
(1)
FOB Edmonton.
(2)
Lindbergh constant wellhead price is calculated accounting for all diluent/blending and transportation costs.


 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     19




Reserves Reconciliation
The following tables provide a reconciliation of our gross reserves of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and NGL for the year ended December 31, 2015, presented using forecast prices and costs. All reserves are located in Canada.
Gross Reserves Reconciliation By Principal Product Type
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil
 
Heavy Crude Oil
 
Bitumen
 
Natural Gas Liquids
 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

 
(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

(Mbbl)

December 31, 2014
64,241

27,332

91,574

 
18,214

11,045

29,259

 
103,848

139,490

243,338

 
24,238

9,968

34,206

Extensions & Improved Recovery
1,057

510

1,567

 
-

-

-

 
-

19,185

19,185

 
643

485

1,127

Infill Drilling
15

229

244

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
2

37

40

Technical Revisions
(799
)
(1,625
)
(2,424
)
 
238

37

275

 
3,293

1,370

4,663

 
1,179

(780
)
400

Discoveries
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

Acquisitions
78

31

109

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
21

7

28

Dispositions
(591
)
(344
)
(935
)
 
(12,776
)
(4,813
)
(17,589
)
 
-

-

-

 
(1,051
)
(524
)
(1,575
)
Economic Factors
(10,407
)
(5,382
)
(15,789
)
 
(54
)
(74
)
(128
)
 
-

-

-

 
(1,659
)
(986
)
(2,644
)
Production
(5,940
)
-

(5,940
)
 
(2,018
)
-

(2,018
)
 
(3,790
)
-

(3,790
)
 
(3,137
)
-

(3,137
)
December 31, 2015
47,654

20,751

68,405

 
3,604

6,194

9,798

 
103,351

160,046

263,396

 
20,237

8,209

28,445

 
Conventional Natural Gas(2)
 
Shale Gas(2)
 
Coal Bed Methane
 
Total Oil Equivalent Basis(1)
 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
Proved

Probable

Proved Plus Probable

 
(MMcf)

(MMcf)

(MMcf)

 
(MMcf)

(MMcf)

(MMcf)

 
(MMcf)

(MMcf)

(MMcf)

 
(Mboe)

(Mboe)

(Mboe)

December 31, 2014
551,539

343,061

894,600

 
-

-

-

 
42,426

12,614

55,040

 
309,535

247,115

556,650

Extensions & Improved Recovery
7,534

5,954

13,488

 
20,825

361,210

382,035

 
52

16

68

 
6,435

81,376

87,811

Infill Drilling
32

478

510

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
23

346

369

Technical Revisions
(61,740
)
(150,189
)
(211,929
)
 
106,319

211,010

317,329

 
(2,876
)
(1,605
)
(4,481
)
 
10,862

8,871

19,733

Discoveries
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

Acquisitions
268

94

362

 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
143

54

197

Dispositions
(68,871
)
(26,107
)
(94,977
)
 
-

-

-

 
-

-

-

 
(25,896
)
(10,032
)
(35,928
)
Economic Factors
(52,037
)
(25,376
)
(77,413
)
 
(48
)
(15
)
(63
)
 
(15,458
)
(623
)
(16,081
)
 
(23,377
)
(10,777
)
(34,155
)
Production
(58,052
)
-

(58,052
)
 
(6,185
)
-

(6,185
)
 
(2,299
)
-

(2,299
)
 
(25,974
)
-

(25,974
)
December 31, 2015
318,673

147,915

466,588

 
120,911

572,206

693,117

 
21,845

10,402

32,247

 
251,751

316,953

568,703

Note:
(1)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil.
(2)
For reporting purposes, the product type for Montney gas in the Groundbirch property has been changed from conventional natural gas to shale gas. The transfer of volumes from conventional natural gas to shale gas is reflected as Technical Revisions and amount to 85,244 MMcf Proved, 142,940 MMcf Probable and 228,184 MMcf Proved Plus Probable.
At December 31, 2015, Company Interest Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves at forecast prices and costs were 569.1 MMboe as compared to 557.4 MMboe reported at year end 2014. The following additional GLJ reserves reconciliation is presented for year end December 31, 2015.
Company Interest Reserves Reconciliation on Total Oil Equivalent Basis – Mboe(1)
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
 
Proved Developed Producing Reserves

Total Proved Reserves

Total Proved Plus Probable Reserve

December 31, 2014
167,994

310,051

557,350

Extensions & Improved Recovery
25,300

6,435

87,811

Infill Drilling
-

23

369

Technical Revisions
1,506

10,868

19,707

Discoveries
-

-

-

Acquisitions
78

143

197

Dispositions
(20,972
)
(25,938
)
(35,993
)
Economic Factors
(10,725
)
(23,457
)
(34,251
)
Production
(26,064
)
(26,064
)
(26,064
)
December 31, 2015
137,117

252,060

569,126

Note:
(1)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     20




Significant factors bearing on the reserves reconciliation were as follows:
Net reserve changes from drilling activity, improved recovery, technical revisions and economic factors replaced -24 percent and 282 percent of 2015 production for Proved Reserves and Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves, respectively. Based on all changes, including acquisitions and dispositions, reserve replacement was -123 percent and 145 percent for Proved Reserves and Proved Plus Probable Reserves, respectively.
New reserve additions for development activity during 2015 amounted to 6.5 MMboe of Proved Reserves and 88.2 MMboe of Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves. The most significant addition occurred in our Groundbirch Montney development where activity in the area allowed us to reclassify a portion of the Contingent Resources as reserves. Similarly, ongoing reservoir delineation in our Lindbergh thermal project resulted in a reserve increase. Other additions were for infill drilling and drilling extensions in the Cardium and Mannville plays through the Lochend/Garrington fairway where we hold an extensive land position. The increase in proved producing reserves was primarily due to the Lindbergh Phase 1 commercial development coming on stream in early 2015.
Technical revisions resulted in a net increase of 10.9 MMboe of Proved Reserves and 19.7 MMboe of Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves. This was primarily from ongoing engineering analysis of the Groundbirch Montney gas reservoir and updated mapping in the Lindbergh oil sands pool. The positive technical revisions were offset by reserve decreases due to economic factors relating to lower forecast product prices compared to last year end. The decrease due to economic factors is estimated to be 23.5 MMboe and 34.3 MMboe for Proved Reserves and Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves, respectively.
Disposition of non-core assets in Alberta and Saskatchewan resulted in a decrease of 25.9 MMboe and 36.0 MMboe of Proved Reserves and Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves, respectively. These were primarily heavy oil assets in the Bodo and Jenner areas and various gas properties throughout Alberta.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO RESERVES DATA
Undeveloped Reserves
Undeveloped Reserves are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure is required to render them capable of production.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves and Probable Undeveloped Reserves have been estimated in accordance with procedures and standards contained in the COGE Handbook. In general, Undeveloped Reserves are scheduled to be developed within the next two to three years. Much of the remaining capital scheduled beyond this period is for staged developments such as the Lindbergh thermal project and Groundbirch Montney gas development. Other slightly longer term capital expenditures are for oil and gas development which has been deferred due to the low commodity price environment.
Company Gross Reserves First Attributed by Year(1) 
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
 
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil
Heavy Crude Oil
Bitumen
Natural Gas Liquids
Conventional
Natural Gas
Shale Gas(2)
Coal Bed Methane
Total Oil Equivalent
 
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(Mboe)(3)
 
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
2013
2,348
14,771
1,015
5,954
69,293
80,423
647
1,306
9,405
64,999
-
-
-
22,410
74,870
117,022
2014
1,059
13,137
332
5,483
22,596
77,113
137
832
21,818
66,686
-
-
-
22,728
27,760
111,467
2015
571
6,418
-
1,512
-
82,204
448
1,277
4,730
21,512
20,825
86,662
-
6,336
5,278
110,495
Probable Undeveloped Reserves
 
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil
Heavy Crude Oil
Bitumen
Natural Gas Liquids
Conventional
Natural Gas
Shale Gas(2)
Coal Bed Methane
Total Oil Equivalent
 
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(Mbbl)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(MMcf)
(Mboe)(3)
 
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
First
Attributed
Total at year end
2013
2,352
11,774
431
8,196
39,821
60,518
654
2,451
35,878
177,413
-
-
-
6,312
49,237
113,559
2014
1,443
10,698
356
8,092
78,743
134,485
1,122
2,896
33,494
179,851
-
-
-
6,639
87,246
187,253
2015
776
6,333
-
5,374
19,185
155,201
492
2,304
6,534
34,975
361,210
561,604
-
5,544
81,744
269,565
Notes:
(1)
"First Attributed" refers to reserves first attributed at year end of the corresponding fiscal year.
(2)
Because of new product type guidelines and designation, Proved and Probable Undeveloped Reserves of shale gas were previously reported as conventional natural gas.
(3)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one barrel of oil.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     21




Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Proved Undeveloped Reserves comprise approximately 44 percent of Company Interest Proved Reserves on a BOE basis. Company Interest Proved Undeveloped Reserves of 110 MMboe were assigned by GLJ in accordance with NI 51-101. In general, Proved Undeveloped Reserves were assigned to certain properties because we intend to make the needed capital commitments to convert the Undeveloped Reserves to Proved Developed Producing Reserves in the next few years. Proved Undeveloped Reserves have been primarily assigned for future oil sands development and development drilling.
The Lindbergh thermal project which came on stream in 2015 accounts for 74 percent of our Proved Undeveloped Reserves. SAGD well pairs are forecast to be drilled until 2036. The pace of development is limited to the maximum production rate allowed by the EPEA approval for the Phase 1 commercial project. The Groundbirch Montney gas property amounts to approximately 13 percent of our Proved Undeveloped Reserves. Drilling is forecast by GLJ to occur over the next four years to develop these reserves. Harmattan, Garrington and Lochend contain approximately six percent of our Proved Undeveloped Reserves. Development drilling in these fields is primarily focused on the Cardium formation and is forecast to occur over the next four years.
Probable Undeveloped Reserves
Probable Undeveloped Reserves were assigned by GLJ in accordance with the requirements and standards of NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook. Our Probable Undeveloped Reserves amount to 270 MMboe and represent about 47 percent of the Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves. Probable Undeveloped Reserves are assigned for similar reasons and generally to the same properties as Proved Undeveloped Reserves, but also meet the requirements of the reserve classification to which they belong. Our largest Probable Undeveloped Reserves are distributed among certain properties as a percent of the total as follows: Lindbergh (58 percent), Groundbirch (35 percent) and Harmattan/Garrington/Lochend (three percent).
SIGNIFICANT FACTORS OR UNCERTAINTIES AFFECTING RESERVES DATA
Additional Information Concerning Abandonment & Reclamation Costs
The total future abandonment and reclamation costs are based on management's estimate of costs to abandon, remediate and reclaim all wells and facilities having regard to our Working Interest and the estimated timing of the costs to be incurred in future periods and are referred to herein as the Corporation's asset retirement obligations. We have developed a process to calculate these estimates, which considers applicable regulations, actual and anticipated costs, type and size of the well or facility and the geographic location. These costs relate to wells and facilities in properties that may or may not have reserves attributed to them.
GLJ's forecast of well abandonment and reclamation costs for all wells with reserves assigned, abandonment costs for all Sable Island offshore and onshore facilities and pipelines upstream of the plant gate and abandonment and reclamation costs for the Lindbergh central processing facilities, based on estimates provided by the Corporation, are included in their report and therefore in their estimate of Future Net Revenue. All other abandonment and reclamation costs are not reflected in GLJ's estimate of Future Net Revenue.
We have estimated the net present value (discounted at ten percent per annum) of our total asset retirement obligations, which are inclusive of those costs estimated by GLJ, to be approximately $154 million as at December 31, 2015, based on a total future liability (inflated at 1.5 percent per annum) of approximately $1,702 million. The majority of these costs are expected to be incurred between 2040 and 2070 and apply to 5,036 net producing, non-producing, service and abandoned wells.
The following table summarizes our total current asset retirement obligations as at December 31, 2015:
Asset Retirement Obligations
 
2016
2017
2018
Remainder
Total
Total Abandonment, Reclamation, Remediation & Dismantling ($millions)
6
21
26
1,649
1,702
Discounted at ten percent ($millions)
6
17
20
111
154
The above table excludes asset retirement obligations associated with future development and, in particular, the development associated with Proved Developed Non-Producing, Proved Undeveloped and Probable Undeveloped Reserves, except where such activity would be coincidental with existing operations. GLJ’s Proved Developed Producing reserve evaluation at forecast prices and costs is the best comparison to our current operation and includes $583 million ($200 million when discounted at ten percent) of the current asset retirement obligations in the above table. Elsewhere, where we describe Future Net Revenue, only the GLJ forecast of abandonment obligation is included in the values.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     22




FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
The following table outlines development costs deducted in the estimation of Future Net Revenue calculated utilizing both constant and forecast prices and costs, undiscounted and using a discount rate of ten percent per annum for the years indicated. All of such development costs are estimated to be incurred in Canada.
Future Development Costs ($millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
Reserve Category
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Remainder
Undiscounted
Discounted at 10%
Proved Reserves (Constant Prices and Costs)
28
162
182
74
60
747
1,254
649
Proved Reserves (Forecast Prices and Costs)
28
192
207
92
75
1,002
1,597
780
Proved & Probable Reserves (Forecast Prices and Costs)
35
477
816
217
281
3,338
5,165
2,377
We expect to fund future development costs with a combination of cash flow and proceeds from non-core asset dispositions. There are no reserves that are expected to be limited in their recovery due to their cost of development.
FINDING, DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION COSTS
Finding and Development Costs
During 2015, we spent $181.8 million on development, land and optimization, which added 6.5 MMboe of Proved Reserves and 88.2 MMboe of Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves excluding revisions. Incorporating the net negative revisions primarily resulting from the impact of lower forecast commodity prices resulted in an overall change of -6.1 MMboe of Proved Reserves and 73.6 MMboe of Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves. The development and optimization expenditures exclude $2.7 million in corporate expenditures mainly for information technology projects in the Calgary office. The largest reserve additions were for drilling extensions at Lindbergh, Groundbirch and Greater Olds/Garrington.
Finding and Developments Costs are not necessarily calculated in the same manner by all issuers. Accordingly, they should not be used to make comparisons amongst different issuers.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
During 2015, $210.5 million of asset dispositions (after interim period adjustments) were completed, and approximately $0.9 million of asset acquisitions were completed. The 2015 dispositions were comprised primarily of the Bodo/Cactus and Jenner area packages as well as our interests in several non-core assets which included Dunvegan, McLeod River, Tilley and other minor properties.
Future Development Costs
The calculation of F&D Costs include changes in forecasted FDC relating to the reserves. These forecasts of FDC will change with time due to ongoing development activity, inflationary changes or reduction in capital costs and acquisition or disposition of assets. We provide the calculation of FD&A Costs both with and without change in FDC. We include FD&A Costs because we believe that acquisitions and dispositions can have a significant impact on our ongoing reserve replacement costs.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     23




Finding, Development and Acquisition Costs - Company Interest Reserves
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
Proved Reserves
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
 
2013-2015
Weighted Average
 
Costs Excluding Future Development Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration and Development Capital Expenditures - $MM
 
181.8
 
 
902.5
 
 
692.4
 
 
1,776.7
 
Exploration and Development Reserve Additions including Revisions - MMboe
 
(6.1
)
 
32.9
 
 
83.4
 
 
110.2
 
Finding and Development Cost - $/BOE(1)
 
(29.80
)
 
27.43
 
 
8.30
 
 
16.12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Capital - $MM
 
(209.6
)
 
(67.5
)
 
(977.8
)
 
(1,254.9
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Reserve Additions - MMboe
 
(25.8
)
 
(3.1
)
 
(45.6
)
 
(74.5
)
Net Acquisition Cost - $/BOE
 
8.12
 
 
21.77
 
 
21.43
 
 
16.84
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital Expenditures including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - $MM
 
(27.8
)
 
835.0
 
 
(285.3
)
 
521.8
 
Reserve Additions including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - MMboe
 
(31.9
)
 
29.8
 
 
37.8
 
 
35.7
 
Finding, Development and Acquisition Cost - $/BOE(2)
 
0.87
 
 
28.02
 
 
(7.55
)
 
14.62
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs Including Future Development Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration and Development Capital Expenditures - $MM
 
181.8
 
 
902.5
 
 
692.4
 
 
1,776.7
 
Exploration and Development Change in FDC - $MM
 
(239.7
)
 
(51.7
)
 
1,031.7
 
 
740.3
 
Exploration and Development Capital including Change in FDC - $MM
 
(57.9
)
 
850.8
 
 
1,724.1
 
 
2,517.0
 
Exploration and Development Reserve Additions including Revisions - MMboe
 
(6.1
)
 
32.9
 
 
83.4
 
 
110.2
 
Finding and Development Cost - $/BOE
 
9.49
 
 
25.86
 
 
20.67
 
 
22.84
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Capital - $MM
 
(209.6
)
 
(67.5
)
 
(977.8
)
 
(1,254.9
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) FDC - $MM
 
(107.3
)
 
(5.3
)
 
(244.7
)
 
(337.3
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Capital including FDC - $MM
 
(316.9
)
 
(72.8
)
 
(1,202.5
)
 
(1,592.2
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Reserve Additions - MMboe
 
(25.8
)
 
(3.1
)
 
(45.6
)
 
(74.5
)
Net Acquisition Cost - $/BOE
 
12.28
 
 
23.48
 
 
26.36
 
 
21.37
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital Expenditures including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - $MM
 
(27.8
)
 
835.0
 
 
(285.3
)
 
521.8
 
Total Change in FDC - $MM
 
(347.0
)
 
(57.0
)
 
807.0
 
 
403.0
 
Total Capital including Change in FDC - $MM
 
(374.8
)
 
778.0
 
 
521.7
 
 
924.8
 
Reserve Additions including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - MMboe
 
(31.9
)
 
29.8
 
 
37.8
 
 
35.7
 
Finding, Development and Acquisition Cost including FDC - $/BOE
 
11.75
 
 
26.11
 
 
13.80
 
 
25.90
 

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     24




Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
 
2015

 
2014
 
 
2013

 
2013-2015 Weighted Average
 
Costs Excluding Future Development Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration and Development Capital Expenditures - $MM
 
181.8

 
902.5
 
 
692.4

 
1,776.7
 
Exploration and Development Reserve Additions including Revisions - MMboe
 
73.6

 
112.4
 
 
65.3

 
251.3
 
Finding and Development Cost - $/BOE
 
2.47

 
8.03
 
 
10.61

 
7.07
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Capital - $MM
 
(209.6
)
 
(67.5
)
 
(977.8
)
 
(1,254.9
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Reserve Additions - MMboe
 
(35.8
)
 
(5.6
)
 
(69.0
)
 
(110.4
)
Net Acquisition Cost - $/BOE
 
5.85

 
12.05
 
 
14.17

 
11.37
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital Expenditures including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - $MM
 
(27.8
)
 
835.0
 
 
(285.3
)
 
521.8
 
Reserve Additions including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - MMboe
 
37.8

 
106.7
 
 
(3.7
)
 
140.9
 
Finding, Development and Acquisition Cost - $/BOE(2)
 
(0.74
)
 
7.82
 
 
76.66

 
3.70
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs Including Future Development Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration and Development Capital Expenditures - $MM
 
181.8

 
902.5
 
 
692.4

 
1,776.7
 
Exploration and Development Change in FDC - $MM
 
341.9

 
1,607.2
 
 
741.2

 
2,690.3
 
Exploration and Development Capital including Change in FDC - $MM
 
523.7

 
2,509.7
 
 
1,433.6

 
4,467.0
 
Exploration and Development Reserve Additions including Revisions - MMboe
 
73.6

 
112.4
 
 
65.3

 
251.3
 
Finding and Development Cost - $/BOE
 
7.12

 
22.33
 
 
21.96

 
17.78
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Capital - $MM
 
(209.6
)
 
(67.5
)
 
(977.8
)
 
(1,254.9
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) FDC - $MM
 
(133.9
)
 
(32.2
)
 
(381.2
)
 
(547.3
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Capital including FDC - $MM
 
(343.5
)
 
(99.7
)
 
(1,359.0
)
 
(1,802.2
)
Net Acquisition (Disposition) Reserve Additions - MMboe
 
(35.8
)
 
(5.6
)
 
(69.0
)
 
(110.4
)
Net Acquisition Cost - $/BOE
 
9.59

 
17.80
 
 
19.70

 
16.32
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital Expenditures including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) - $MM
 
(27.8
)
 
835.0
 
 
(285.3
)
 
521.8
 
Total Change in FDC - $MM
 
208.0

 
1,575.0
 
 
360.0

 
2,143.0
 
Total Capital including Change in FDC - $MM
 
180.2

 
2,410.0
 
 
74.6

 
2,664.8
 
Reserve Additions including Net Acquisitions (Dispositions) – MMboe
 
37.8

 
106.7
 
 
(3.7
)
 
140.9
 
Finding Development and Acquisition Cost including FDC - $/BOE(3)
 
4.77

 
22.57
 
 
(20.05
)
 
18.91
 
Notes:
(1)
The negative 2015 F&D Cost excluding FDC for Proved Reserves is due to the negative reserve change including revisions.
(2)
The negative FD&A Costs excluding FDC for 2013 Proved Reserves and 2015 P+P Reserves are due to the proceeds from dispositions exceeding capital expenditures plus acquisition costs.
(3)
The negative 2013 FD&A Cost including FDC for P+P Reserves is due to the reserve decrease from dispositions exceeding the reserve additions, including revisions, from development activity and acquisitions.
The aggregate of the exploration and development costs incurred in the most recent financial year and the change during that year in estimated future development costs generally will not reflect total finding and development costs related to reserves additions for that year.
RECYCLE RATIO
We calculate the Recycle Ratio to measure our performance. It reflects the amount of cash flow relative to investment. To calculate the Recycle Ratio, we divide annual operating netback by annual P+P F&D Costs including change in FDC. Recycle ratios are not necessarily calculated in the same manner by all issuers. Accordingly, they should not be used to make comparisons amongst different issuers.
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2013-2015
Weighted Average
Recycle Ratio
 
3.5
 
1.1
 
1.1
 
1.4
Operating Netback, $/BOE(1)(3)
 
24.97
 
25.64
 
24.35
 
24.95
P+P F&D, $/BOE(2)
 
7.12
 
22.33
 
21.96
 
17.78
Notes:
(1)
Operating netback is calculated as shown in "Production History (Netback)".
(2)
P+P F&D uses Exploration and Development capital including Change in FDC divided by Exploration and Development Reserve Additions including Revisions as shown above.
(3)
Comparative figures restated to conform to presentation in the current period.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     25




RESERVE LIFE INDEX
The Reserve Life Index ("RLI") provides a comparative measure of the longevity of the resources. We calculate the RLI by dividing 2015 Company Interest year end reserves by GLJ’s 2016 forecasted production. RLIs are not necessarily comparative as between different issuers as there is some variation in calculation methodology.
 
 
Proved Producing Reserves
 
Total Proved Reserves
 
Total Proved Plus Probable Reserves
RLI, years
 
6.5
 
12.1
 
25.2
Reserves, Mboe(1)(2)
 
137,117
 
252,060
 
569,126
2016 Forecast Production, BOE/d(1)
 
57,853
 
57,196
 
61,768
Notes:
(1)
Both reserves and production are Company Interest.
(2)
Reserves are calculated using Forecast Prices and Costs.
RESERVE REPLACEMENT
We provide reserve replacement data as an indication of the effectiveness of our investments made and the relative impact of that investment. The reserve replacement figures are calculated with and without net acquisitions included by dividing reserve additions by the current year's production. Reserve replacement figures should not be relied upon as being predictive of future performance or reserve growth or recoveries. Different issuers may calculate reserve replacement in different manners. Accordingly, reserve replacement ratios should not be treated as being standardized or comparable.
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
Weighted Average/Total
2013-2015

Without Net Acquisitions Proved Plus Probable Replacement (%)
282

 
420

 
211

 
300

P+P Additions plus Revisions, MMboe(1)
73.6

 
112.4

 
65.3

 
251.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With Net Acquisitions Proved Plus Probable Replacement (%)
145

 
399

 
(12
)
 
168

P+P Additions, Revisions plus net Acquisitions, MMboe(1)
37.8

 
106.7

 
(3.7
)
 
140.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Without Net Acquisitions Total Proved Replacement (%)
(23
)
 
123

 
270

 
132

Total Proved Additions plus Revisions, MMboe(1)
(6.1
)
 
32.9

 
83.4

 
110.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With Net Acquisitions Total Proved Replacement (%)
(122
)
 
111

 
122

 
43

Total Proved Additions, Revisions plus net Acquisitions, MMboe(1)
(31.9
)
 
29.8

 
37.8

 
35.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Year Production, MMboe(1)
26.1

 
26.8

 
30.9

 
83.7

Note:
(1)
Both reserves and production are Company Interest.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     26




OTHER OIL AND GAS INFORMATION
Oil and Gas Wells
As at December 31, 2015, we had an interest in 4,366 gross (2,517 net) producing oil and natural gas wells and 2,552 gross (1,402 net) non-producing wells. All wells are onshore except for wells in Nova Scotia which are all offshore.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Producing
 
Non-Producing
 
Total
 
 
Gross
Net
 
Gross
Net
 
Gross
Net
Crude Oil Wells
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alberta
 
1,701
947
 
1,018
478
 
2,719
1,425
 
British Columbia
 
68
40
 
184
118
 
252
158
 
Saskatchewan
 
50
23
 
74
32
 
124
55
Bitumen Wells
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alberta
 
22
22
 
-
-
 
22
22
Natural Gas Wells
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alberta
 
2,389
1,416
 
753
460
 
3,142
1,876
 
British Columbia
 
119
66
 
217
130
 
336
196
 
Saskatchewan
 
3
2
 
11
4
 
14
6
 
Nova Scotia
 
14
1
 
5
1
 
19
2
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alberta
 
-
-
 
221
135
 
221
135
 
British Columbia
 
-
-
 
63
41
 
63
41
 
Saskatchewan
 
-
-
 
6
3
 
6
3
Total
 
4,366
2,517
 
2,552
1,402
 
6,918
3,919
Properties with No Attributed Reserves
The following table sets forth the gross and net acres of unproved properties held by us as at December 31, 2015 and the maximum net area of unproved properties for which we expect our rights to explore, develop and exploit to expire during 2016. There are no material work commitments necessary to maintain these properties.
When determining gross and net acreage for two or more leases covering the same lands but different rights, the acreage is reported for each lease. Where there are multiple discontinuous rights in a single lease, the acreage is reported only once.
Unproved Properties as at December 31, 2015
Location
Gross Acres
Net Acres
Maximum Net Acres Expected to Expire During 2016
Alberta
602,459
325,941
76,993
British Columbia
390,691
158,263
6,936
Nova Scotia
200,650
15,957
-
Saskatchewan
6,444
2,933
-
Total
1,200,244
503,094
83,930
The expiring acreage is being evaluated and attempts will be made to maintain our rights on the acreage. Historically, efforts to maintain our rights on acreage on activity have been successful.
FORWARD CONTRACTS
We use financial derivatives or fixed price contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices and foreign currency exchange rates. A description of such instruments is provided in Note 17 of our annual audited consolidated financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015, which may be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
TAX HORIZON
We have not paid cash income tax in the past year and based upon current tax legislation, anticipated capital spending and economic conditions, we do not anticipate having to pay corporate income tax until at least 2021, partially as a result of our $3.5 billion of tax pools.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     27




COSTS INCURRED
The following table outlines property acquisition, exploration and development costs that we incurred during the financial year ended December 31, 2015. These costs include only those costs which are cash or cash equivalent.
 
Amount
Nature of Cost
($million)
Acquisition Costs
 
Proved
0.9
Unproved
-
Exploration Costs
3.6
Development Costs
177.5
Total
182.0
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
The following table summarizes the number of wells drilled during the financial year ended December 31, 2015.
 
Development(1)
 
Exploration
 
Total
Wells
Gross
Net
 
Gross
Net
 
Gross
Net
Gas
2
1.4
 
-
-
 
2
1.4
Oil
7
5.4
 
1
0.3
 
8
5.7
Bitumen
-
-
 
-
-
 
-
-
Service
-
-
 
-
-
 
-
-
Stratigraphic Test
-
-
 
-
-
 
-
-
Dry
-
-
 
-
-
 
-
-
Total
9
6.9
 
1
0.3
 
10
7.1
Note:
(1)
Numbers may not add due to rounding.
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
The following table summarizes the 2016 average daily volume of gross production estimated by GLJ for all properties held on December 31, 2015 using constant and forecast prices and costs, all of which will be produced in Canada. These estimates assume certain activities take place, such as the development of Undeveloped Reserves, and that there are no dispositions. We estimate our 2016 Company Interest production to be between 59,000 and 61,000 BOE/d.
 
2016 Estimated Production
 
Constant Prices and Costs
 
Forecast Prices and Costs
 
Total Proved
Total Probable
Total Proved Plus Probable
 
Total Proved
Total Probable
Total Proved Plus Probable
Light Crude Oil and Medium Crude Oil (bbl/d)
13,342
448
13,790
 
13,346
449
13,795
Heavy Crude Oil (bbl/d)
1,120
69
1,188
 
1,120
69
1,188
Bitumen (bbl/d)
13,879
3,031
16,909
 
13,879
3,031
16,909
Conventional Natural Gas (Mcf/d)
112,717
3,899
116,616
 
113,278
3,946
117,224
Shale Gas (Mcf/d)
12,465
705
13,171
 
12,465
705
13,171
Coal Bed Methane (Mcf/d)
5,807
125
5,931
 
5,807
125
5,931
Natural Gas Liquids (bbl/d)
6,767
221
6,988
 
6,780
224
7,003
Total (BOE/d)
56,938
4,557
61,495
 
57,049
4,568
61,617

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     28




PRODUCTION HISTORY (NETBACK)
The following table summarizes, for each quarter of our most recent financial year, certain of our production information in respect of our Company Interest production, product prices received, royalties paid, operating expenses and resulting operating netbacks.
 
 
QUARTER ENDED(3)
 
YEAR ENDED(3)
 
 
Mar 31, 2015

 
June 30, 2015

 
Sept 30, 2015

 
Dec 31, 2015

 
Dec 31, 2015

Barrels of Oil Equivalent(1) (including realized commodity risk management)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Oil Production(2) (BOE/d)
 
69,334

 
74,113

 
74,239

 
67,934

 
71,409

Oil & gas sales ($/BOE) (includes other income)
 
32.03

 
37.05

 
31.02

 
27.06

 
31.88

Royalties ($/BOE)
 
(3.97
)
 
(3.93
)
 
(2.80
)
 
(3.06
)
 
(3.43
)
Operating expenses ($/BOE)
 
(14.89
)
 
(15.83
)
 
(13.32
)
 
(13.02
)
 
(14.28
)
Transportation costs ($/BOE)
 
(1.54
)
 
(2.08
)
 
(1.80
)
 
(1.54
)
 
(1.75
)
Realized commodity risk management
 
13.74

 
8.77

 
12.38

 
15.63

 
12.55

Operating netback ($/BOE)
 
25.37

 
23.98

 
25.48

 
25.07

 
24.97

Light Crude Oil (excluding realized commodity risk management)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Oil Production(2) (bbl/d)
 
18,776

 
16,766

 
15,680

 
14,153

 
16,329

Sales ($/bbl)
 
49.24

 
63.05

 
54.76

 
49.00

 
54.06

Royalties ($/bbl)
 
(8.18
)
 
(6.68
)
 
(9.18
)
 
(7.48
)
 
(7.89
)
Operating expenses ($/bbl)
 
(15.59
)
 
(21.03
)
 
(16.00
)
 
(17.84
)
 
(16.60
)
Transportation costs ($/bbl)
 
(2.13
)
 
(2.07
)
 
(1.66
)
 
(1.12
)
 
(1.78
)
Operating netback ($/bbl)
 
23.34

 
33.27

 
27.92

 
22.56

 
27.79

Heavy Crude Oil (excluding realized commodity risk management)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Oil Production(2) (bbl/d)
 
8,116

 
16,804

 
20,489

 
18,089

 
15,914

Sales ($/bbl)
 
37.37

 
50.42

 
35.60

 
28.72

 
37.75

Royalties ($/bbl)
 
(4.31
)
 
(2.09
)
 
(1.82
)
 
(1.10
)
 
(2.00
)
Operating expenses ($/bbl)
 
(18.34
)
 
(14.86
)
 
(11.87
)
 
(11.26
)
 
(13.31
)
Transportation costs ($/bbl)
 
(1.54
)
 
(3.11
)
 
(2.41
)
 
(2.30
)
 
(2.45
)
Operating netback ($/bbl)
 
13.18

 
30.36

 
19.50

 
14.06

 
19.99

Natural Gas(5) (excluding realized commodity risk management)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Natural Gas Production(2) (Mcf/d)
 
200,818

 
189,384

 
178,428

 
164,922

 
183,276

Sales ($/Mcf)
 
3.62

 
2.77

 
3.02

 
2.50

 
3.00

Royalties ($/Mcf)
 
(0.07
)
 
(0.11
)
 
0.07

 
(0.26
)
 
(0.09
)
Operating expenses ($/Mcf)
 
(2.30
)
 
(2.25
)
 
(2.13
)
 
(1.89
)
 
(2.26
)
Transportation costs ($/Mcf)
 
(0.27
)
 
(0.35
)
 
(0.32
)
 
(0.28
)
 
(0.31
)
Operating netback ($/Mcf)
 
0.98

 
0.06

 
0.64

 
0.07

 
0.34

NGL (excluding realized commodity risk management)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Daily Oil Production(2) (bbl/d)
 
8,973

 
8,978

 
8,331

 
8,205

 
8,619

Sales ($/bbl)
 
24.64

 
31.33

 
18.79

 
21.86

 
24.29

Royalties ($/bbl)
 
(8.20
)
 
(13.71
)
 
(4.69
)
 
(4.65
)
 
(7.92
)
Operating expenses ($/bbl)
 
(14.39
)
 
(16.18
)
 
(13.89
)
 
(14.20
)
 
(14.30
)
Transportation costs ($/bbl
 
(0.01
)
 
-

 
-

 
-

 
-

Operating netback ($/bbl)
 
2.04

 
1.44

 
0.21

 
3.01

 
2.07


Notes:
(1)
Natural gas has been converted to barrels of oil equivalent on the basis of six (6) Mcf of natural gas being equal to one BOE.
(2)
Before the deductions of royalties.
(3)
Numbers may not add due to rounding.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Our authorized capital consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and 10,000,000 preferred shares, issuable in series ("Preferred Shares"). The following is a summary of the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the securities, which comprise our share capital.
Common Shares
Holders of our Common Shares are entitled to notice of, to attend and to one vote per share held at any meeting of our Shareholders (other than meetings of a class or series of our shares other than the Common Shares as such). Holders of our Common Shares will be entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by our Board on our Common Shares as a class, subject to prior satisfaction of all preferential rights to dividends attached to shares of other classes of our shares ranking in priority to the Common Shares in respect of dividends. Holders of our Common Shares will be entitled in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of us, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of our assets among our Shareholders for the purpose of winding-up our affairs, and subject to prior satisfaction of all preferential rights to return of capital on dissolution attached to all shares of other classes of our shares ranking in priority to the Common Shares in respect of return of capital on dissolution, to share rateably, together with the holders of shares of any other class of our shares ranking equally with the Common Shares in respect of return of capital on dissolution, in such of our assets as are available for distribution.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     29




Preferred Shares
The Preferred Shares may be issued in one or more series, at any time or from time to time. Before any shares of a particular series are issued, our Board will fix the number of shares that will form such series and will, subject to the limitations set out in the preferred share terms described below, fix the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions to be attached to the Preferred Shares of such series, including, but without in any way limiting or restricting the generality of the foregoing, the rate, amount or method of calculation of dividends thereon, the time and place of payment of dividends, the consideration for and the terms and conditions of any purchase for cancellation, retraction or redemption thereof, conversion or exchange rights (if any), and whether into or for our securities or otherwise, voting rights attached thereto (if any), the terms and conditions of any share purchase or retirement plan or sinking fund, and restrictions on the payment of dividends on any shares other than Preferred Shares or payment in respect of capital on any of our shares or creation or issue of debt or equity securities; the whole subject to filing of Articles of Amendment setting forth a description of such series including the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to the shares of such series. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) our Board may at any time or from time to time change the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to unissued shares of any series of Preferred Shares; and (b) other than in the case of a failure to declare or pay dividends specified in any series of the Preferred Share, the voting rights attached to the Preferred Shares will be limited to one vote per Preferred Share at any meeting where the Preferred Shares and Common Shares vote together as a single class.
Debentures
As a result of the acquisition of NAL Energy Corporation on May 31, 2012, we assumed all of NAL Energy Corporation’s covenants and obligations with respect to the 6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures. A copy of the relevant indenture can be found under our profile on www.sedar.com.
Our 6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures have a face value of $1,000, bear interest at the rate of 6.25 percent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears on the last day of March and September of each year and mature on March 31, 2017. The 6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures are convertible at the holder’s option at a conversion price of $11.5116 per Common Share, subject to adjustment in certain events.
Stock Exchange Listings
Our Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX under the symbol "PGF" and on the NYSE under the symbol "PGH". Our 6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures are listed and posted for trading on the TSX under the symbol "PGF.DB.B".
DIVIDENDS
Effective January 20, 2016, we suspended paying a dividend. Prior to suspending our dividend, a decision which will be reviewed quarterly, we paid a quarterly dividend to our Shareholders on the 15th day (or the first business day following the 15th) of each of March, June, September and December. The record date for any dividend prior to suspension was the last business day of the month preceding the dividend date or such other date as may be determined by our Board.
Historical Dividends
Dividends can and may fluctuate in the future. Actual future cash dividends, if any, will be subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and may vary depending on a variety of factors and conditions existing from time to time, including fluctuations in commodity prices, production levels, capital expenditure requirements, debt service requirements, operating costs, royalty burdens, foreign exchange rates and the satisfaction of the liquidity and solvency tests imposed by the ABCA for the declaration and payment of dividends. We cannot provide assurance that cash flow will be available for distribution to Shareholders in the amounts anticipated or at all. See "Risk Factors".

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     30




The following table sets forth dividends declared by the Corporation in 2015, 2014 and 2013 on the outstanding Common Shares for the periods indicated, with each amount being paid in the following month. Prior to October 2015, dividends were paid monthly.
Month Declared
 
2015
($/share)
 
2014
($/share)
 
2013
($/share)
January
 
0.04
 
0.04
 
0.04
February
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
March
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
April
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
May
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
June
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
July
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
August
 
0.02
 
0.04
 
0.04
September
 
-
 
0.04
 
0.04
October
 
-
 
0.04
 
0.04
November
 
0.01
 
0.04
 
0.04
December
 
-
 
0.04
 
0.04
Total
 
0.19
 
0.48
 
0.48
All of these dividends are "eligible dividends" for the purposes of the Tax Act.
Restrictions on Dividends
Our ability to pay cash dividends to Shareholders may be directly or indirectly affected in certain events as a result of certain restrictions, including restrictions set forth in: (i) the credit agreement relating to our Credit Facility; (ii) the note purchase agreements relating to the 2007 US Senior Notes, the 2008 Senior Notes, the 2010 Senior Notes and the 2012 Senior Notes; and (iii) the solvency tests in the ABCA. In particular, the funds required to satisfy the interest payable on the foregoing obligations, as well as the amounts payable upon the redemption or maturity of such obligations, as applicable, or upon an Event of Default (as defined below), will be deducted and withheld from the amounts that would otherwise be payable as dividends to Shareholders.
ABCA Solvency Tests
The payment of dividends by a corporation is governed by the liquidity and insolvency tests described in the ABCA. Pursuant to the ABCA, after the payment of a dividend, we must be able to pay our liabilities as they become due, and the realizable value of our assets must be greater than our liabilities and the legal stated capital of our outstanding securities. As at December 31, 2015, our legal stated capital was approximately $1.6 billion.
Revolving Credit Facility
The credit agreement relating to the Credit Facility stipulates that we shall not make or agree to make cash dividends or other distributions to Shareholders when a "Default" (subject to certain exceptions) or an "Event of Default" has occurred or is continuing or would reasonably be expected to occur as a result of such dividend or distribution. "Events of Default" are defined in the credit agreements to include those events of default typically referred to in a loan agreement of such type and include, among other things; (i) the failure to repay amounts owing under the Credit Facility; (ii) our voluntary or involuntary insolvency; (iii) the default of obligations owing under other debt arrangements; and (iv) a change in control of us. "Default" is defined in the credit agreement to mean any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute an Event of Default.
On March 30, 2015 we renewed and extended our Credit Facility from July 26, 2017 to March 31, 2019. At this time we also amended the maximum permitted Senior Debt to EBITDA ratio from 3.0 to 3.5 and the Total Debt to EBITDA ratio from 3.5 to 4.0. Previously, these covenants were scheduled to revert back to their prior permitted levels of 3.0 and 3.5, respectively, after December 31, 2015. All other material terms and conditions remained unchanged.
On December 10, 2015, we amended our Credit Facility by increasing the maximum permitted Senior Debt to Total Capitalization ratio from 50 percent to 55 percent. This amendment was obtained to align this covenant between our Credit Agreement and various note purchase agreements which already allowed a maximum Senior Debt to Total Capitalization ratio of 55 percent. All other material terms and conditions remained unchanged.
In addition to the standard representations, warranties and covenants commonly contained in a credit facility of this nature, the Credit Facility includes the following key financial covenants as at February 24, 2016:
The ratio of Senior Debt (as defined below) to EBITDA (as defined below) at the end of any fiscal quarter shall not exceed 3.5:1;
The ratio of Total Debt (as defined below) to EBITDA (as defined below) at the end of any fiscal quarter shall not exceed 4.0:1; and
The ratio of Senior Debt (as defined below) to Total Capitalization (as defined below) shall not exceed 55 percent.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     31




With respect to the financial covenants, the following definitions apply to the Corporation:
Senior Debt:
All obligations, liabilities and indebtedness classified as debt on the balance sheet of the Corporation.
 
 
Total Debt:
The aggregate of Senior Debt and Subordinated Debt.
 
 
EBITDA:
The aggregate of the last four fiscal quarters’ net income from operations plus the sum of:
 
    Income taxes;
    Interest expense;
    All provisions for federal, provincial or other income and capital taxes;
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense; and
    Other non-cash items.
 
 
Material Acquisition:
An acquisition or series of acquisitions which increases the tangible assets of Pengrowth by more than five percent.
 
 
Subordinated Debt:
Debt which, by its terms, is subordinated to the lenders under the Credit Facility.
 
 
Total Capitalization:
The aggregate of Total Debt and the Shareholders Equity (calculated in accordance with GAAP as shown on the Corporation’s balance sheet).
Senior Unsecured Notes
The terms of the note agreements ensure note holders have priority over our Shareholders with respect to our assets and income.
The holders of the 2007 Senior Notes, 2008 Senior Notes, 2010 Senior Notes and 2012 Senior Notes are entitled to certain remedies upon the occurrence of an "Event of Default", which remedies may restrict our ability to pay dividends to Shareholders. An "Event of Default" is defined in the note purchase agreements to include those events of default which are typically referred to in a note purchase agreement of a similar nature (including failure to pay principal and interest when due, default in compliance with other covenants, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, cross default to other indebtedness, certain events of insolvency or the rendering of judgments against the Corporation in excess of certain threshold amounts). "Default" is defined in the note agreements to mean any event or circumstance which, after the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
In addition to standard representations, warranties and covenants the note agreements contain the following key financial covenants:
The ratio of EBITDA (as defined below) to interest expense for the four immediately preceding fiscal quarters shall not be less than 4:1;
With respect to the 2012 Senior Notes, 2010 US Senior Notes, 2008 US Senior Notes, the 2007 US Senior Notes and the CDN Senior Notes the Total Debt (as defined below) to Total Capitalization (as defined below) shall not exceed 55 percent at the end of each fiscal quarter; and
The ratio of Total Debt to EBITDA for each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters shall not exceed 3.5:1
With respect to these financial covenants, the following definitions apply to the Corporation:
EBITDA:
The sum of the last four fiscal quarters of (i) net income determined in accordance with GAAP; (ii) all provisions for federal, provincial or other income and capital taxes; (iii) all provisions for depletion, depreciation, and amortization, (iv) interest expense; and (v) non-cash items
 
 
Total Debt:
Has substantially the same meaning as "Senior Debt" in the definitions relating to the Credit Facility.
 
 
Total Established Reserves:
The sum of (i) 100 percent of the present value of Pengrowth’s Proved Reserves; and (ii) 50 percent of the present value of Pengrowth’s Probable Reserves.
 
 
Total Capitalization:
Total Debt plus Shareholder equity in the Corporation
INDUSTRY CONDITIONS
Companies operating in the oil and natural gas industry are subject to extensive regulation and control of operations (including land tenure, exploration, development, production, refining and upgrading, transportation, and marketing) as a result of legislation enacted by various levels of government with respect to the pricing and taxation of oil and natural gas through agreements among the governments of Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, all of which should be carefully considered by investors in the oil and gas industry. All current legislation is a matter of public record and we are unable to predict what additional legislation or amendments may be enacted. Outlined below are some of the principal aspects of legislation, regulations and agreements governing the oil and gas industry.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     32




Pricing and Marketing
Oil
In Canada, the producers of oil are entitled to negotiate sales contracts directly with oil purchasers, which results in the market determining the price of oil. Worldwide supply and demand factors primarily determine oil prices; however, prices are also influenced by regional market and transportation issues. The specific price depends in part on oil quality, prices of competing fuels, distance to market, availability of transportation, value of refined products, the supply/demand balance and contractual terms of sale. Oil exporters are also entitled to enter into export contracts with terms not exceeding one year in the case of light crude oil and two years in the case of heavy crude oil, provided that an order approving such export has been obtained from the National Energy Board of Canada (the "NEB"). Any oil export to be made pursuant to a contract of longer duration (to a maximum of 25 years) requires an exporter to obtain an export license from the NEB. The NEB is currently undergoing a consultation process to update the regulations governing the issuance of export licenses. The updating process is necessary to meet the criteria set out in the federal Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act (Canada) (the "Prosperity Act") which received Royal Assent on June 29, 2012. In this transitory period, the NEB has issued, and is currently following an "Interim Memorandum of Guidance concerning Oil and Gas Export Applications and Gas Import Applications" under Part VI of the National Energy Board Act (Canada).
Natural Gas
Canada's natural gas market has been deregulated since 1985. Supply and demand determine the price of natural gas and price is calculated at the sale point, being the wellhead, the outlet of a gas processing plant, on a gas transmission system, at a storage facility, at the inlet to a utility system or at the point of receipt by the consumer. Accordingly, the price for natural gas is dependent upon such producer's own arrangements (whether long or short term contracts and the specific point of sale). As natural gas is also traded on trading platforms such as the Natural Gas Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange or the New York Mercantile Exchange in the United States, spot and future prices can also be influenced by supply and demand fundamentals on these platforms. Natural gas exported from Canada is subject to regulation by the NEB and the Government of Canada. Exporters are free to negotiate prices and other terms with purchasers, provided that the export contracts continue to meet certain other criteria prescribed by the NEB and the Government of Canada. Natural gas (other than propane, butane and ethane) exports for a term of less than two years or for a term of two to 20 years (in quantities of not more than 30,000 m3/day) must be made pursuant to an NEB order. Any natural gas export to be made pursuant to a contract of longer duration (to a maximum of 40 years) or for a larger quantity requires an exporter to obtain an export license from the NEB.
Natural Gas Liquids
The price of NGL sold in intraprovincial, interprovincial and international trade is determined by negotiation between buyers and sellers. Such price depends, in part, on the quality of the NGL, prices of competing chemical feed stock, distance to market, access to downstream transportation, length of contract term, the supply/demand balance and other contractual terms. NGL exported from Canada are subject to regulation by the NEB and the Government of Canada. Exporters are free to negotiate prices and other terms with purchasers, provided that the export contracts must continue to meet certain criteria prescribed by the NEB and the Government of Canada. NGL may be exported for a term of no more than one year in respect to propane and butane, and no more than two years in respect to ethane, all exports requiring an order of the NEB.
The North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA") among the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico came into force on January 1, 1994. In the context of energy resources, Canada continues to remain free to determine whether exports of energy resources to the United States or Mexico will be allowed, provided that any export restrictions do not: (i) reduce the proportion of energy resources exported relative to the total supply of goods of the party maintaining the restriction as compared to the proportion prevailing in the most recent 36 month period; (ii) impose an export price higher than the domestic price (subject to an exception with respect to certain measures which only restrict the volume of exports); and (iii) disrupt normal channels of supply.
All three signatory countries are prohibited from imposing a minimum or maximum export price requirement in any circumstance where any other form of quantitative restriction is prohibited. The signatory countries are also prohibited from imposing a minimum or maximum import price requirement except as permitted in enforcement of countervailing and anti-dumping orders and undertakings. NAFTA requires energy regulators to ensure the orderly and equitable implementation of any regulatory changes and to ensure that the application of those changes will cause minimal disruption to contractual arrangements and avoid undue interference with pricing, marketing and distribution arrangements, all of which are important for Canadian oil and natural gas exports. NAFTA contemplates the reduction of Mexican restrictive trade practices in the energy sector and prohibits discriminatory border restrictions and export taxes.
Royalties and Incentives
General
In addition to federal regulation, each province has legislation and regulations that govern royalties, production rates and other matters. The royalty regime in a given province is a significant factor in the profitability of oil sands projects, crude oil, natural gas liquids, sulphur

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     33




and natural gas production. Royalties payable on production from lands other than Crown lands are determined by negotiation between the mineral freehold owner and the lessee, although production from such lands is subject to certain provincial taxes and royalties. Royalties from production on Crown lands are determined by governmental regulation and are generally calculated as a percentage of the value of gross production. The rate of royalties payable generally depends in part on prescribed reference prices, well productivity, geographical location, field discovery date, method of recovery and the type or quality of the petroleum product produced. Other royalties and royalty‑like interests are carved out of the working interest owner's interest, from time to time, through non‑public transactions. These are often referred to as overriding royalties, gross overriding royalties, net profits interests, or net carried interests.
Occasionally the governments of the western Canadian provinces create incentive programs for exploration and development. Such programs often provide for royalty rate reductions, royalty holidays or royalty tax credits and are generally introduced when commodity prices are low to encourage exploration and development activity by improving earnings and cash flow within the industry.
The Federal Government has signaled it will, inter alia, phase out subsidies for the oil and gas industry, which include only allowing the use of the Canadian Exploration Expenses tax deduction in cases of successful exploration, implementing more stringent reviews for pipelines, and establishing a pan-Canadian framework for combating climate change within 90 days of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference which concluded on December 12, 2015. These changes could affect earnings of companies operating in the oil and natural gas industry.
Alberta
On January 29, 2016, the Government of Alberta released and accepted the Royalty Review Advisory Panel's recommendations, which outlined the implementation of a "Modernized Royalty Framework" for Alberta (the "MRF"). The MRF will take effect on January 1, 2017. Wells drilled prior to January 1, 2017 will continue to be governed by the current "Alberta Royalty Framework" for a period of 10 years until January 1, 2027. The MRF is structured in three phases: (i) Pre-Payout, (ii) Mid-Life, and (iii) Mature. During the Pre-Payout phase, a fixed 5% royalty will apply until the well reaches payout. Well payout occurs when the cumulative revenue from a well is equal to the Drilling and Completion Cost Allowance (determined by a formula that approximates drilling and completion costs for wells based on depth, length and historical costs). The new royalty rate will be payable on gross revenue generated from all production streams (oil, gas, and natural gas liquids), eliminating the need to label a well as "oil" or "gas". Post-payout, the Mid-Life phase will apply a higher royalty rate than the Pre-Payout phase. While the metrics for calculating the Mid-Life phase royalty have yet to be released, the rate will be determined based on commodity prices and are intended, on average, to yield the same internal rate of return as under the current Alberta Royalty Framework. In the Mature phase, once a well reaches the tail end of its cycle and production falls below a Maturity Threshold, currently estimated to be 20 bbl/d for oil and 200 Mcf/d for gas, the royalty rate will move to a sliding scale (based on volume and price) with a minimum royalty rate of 5%. The downward adjustment of the royalty rate in the Mature phase is intended to account for the higher per-unit fixed cost involved in operating an older well. Details of the MRF, including the applicable royalty rates and formulas, are scheduled to be released by March 31, 2016.
Oil sands projects are also subject to Alberta's royalty regime. The MRF does not change the oil sands royalty framework, however, the method and figures by which the royalties are calculated will be released to the public. Prior to payout of an oil sands project, the royalty is payable on gross revenues of an oil sands project. Gross revenue royalty rates range between one percent to nine percent depending on the market price of oil, determined using the average monthly price, expressed in Canadian dollars, for WTI crude oil at Cushing, Oklahoma. Rates are one percent when the market price of oil is less than or equal to $55 per barrel and increase for every dollar of market price of oil increase to a maximum of nine percent when oil is priced at $120 or higher. After payout, the royalty payable is the greater of the gross revenue royalty based on the gross revenue royalty rate of one percent to nine percent and the net revenue royalty based on the net revenue royalty rate. Net revenue royalty rates start at 25 percent and increase for every dollar of market price of oil increase above $55 up to 40 percent when oil is priced at $120 or higher.
Currently, producers of oil and natural gas from Crown lands in Alberta are required to pay annual rental payments, at a rate of $3.50 per hectare, and make monthly royalty payments in respect of oil and natural gas produced.
Royalties, for wells drilled prior to January 1, 2017 are paid pursuant to "The New Royalty Framework" (implemented by the Mines and Minerals (New Royalty Framework) Amendment Act, 2008) and the "Alberta Royalty Framework" until January 1, 2027. Royalty rates for conventional oil are set by a single sliding rate formula, which is applied monthly and incorporates separate variables to account for production rates and market prices. The maximum royalty payable under the royalty regime is 40 percent. Royalty rates for natural gas under the royalty regime are similarly determined using a single sliding rate formula with the maximum royalty payable under the royalty regime set at 36 percent.
Producers of oil and natural gas from freehold lands in Alberta are required to pay freehold mineral tax. The freehold mineral tax is a tax levied by the Government of Alberta on the value of oil and natural gas production from non-Crown lands and is derived from the Freehold Mineral Rights Tax Act (Alberta). The freehold mineral tax is levied on an annual basis on calendar year production using a tax formula that takes into consideration, among other things, the amount of production, the hours of production, the value of each unit of production, the tax rate and the percentages that the owners hold in the title. The basic formula for the assessment of freehold mineral tax is: revenue less allocable costs equals net revenue divided by wellhead production equals the value based upon unit of production. If payors do not wish to file individual unit values, a default price is supplied by the Crown. On average, the tax levied is four percent of revenues reported from fee simple mineral title properties.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     34




The Government of Alberta has from time to time implemented drilling credits, incentives or transitional royalty programs to encourage oil and gas development and new drilling. For example, the Innovative Energy Technologies Program (the "IETP"), has the stated objectives of increasing recovery from oil and gas deposits, finding technical solutions to the gas over bitumen issue, improving the recovery of bitumen by in-situ and mining techniques and improving the recovery of natural gas from coal seams. The IETP provides royalty adjustments to specific pilot and demonstration projects that utilize new or innovative technologies to increase recovery from existing reserves.
In addition, the Government of Alberta has implemented certain initiatives intended to accelerate technological development and facilitate the development of unconventional resources (the "Emerging Resource and Technologies Initiative"). These initiatives apply to wells drilled before January 1, 2017, for a 10 year period, until January 1, 2027. Specifically:
Coalbed methane wells will receive a maximum royalty rate of five percent for 36 producing months up to 750 MMcf of production, retroactive to wells that began producing on or after May 1, 2010;
Shale gas wells will receive a maximum royalty rate of five percent for 36 producing months with no limitation on production volume, retroactive to wells that began producing on or after May 1, 2010;
Horizontal gas wells will receive a maximum royalty rate of five percent for 18 producing months up to 500 MMcf of production, retroactive to wells that commenced drilling on or after May 1, 2010; and
Horizontal oil wells and horizontal non-project oil sands wells will receive a maximum royalty rate of five percent with volume and production month limits set according to the depth of the well (including the horizontal distance), retroactive to wells that commenced drilling on or after May 1, 2010.
While the MRF eliminates the various royalty credits and incentives, outlined above, for wells drilled after December 31, 2016, the Government of Alberta has committed to creating cost allowance programs for both enhanced oil recovery schemes and higher risk experimental drilling. Details of these programs are scheduled to be released simultaneously with the finalization of the MRF, prior to March 31, 2016.
British Columbia
Producers of oil and natural gas from Crown lands in British Columbia are required to pay annual rental payments and make monthly royalty payments in respect of oil and natural gas produced. The amount payable as a royalty in respect of oil depends on the type and vintage of the oil, the quantity of oil produced in a month and the value of that oil. Generally, oil is classified as either light or heavy and the vintage of oil is classified as either "old oil", which is produced from a pool discovered before October 31, 1975, "new oil" produced from a pool discovered between October 31, 1975 and June 1, 1998, and "third-tier oil" produced from a pool discovered after June 1, 1998 or through an enhanced oil recovery ("EOR") scheme. The royalty calculation takes into account the production of oil on a well-by-well basis, the specified royalty rate for a given vintage of oil, the average unit selling price of the oil and any applicable royalty exemptions. Royalty rates are reduced on low-productivity wells, reflecting the higher unit costs of extraction, and are the lowest for third tier oil, reflecting the higher unit costs of both exploration and extraction.
The royalty payable in respect of natural gas produced on Crown lands is determined by a sliding scale formula based on a reference price, which is the greater of the average net price obtained by the producer and a prescribed minimum price. For non-conservation gas (not produced in association with oil), the royalty rate depends on the date of acquisition of the oil and natural gas tenure rights and the spud date of the well and may also be impacted by the select price, a parameter used in the royalty rate formula to account for inflation. Royalty rates are fixed for certain classes of non-conservation gas when the reference price is below the select price. Conservation gas is subject to a lower royalty rate than non‑conservation gas. Royalties on natural gas liquids are levied at a flat rate of 20 percent of sales volume.
Producers of oil and natural gas from freehold lands in British Columbia are required to pay monthly freehold production taxes. For oil, the level of the freehold production tax is based on the volume of monthly production. It is either a flat rate, or, beyond a certain production level, is determined using a sliding scale formula based on the production level. For natural gas, the freehold production tax is either a flat rate, or, at certain production levels, is determined using a sliding scale formula based on the reference price similar to that applied to natural gas production on Crown land, and depends on whether the natural gas is conservation gas or non-conservation gas. The production tax rate for freehold natural gas liquids is a flat rate of 12.25 percent.
As of January 1, 2017, all liquid natural gas ("LNG") facilities will be subject to a 3.5 percent income tax. This income tax is scheduled to increase to five percent in 2037. During the period in which net operating losses and capital investment are deducted, a tax rate of 1.5 percent will apply to the taxpayer's net income. Once the net operating losses and capital investment have been depleted, the full rate of 3.5 percent is payable. To encourage investment, the Government of British Columbia will offer a corporate income tax credit to any LNG taxpayer based on the amount of LNG acquired for an LNG facility.
The Government of British Columbia maintains a number of targeted royalty programs for key resource areas intended to increase the competitiveness of British Columbia's low productivity natural gas wells. These include both royalty credit and royalty reduction programs, including the following:
Deep Well Royalty Credit Program providing a royalty credit for natural gas wells defined in terms of a dollar amount applied against royalties, is well specific and applies to drilling and completion costs for vertical wells with a true vertical depth greater than 2,500 metres and horizontal wells with a true vertical depth greater than 1,900 metres (or 2,300 metres if spud

 
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before September 1, 2009) and if certain other criteria are met, is intended to reflect the higher drilling and completion costs. Effective April 1, 2014, there are two tiers to the Deep Well Royalty Credit Program, "tier one" and "tier two". The pre-existing Deep Well Royalty Credit Program, as described above, will comprise tier two of the program. Tier one of the Deep Well Royalty Credit Program applies to shallower horizontal wells with a true vertical depth less than or equal to 1,900 metres if spud after March 31, 2014. Currently all wells that qualify for the tier one royalty credits are subject to a minimum royalty of 6% while wells that qualify for the tier two royalty credits are subject to a minimum royalty of 3%. These minimum royalty amounts apply when the net royalty payable would otherwise be zero for a production month;
Deep Re-Entry Royalty Credit Program providing a royalty credit for deep re-entry wells with a true vertical depth to the top of pay if the re-entry well event is greater than 2,300 metres and a re-entry date after November 30, 2003; or if the well was spud on or after January 1, 2009, with a true vertical depth to the completion point of the re-entry well event being greater than 2,300 metres;
Deep Discovery Royalty Credit Program providing the lesser of a 3-year royalty holiday or 283,000,000 m3 of royalty free gas for deep discovery wells with a true vertical depth greater than 4,000 metres whose surface locations are at least 20 kilometres away from the surface location of any well drilled into a recognized pool within the same formation;
Coalbed Gas Royalty Reduction and Credit Program providing a royalty reduction for coalbed gas wells with average daily production less than 17,000 m3 as well as a royalty credit for coalbed gas wells equal to $50,000 for wells drilled on Crown land and a tax credit equal to $30,000 for wells drilled on freehold land;
Marginal Royalty Reduction Program providing a monthly royalty reduction for low productivity natural gas wells with an average daily rate of production less than 23 m3 for every metre of marginal well depth in the first 12 months of production. To be eligible, wells must have been spudded after May 31, 1998 and the first month of marketable gas production must have occurred between June 2003 and August 2008. Once a well passes the initial eligibility test, a reduction is realized in each month that average daily production is less than 25,000 m3;
Ultra-Marginal Royalty Reduction Program providing royalty reductions for low productivity, shallow natural gas wells. Vertical wells must be less than 2,500 metres and horizontal wells less than 2,300 metres to be eligible. Production in the first 12 months ending after January 2007 must be less than 17 m3 per metre of depth for exploratory wildcat wells and less than 11 m3 per metre of depth for development wells and exploratory outpost wells. The well must have been spudded or re-entered after December 31, 2005. A reduction is realized in each month that average daily production is less than 60,000 m3. Horizontal wells that are spud on or after April 1, 2014 are not eligible for the Ultra-Marginal Royalty Reduction Program due to the potential for overlap with shallower horizontal wells eligible for a royalty credit under the Deep Well Royalty Credit Program; and
Net Profit Royalty Reduction Program providing reduced initial royalty rates to facilitate the development and commercialization of technically complex resources such as coalbed gas, tight gas, shale gas and enhanced-recovery projects, with higher royalty rates applied once capital costs have been recovered.
Oil produced from an oil well that is located on either Crown or freehold land and completed in a new pool discovered subsequent to June 30, 1974 may also be exempt from the payment of a royalty for the first 36 months of production or 11,450 m3 of production, whichever comes first.
The Government of British Columbia also maintains an Infrastructure Royalty Credit Program that provides royalty credits for up to 50 percent of the cost of certain approved road construction or pipeline infrastructure projects intended to facilitate increased oil and gas exploration and production in under-developed areas and to extend the drilling season.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, taxes ("Resource Surcharge") and royalties are applicable to revenue generated by corporations focused on oil and gas operations.
A Resource Surcharge on the value of sales of oil, natural gas, potash, uranium and coal in Saskatchewan is levied under authority of The Corporation Capital Tax Act. For resource corporations, the Resource Surcharge rate is three percent of the value of sales of all potash, uranium and coal produced in Saskatchewan, and oil and natural gas produced from wells drilled in Saskatchewan prior to October 1, 2002. For oil and natural gas produced from wells drilled in Saskatchewan after September 30, 2002, the Resource Surcharge rate is 1.7 percent of the value of sales. The Resource Surcharge applies to resource trusts in addition to resource corporations.
The amount payable as a Crown royalty or a freehold production tax in respect of oil depends on the type and vintage of oil, the quantity of oil produced in a month, the value of the oil produced and specified adjustment factors determined monthly by the provincial government. For Crown royalty and freehold production tax purposes, conventional oil is divided into "types", being "heavy oil", "southwest designated oil" or "non‑heavy oil other than southwest designated oil". The vintage of oil being “fourth tier oil”, “third tier oil”, “new oil” and “old oil” depends on the finished drilling date of a well and is applied to each of the three crude oil types slightly differently. Heavy oil is classified as third tier oil (produced from a vertical well having a finished drilling date on or after January 1, 1994 and before October 1, 2002 or

 
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incremental oil from new or expanded waterflood projects with a commencement date on or after January 1, 1994 and before October 1, 2002), fourth tier oil (having a finished drilling date on or after October 1, 2002 or incremental oil from new or expanded waterflood projects with a commencement date on or after October 1, 2002) or new oil (conventional oil that is not classified as third tier oil or fourth tier oil). Southwest designated oil uses the same definition of fourth tier oil but third tier oil is defined as conventional oil produced from a vertical well having a finished drilling date on or after February 9, 1998 and before October 1, 2002 or incremental oil from new or expanded waterflood projects with a commencement date on or after February 9, 1998 and before October 1, 2002 and new oil is defined as conventional oil produced from a horizontal well having a finished drilling date on or after February 9, 1998 and before October 1, 2002. For non-heavy oil other than southwest designated oil, the same classification as heavy oil is used but new oil is defined as conventional oil produced from a vertical well completed after 1973 and having a finished drilling date prior to 1994, conventional oil produced from a horizontal well having a finished drilling date on or after April 1, 1991 and before October 1, 2002, or incremental oil from new or expanded waterflood projects with a commencement date on or after January 1, 1974 and before 1994 whereas old oil is defined as conventional oil not classified as third or fourth tier oil or new oil. Production tax rates for freehold production are determined by first determining the Crown royalty rate and then subtracting the "Production Tax Factor" ("PTF") applicable to that classification of oil. Currently the PTF is 6.9 for old oil, 10.0 for new oil and third tier oil and 12.5 for fourth tier oil. The minimum rate for freehold production tax is zero.
Base prices are used to establish lower limits in the price-sensitive royalty structure for conventional oil and apply at a reference well production rate of 100 m3 for old oil, new oil and third tier oil, and 250 m3 per month for fourth tier oil. Where average wellhead prices are below the established base prices of $100 per m3 for third and fourth tier oil and $50 per m3 for new oil and old oil, base royalty rates are applied. Base royalty rates are five percent for all fourth tier oil, ten percent for heavy oil that is third tier oil or new oil, 12.5 percent for southwest designated oil that is third tier oil or new oil, 15 percent for non‑heavy oil other than southwest designated oil that is third tier or new oil, and 20 percent for old oil. Where average wellhead prices are above base prices, marginal royalty rates are applied to the proportion of production that is above the base oil price. Marginal royalty rates are 30 percent for all fourth tier oil, 25 percent for heavy oil that is third tier oil or new oil, 35 percent for southwest designated oil that is third tier oil or new oil, 35 percent for non‑heavy oil other than southwest designated oil that is third tier or new oil, and 45 percent for old oil.
The amount payable as a Crown royalty or a freehold production tax in respect of natural gas production is determined by a sliding scale based on the monthly provincial average gas price published by the Government of Saskatchewan, the quantity produced in a given month, the type of natural gas, and the classification of the natural gas. Like conventional oil, natural gas may be classified as "non‑associated gas" (gas produced from gas wells) or "associated gas" (gas produced from oil wells) and royalty rates are determined according to the finished drilling date of the respective well. Non-associated gas is classified as new gas (having a finished drilling date before February 9, 1998 with a first production date on or after October 1, 1976), third tier gas (having a finished drilling date on or after February 9, 1998 and before October 1, 2002), fourth tier gas (having a finished drilling date on or after October 1, 2002) and old gas (not classified as either third tier, fourth tier or new gas). A similar classification is used for associated gas except that the classification of old gas is not used, the definition of fourth tier gas also includes production from oil wells with a finished drilling date prior to October 1, 2002, where the individual oil well has a gas-oil production ratio in any month of at least 3,500 m3 of gas for every m3 of oil, and new gas is defined as oil produced from a well with a finished drilling date before February 9, 1998 that received special approval, prior to October 1, 2002, to produce oil and gas concurrently without gas-oil ratio penalties. Natural gas liquids and by‑products recovered at gas processing plants are not subject to a royalty. Gas liquids which are produced and measured at the wellhead are treated as crude oil for royalty purposes.
On December 9, 2010, the Government of Saskatchewan enacted the Freehold Oil and Gas Production Tax Act, 2010 with the intention to facilitate the efficient payment of freehold production taxes by industry. Two new regulations with respect to this legislation are: (i) The Freehold Oil and Gas Production Tax Regulations, 2012 which sets out the terms and conditions under which the taxes are calculated and paid; and (ii) The Recovered Crude Oil Tax Regulations, 2012 which sets out the terms and conditions under which taxes on recovered crude oil that was delivered from a crude oil recovery facility on or after March 1, 2012 are to be calculated and paid.
As with conventional oil production, base prices based on a well reference rate of 250 103 m3/month are used to establish lower limits in the price-sensitive royalty structure for natural gas. Where average field-gate prices are below the established base prices of $1.35 per gigajoule for third and fourth tier gas and $0.95 per gigajoule for new gas and old gas, base royalty rates are applied. Base royalty rates are five percent for all fourth tier gas, 15 percent for third tier or new gas, and 20 percent for old gas. Where average wellhead prices are above base prices, marginal royalty rates are applied to the proportion of production that is above the base gas price. Marginal royalty rates are 30 percent for all fourth tier gas, 35 percent for third tier and new gas, and 45 percent for old gas. The current regulatory scheme provides for certain differences with respect to the administration of "fourth tier gas" which is associated gas.
The Government of Saskatchewan currently provides a number of targeted incentive programs. These include both royalty reduction and incentive volume programs, including the following:
Royalty/Tax Incentive Volumes for Vertical Oil Wells Drilled on or after October 1, 2002 providing reduced Crown royalty (a Crown royalty rate of the lesser of fourth tier oil Crown royalty rate and 2.5 percent) and freehold tax rates (a freehold production tax rate of zero percent) on incentive volumes of 8,000 m3 for deep development vertical oil wells, 4,000 m3 for non-deep exploratory vertical oil wells and 16,000 m3 for deep exploratory vertical oil wells (more than 1,700 metres or within certain formations) and after the incentive volume is produced, the oil produced will be subject to the "fourth tier" royalty tax rate;

 
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Royalty/Tax Incentive Volumes for Exploratory Gas Wells Drilled on or after October 1, 2002 providing reduced Crown royalty (a Crown royalty rate of the lesser of fourth tier oil Crown royalty rate and 2.5 percent) and freehold tax rates (a freehold production tax rate of zero percent) on incentive volumes of 25,000,000 m3 for qualifying exploratory gas wells;
Royalty/Tax Incentive Volumes for Horizontal Oil Wells Drilled on or after October 1, 2002 providing reduced Crown royalty (a Crown royalty rate of the lesser of fourth tier oil Crown royalty rate and 2.5 percent) and freehold tax rates (a freehold production tax rate of zero percent) on incentive volumes of 6,000 m3 for non-deep horizontal oil wells and 16,000 m3 for deep horizontal oil wells (more than 1,700 metres total vertical depth or within certain formations) and after the incentive volume is produced, the oil produced will be subject to the "fourth tier" royalty tax rate;
Royalty/Tax Incentive Volumes for Horizontal Gas Wells drilled on or after June 1, 2010 and before April 1, 2013 providing for a classification of the well as a qualifying exploratory gas well and resulting in a reduced Crown royalty (a Crown royalty rate of the lesser of fourth tier oil Crown royalty rate and 2.5 percent) and freehold tax rates (a freehold production tax rate of zero percent) on incentive volumes of 25,000,000 m3 for horizontal gas wells and after the incentive volume is produced, the gas produced will be subject to the "fourth tier" royalty tax rate;
Royalty/Tax Regime for Incremental Oil Produced from New or Expanded Waterflood Projects Implemented on or after October 1, 2002 whereby incremental production from approved waterflood projects is treated as fourth tier oil for the purposes of Crown royalty and freehold tax calculations;
Royalty/Tax Regime for Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects (Excluding Waterflood Projects) Commencing prior to April 1, 2005 providing lower Crown royalty and freehold tax determinations based in part on the profitability of EOR projects during and subsequent to the payout of the EOR operations;
Royalty/Tax Regime for Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects (Excluding Waterflood Projects) Commencing on or after April 1, 2005 providing a Crown royalty of one percent of gross revenues on EOR projects pre-payout and 20 percent of EOR operating income post-payout and a freehold production tax of zero percent pre-payout and eight percent post-payout on operating income from EOR projects; and
Royalty/Tax Regime for High Water-Cut Oil Wells designed to extend the product lives and improve the recovery rates of high water-cut oil wells and granting third tier oil royalty/tax rates with a Saskatchewan Resource Credit of 2.5 percent for oil produced prior to April 2013 and 2.25 percent for oil produced on or after April 1, 2013 to incremental high water‑cut oil production resulting from qualifying investments made to rejuvenate eligible oil wells and/or associated facilities.
On June 22, 2011, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Upstream Petroleum Industry Associated Gas Conservation Standards, which are designed to reduce emissions resulting from the flaring and venting of associated gas (the "Associated Natural Gas Standards"). The Associated Natural Gas Standards were jointly developed with industry and the implementation of such standards commenced on July 1, 2012 for new wells and facilities licensed on or after such date. The new standards apply to existing licensed wells and facilities on July 1, 2015.
Effective April 1, 2014, the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy streamlined fees related to licenses and applications in the oil and gas sector by eliminating 11 different licensing fees, which resulted in an aggregate of 20,000 fee transactions per year, and replacing them with a single annual levy based on a company’s production and number of wells. While the fees have been streamlined, approvals to conduct the relevant activities are still required. These changes to the fee structure are part of ongoing work by the Government of Saskatchewan to streamline the licensing, regulation and monitoring processes in the oil and gas sector.
Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia has established a generic royalty regime in respect of oil and gas produced from offshore Nova Scotia based on revenues and profits. Such regime contemplates a multi-tier royalty in which the royalty rate fluctuates when certain threshold levels of rates of return on capital have been reached and offers lower royalties for a first project in a new area, being a "high risk project". Notwithstanding the generic royalty regime, royalties in respect of offshore Nova Scotia oil and gas production may be determined contractually between the participant and the Government of Nova Scotia.
Land Tenure
The respective provincial governments predominantly own the rights to crude oil and natural gas located in the western provinces. Provincial governments grant rights to explore for and produce oil and natural gas pursuant to leases, licenses, and permits for varying terms, and on conditions set forth in provincial legislation including requirements to perform specific work or make payments. Private ownership of oil and natural gas also exists in such provinces and rights to explore for and produce such oil and natural gas are granted by lease on such terms and conditions as may be negotiated.
Each of the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan have implemented legislation providing for the reversion to the Crown of mineral rights to deep, non-productive geological formations at the conclusion of the primary term of a lease or license. The

 
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Government of British Columbia expanded its policy of deep rights reversion for leases issued after March 29, 2007, to provide for the reversion of both shallow and deep formations that cannot be shown to be capable of production at the end of the primary term.
Alberta also has a policy of "shallow rights reversion" which provides for the reversion to the Crown of mineral rights to shallow, non‑productive geological formations for all leases and licenses issued after January 1, 2009, at the conclusion of the primary term of the lease or license.
Production and Operation Regulations
The oil and natural gas industry in Canada is highly regulated and subject to significant control by provincial regulators. Regulatory approval is required for, among other things, the drilling of oil and natural gas wells, construction and operation of facilities, the storage, injection and disposal of substances and the abandonment and reclamation of well-sites. In order to conduct oil and gas operations and remain in good standing with the applicable provincial regulator, we must comply with applicable legislation, regulations, orders, directives and other directions (all of which are subject to governmental oversight, review and revision, from time to time). Compliance with such legislation, regulations, orders, directives or other directions can be costly and a breach of the same may result in fines or other sanctions.
Environmental Regulation
The oil and natural gas industry is currently subject to regulation pursuant to a variety of provincial and federal environmental legislation, all of which is subject to governmental review and revision from time to time. Such legislation provides for, among other things, restrictions and prohibitions on the spill, release or emission of various substances produced in association with certain oil and gas industry operations, such as sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide. In addition, such legislation sets out the requirements with respect to oilfield waste handling and storage, habitat protection and the satisfactory operation, maintenance, abandonment and reclamation of well and facility sites. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures and a breach of such requirements may result in suspension or revocation of necessary licenses and authorizations, civil liability and the imposition of material fines and penalties.
Federal
Pursuant to the Prosperity Act, the Government of Canada amended or repealed several pieces of federal environmental legislation and in addition, created a new federal environment assessment regime that came in to force on July 6, 2012. The changes to the environmental legislation under the Prosperity Act are intended to provide for more efficient and timely environmental assessments of projects that previously had been subject to overlapping legislative jurisdiction.
Alberta
The Alberta Energy Regulator (the "AER") is the single regulator responsible for all energy development in Alberta. The AER ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources including allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment. The AER's responsibilities exclude the functions of the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Surface Rights Board, as well as Alberta Energy's responsibility for mineral tenure. The objective behind a single regulator is an enhanced regulatory regime that is efficient, attractive to business and investors, and effective in supporting public safety, environmental management and resource conservation while respecting the rights of landowners.
The Government of Alberta relies on regional planning to accomplish its responsible resource development goals. The following frameworks, plans and policies form the basis of Alberta's Integrated Resource Management System ("IRMS"). The IRMS method to natural resource management sets out to engage and consult with stakeholders and the public. While the AER is the primary regulator for energy development, several governmental departments and agencies may be involved in land use issues, including Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Energy, the AER, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency, the Policy Management Office, the Aboriginal Consultation Office, and the Land Use Secretariat.
In December 2008, the Government of Alberta released a new land use policy for surface land in Alberta, the Alberta Land Use Framework (the "ALUF"). The ALUF sets out an approach to manage public and private land use and natural resource development in a manner that is consistent with the long-term economic, environmental and social goals of the province. It calls for the development of seven region-specific land use plans in order to manage the combined impacts of existing and future land use within a specific region and the incorporation of a cumulative effects management approach into such plans.
Proclaimed in force in Alberta on October 1, 2009, the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (the "ALSA") provides the legislative authority for the Government of Alberta to implement the policies contained in the ALUF. Regional plans established under the ALSA are deemed to be legislative instruments equivalent to regulations and will be binding on the Government of Alberta and provincial regulators, including those governing the oil and gas industry. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between a regional plan and another regulation, regulatory instrument or statutory consent, the regional plan will prevail. Further, the ALSA requires local governments, provincial departments, agencies and administrative bodies or tribunals to review their regulatory instruments and make any appropriate changes to ensure that they comply with an adopted regional plan. The ALSA also contemplates the amendment or extinguishment of previously issued statutory consents such as regulatory permits, licenses, registrations, approvals and authorizations for the purpose of achieving or maintaining an objective or policy resulting from the implementation of a regional plan. Among the measures to support the goals of the

 
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regional plans contained in the ALSA are conservation easements, which can be granted for the protection, conservation and enhancement of land; and conservation directives, which are explicit declarations contained in a regional plan to set aside specified lands in order to protect, conserve, manage and enhance the environment.
On August 22, 2012, the Government of Alberta approved the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan ("LARP") which came into force on September 1, 2012. The LARP is the first of seven regional plans developed under the ALUF. LARP covers a region in the northeastern corner of Alberta that is approximately 93,212 square kilometres in size. The region includes a substantial portion of the Athabasca oil sands area, which contains approximately 82 percent of the province's oil sands resources and much of the Cold Lake oil sands area.
LARP establishes six new conservation areas and nine new provincial recreation areas. In conservation and provincial recreation areas, conventional oil and gas companies with pre-existing tenure may continue to operate. Any new petroleum and gas tenure issued in conservation and provincial recreation areas will include a restriction that prohibits surface access. In contrast, oil sands companies' tenure has been (or will be) cancelled in conservation areas and no new oil sands tenure will be issued. While new oil sands tenure will be issued in provincial recreation areas, new and existing oil sands tenure will prohibit surface access.
In July 2014, the Government of Alberta approved the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan ("SSRP") which came into force on September 1, 2014. The SSRP is the second regional plan developed under the ALUF. The SSRP covers approximately 83,764 square kilometres and includes 44 percent of the provincial population.
The SSRP creates four new and four expanded conservation areas, and two new and six expanded provincial parks and recreational areas. Similar to LARP, the SSRP will honour existing petroleum and natural gas tenure in conservation and provincial recreational areas. However, any new petroleum and natural gas tenures sold in conservation areas, provincial parks, and recreational areas will prohibit surface access. However, oil and gas companies must minimize impacts of activities on the natural landscape, historic resources, wildlife, fish and vegetation when exploring, developing and extracting the resources. Freehold mineral rights will not be subject to this restriction.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, the Oil and Gas Activities Act (the "OGAA") impacts conventional oil and gas producers, shale gas producers, and other operators of oil and gas facilities in the province. Under the OGAA, the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission (the "Commission") has broad powers, particularly with respect to compliance and enforcement and the setting of technical safety and operational standards for oil and gas activities. The Environmental Protection and Management Regulation establishes the government's environmental objectives for water, riparian habitats, wildlife and wildlife habitat, old-growth forests and cultural heritage resources. The OGAA requires the Commission to consider these environmental objectives in deciding whether or not to authorize an oil and gas activity. In addition, although not an exclusively environmental statute, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, in conjunction with the OGAA, requires proponents to obtain various approvals before undertaking exploration or production work, such as geophysical licenses, geophysical exploration project approvals, permits for the exclusive right to do geological work and geophysical exploration work, and well, test hole and water-source well authorizations. Such approvals are given subject to environmental considerations and licenses and project approvals can be suspended or cancelled for failure to comply with this legislation or its regulations.
Saskatchewan
In May 2011, the Government of Saskatchewan passed changes to The Oil and Gas Conservation Act ("SKOGCA"), the act governing the regulation of resource development operations in the province. Although the associated Bill received Royal Assent on May 18, 2011, it was not proclaimed into force until April 1, 2012, in conjunction with the release of The Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations, 2012 ("OGCR") and The Petroleum Registry and Electronic Documents Regulations ("Registry Regulations"). The aim of the amendments to the SKOGCA, and the associated regulations, is to provide resource companies investing in Saskatchewan's energy and resource industries with the best support services and business and regulatory systems available. With the enactment of the Registry Regulations and the OGCR, the Government of Saskatchewan has implemented a number of operational aspects, including the increased demand for record-keeping, increased testing requirements for injection wells and increased investigation and enforcement powers; and, procedural aspects including those related to Saskatchewan's participation as partner in the Petroleum Registry of Alberta.
Liability Management Rating Programs
Alberta
In Alberta, the AER implements the Licensee Liability Rating Program (the "AB LLR Program"). The AB LLR Program is a liability management program governing most conventional upstream oil and gas wells, facilities and pipelines. The ABOGCA establishes an orphan fund (the "Orphan Fund") to pay the costs to suspend, abandon, remediate and reclaim a well, facility or pipeline included in the AB LLR Program if a licensee or working interest participant ("WIP") becomes defunct. The Orphan Fund is funded by licensees in the AB LLR Program through a levy administered by the AER. The AB LLR Program is designed to minimize the risk to the Orphan Fund posed by unfunded liability of licensees and prevent the taxpayers of Alberta from incurring costs to suspend, abandon, remediate and reclaim wells, facilities or pipelines. The AB LLR Program requires a licensee whose deemed liabilities exceed its deemed assets to provide the AER with a security deposit. The ratio of deemed liabilities to deemed assets is assessed once each month and failure to post the required security deposit may result in the initiation of enforcement action by the AER.

 
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Made effective in three phases, from May 1, 2013 to August 1, 2015, the AER implemented important changes to the AB LLR Program (the "Changes") that resulted in a significant increase in the number of oil and gas companies in Alberta that are required to post security. The Changes affect the deemed parameters and costs used in the formula that calculates the ratio of deemed liabilities to deemed assets under the AB LLR Program, increasing a licensee's deemed liabilities and rendering the industry average netback factor more sensitive to asset value fluctuations.
The AER implemented the inactive well compliance program (the "IWCP") to address the growing inventory of inactive wells in Alberta and to increase the AER's surveillance and compliance efforts under Directive 013: Suspension Requirements for Wells ("Directive 013"). The IWCP applies to all inactive wells that are noncompliant with Directive 013 as of April 1, 2015. The objective is to bring all inactive noncompliant wells under the IWCP into compliance with the requirements of Directive 013 within five years. As of April 1, 2015, each licensee is required to bring 20 percent of its inactive wells into compliance every year, either by reactivating or suspending the wells in accordance with Directive 013 or by abandoning them in accordance with Directive 020: Well Abandonment. The list of current wells subject to the IWCP is available on the AER's Digital Data Submission system.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, the Commission implements the Liability Management Rating ("LMR") Program, designed to manage public liability exposure related to oil and gas activities by ensuring that permit holders carry the financial risks and regulatory responsibility of their operations through to regulatory closure. Under the LMR Program, the Commission determines the required security deposits for permit holders under the OGAA. The LMR is the ratio of a permit holder's deemed assets to deemed liabilities. Permit holders whose deemed liabilities exceed deemed assets will be considered high risk and reviewed for a security deposit. Permit holders who fail to submit the required security deposit within the allotted timeframe may be in non-compliance with the OGAA.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Economy implements the Licensee Liability Rating Program (the "SK LLR Program"). The SK LLR Program is designed to assess and manage the financial risk that a licensee's well and facility abandonment and reclamation liabilities pose to an orphan fund (the "Oil and Gas Orphan Fund") established under the SKOGCA. The Oil and Gas Orphan Fund is responsible for carrying out the abandonment and reclamation of wells and facilities contained within the SK LLR Program when a licensee or WIP is defunct or missing. The SK LLR Program requires a licensee whose deemed liabilities exceed its deemed assets to post a security deposit. The ratio of deemed liabilities to deemed assets is assessed once each month for all licensees of oil, gas and service wells and upstream oil and gas facilities.
Climate Change Regulation
Federal
Climate change regulation at both the federal and provincial level has the potential to significantly affect the regulatory environment of the oil and natural gas industry in Canada. Such regulations, surveyed below, impose certain costs and risks on the industry.
The Government of Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the "UNFCCC") and a participant to the Copenhagen Accord (a non-binding agreement created by the UNFCCC which represents a broad political consensus and reinforces commitments to reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions). On January 29, 2010, Canada inscribed in the Copenhagen Accord its 2020 economy-wide target of a 17 percent reduction of GHG emissions from 2005 levels. This target is aligned with the United States target. In a report dated October 2013, the federal government stated that this target represents a significant challenge in light of strong economic growth (Canada's economy is projected to be approximately 31 percent larger in 2020 compared to 2005 levels).
On April 26, 2007, the Government of Canada released "Turning the Corner: An Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution" (the "Action Plan") which set forth a plan for regulations to address both GHGs and air pollution. An update to the Action Plan, "Turning the Corner: Regulatory Framework for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions" was released on March 10, 2008 (the "Updated Action Plan"). The Updated Action Plan outlines emissions intensity-based targets for application to regulated sectors on a facility-specific basis, sector-wide basis or company-by-company basis. Although the intention was for draft regulations aimed at implementing the Updated Action Plan to become binding on January 1, 2010, the only regulations being implemented are in the transportation and electricity sectors. The federal government indicates that it is taking a sector-by-sector regulatory approach to reducing GHG emissions and is working on regulations for other sectors. Representatives of the Government of Canada have indicated that the proposals contained in the Updated Action Plan will be modified to ensure consistency with the direction ultimately taken by the United States with respect to GHG emissions regulation. In June 2012, the second US-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan was released. The plan renewed efforts to enhance bilateral collaboration on the development of clean energy technologies to reduce GHG emissions.
On December 12, 2015, the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement, to which Canada is a participant. The Paris Agreement mandates that all countries must work together to limit global temperature rise resulting from GHG emissions to a goal of less than 2° Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit below 1.5° Celsius, through implementing successive nationally determined contributions. Technical details remain unreleased, but the Government of Canada is expected to announce a plan within 90 days of the Paris Agreement, which will significantly increase Canada's GHG emission reduction targets.

 
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Alberta
As part of its efforts to reduce GHG emissions, Alberta introduced legislation to address GHG emissions: the Climate Change and Emissions Management Act (the "CCEMA") enacted on December 4, 2003 and amended through the Climate Change and Emissions Management Amendment Act, which received royal assent on November 4, 2008. The accompanying regulations include the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation ("SGER"), which imposes GHG limits, and the Specified Gas Reporting Regulation, which imposes GHG emissions reporting requirements. Alberta is the first jurisdiction in North America to impose regulations requiring large facilities in various sectors to reduce their GHG emissions. The SGER applies to facilities emitting more than 100,000 tonnes of GHGs in 2003 or any subsequent year ("Regulated Emitters"), and requires reductions in GHG emissions intensity (e.g. the quantity of GHG emissions per unit of production) from emissions intensity baselines established in accordance with the SGER.
On June 25, 2015, the Government of Alberta renewed the SGER for a period of two years with significant amendments while Alberta's newly formed Climate Advisory Panel conducted a comprehensive review of the province's climate change policy. In 2015, Regulated Emitters are required to reduce their emissions intensity by two percent from their baseline in the fourth year of commercial operation, four percent of their baseline in the fifth year, six percent of their baseline in the sixth year, eight percent of their baseline in the seventh year, ten percent of their baseline in the eighth year, and 12 percent of their baseline in the ninth or subsequent years. These reduction targets will increase, meaning that Regulated Emitters in their ninth or subsequent years of commercial operation must reduce their emissions intensity from their baseline by 15 percent in 2016 and 20 percent starting in 2017.
Regulated Emitters can meet their emissions intensity targets through a combination of the following: (1) producing its products with lower carbon inputs, (2) purchasing emissions offset credits from non-regulated emitters (generated through activities that result in emissions reductions in accordance with established protocols), (3) purchasing emissions performance credits from other Regulated Emitters that earned credits through the reduction of their emissions below the 100,000 tonne threshold, (4) cogeneration compliance adjustments, and (5) by contributing to the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund (the "Fund"). Contributions to the Fund are made at a rate of $15 per tonne of GHG emissions, increasing to a rate of $20 per tonne of GHG emissions in 2016 and $30 per tonne of GHG emissions starting in 2017. Proceeds from the Fund are directed at testing and implementing new technologies for greening energy production.
On November 22, 2015, as a result of the Climate Advisory Panel's Climate Leadership report, the Government of Alberta announced its Climate Leadership Plan which proposes to introduce a carbon tax on all emitters. An economy-wide levy $30 per tonne of GHG emissions will be phased in, starting in January 2017 at $20 per tonne, and increasing to $30 per tonne in January 2018. An oil sands specific approach was proposed to replace the $30 per tonne of GHG emissions to further reduce emissions and promote carbon competitiveness rather than rewarding past intensity levels. A 100 megatonne per year limit for GHG emissions was proposed for oil sands operations, which currently emit roughly 70 megatonnes per year. This cap exempts new upgrading and cogeneration facilities, which are allocated a separate 10 megatonne limit. The existing SGER will be replaced for large industrial facilities with a Carbon Competitiveness Regulation ("CCR"), in which sector specific output-based carbon allocations will be used to ensure competitiveness.
Alberta is also the first jurisdiction in North America to direct dedicated funding to implement carbon capture and storage technology across industrial sectors. Alberta has committed $1.24 billion over 15 years to fund two large-scale carbon capture and storage projects that will begin commercializing the technology on the scale needed to be successful. On December 2, 2010, the Government of Alberta passed the Carbon Capture and Storage Statutes Amendment Act, 2010. It deemed the pore space underlying all land in Alberta to be, and to have always been, the property of the Crown and provided for the assumption of long-term liability for carbon sequestration projects by the Crown, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
Under the SGER and based on 2014 emissions, we purchased Emission Performance Credits in the amount of $200,000, payable to the Climate Change Emission Management Fund for our Quirk Creek Gas Plant. We were not required to purchase Emission Performance Credits for the Olds Gas Plant and Judy Creek Gas Conservation Plant as these facilities met the reduction requirements of the SGER and subsequently received carbon credits for this reduction.
British Columbia
In February 2008, the Government of British Columbia announced a revenue-neutral carbon tax that took effect July 1, 2008. The tax is consumption-based and applied at the time of retail sale or consumption of virtually all fossil fuels purchased or used in British Columbia. The current tax level is $30 per tonne of GHG emissions. The final scheduled increase took effect on July 1, 2012. There is no plan for further rate increases or expansions at this time. In order to make the tax revenue-neutral, the Government of British Columbia has implemented tax credits and reductions in order to offset the tax revenues that the Government of British Columbia would otherwise receive from the tax.
In the 2012 Budget, the Government of British Columbia announced that it would undertake a comprehensive review of the carbon tax and its impact on British Columbians. The review covered all aspects of the carbon tax, including revenue neutrality, and considered the impact on the competitiveness of British Columbia businesses such as those in the agriculture sector, and in particular, British Columbia's food producers. After the review, the Government of British Columbia confirmed that it will keep its revenue-neutral carbon tax; the current carbon tax rates and tax base will be maintained and revenues will continue to be returned through tax reductions.
On April 3, 2008, the Government of British Columbia introduced the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act (the "Cap and Trade Act"), which received royal assent on May 29, 2008 and partially came into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council. It

 
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sets a province-wide target of a 33 percent reduction in the 2007 level of GHG emissions by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050. Unlike the emissions intensity approach taken by the federal government and the Government of Alberta, the Cap and Trade Act establishes an absolute cap on GHG emissions. The Reporting Regulation, implemented under the authority of the Cap and Trade Act, sets out the requirements for the reporting of the GHG emissions from facilities in British Columbia emitting 10,000 tonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year beginning on January 1, 2010. Those reporting operations with emissions of 25,000 tonnes or greater are required to have emissions reports verified by a third party. Recent amendments to the Cap and Trade Act repealed past requirements on public-sector organizations, including Crown corporations, to be carbon neutral by 2010, and they are now only required to produce annual carbon reduction plans and reports. Additional regulations that will further enable the Government of British Columbia to implement a cap and trade system are currently under development.
We do not currently have any facilities that emit over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 but we do trigger the Linear Facility definition as we conduct oil and gas extraction and gas processing activities in British Columbia that cumulatively exceed the threshold. As a result, we are required to report our emissions.
Saskatchewan
On May 11, 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan announced The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act (the "MRGGA") to regulate GHG emissions in the province. The MRGGA received Royal Assent on May 20, 2010 and will come into force on proclamation. The MRGGA establishes a framework for achieving the provincial target of a 20 percent reduction in GHG emissions from 2006 levels by 2020. Although the MRGGA and related regulations have yet to be proclaimed in force, draft versions indicate that, the Government of Saskatchewan will permit the use of pre-certified investment credits, early action credits and emissions offsets in compliance, similar to the federal climate change initiatives. It remains unclear whether the scheme implemented by the MRGGA will be based on emissions intensity or an absolute cap on emissions.
Nova Scotia
The Province of Nova Scotia has set a goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by ten percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and has implemented the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act. The Crown must report annually the amount of reductions achieved in the Province but there is no mechanism for measuring compliance nor are there any consequences for failing to meet the goal.
General Discussion
At present, we are not paying any direct costs or penalties as a result of air emission exceedances other than the purchase of credits in relation to our Quirk Creek gas plant. However, the direct and indirect costs of the various GHG regulations, existing and proposed, may at some time and under certain conditions adversely affect our business, operations and financial results. Equipment that meets future emission standards may not be available on an economic basis and other compliance and/or engineering methods to reduce our emissions and associated emissions intensity to future required levels may temporarily increase operating costs. Offset, performance or fund credits may not be available for acquisition or may not be available on an economic basis. Any failure to meet emission reduction compliance obligations requirements may materially adversely affect our business and may result in an increased cost for purchasing offset carbon credits until compliant. There is also a risk that one or more levels of government could impose additional emissions or emissions intensity reduction requirements or taxes on emissions created by us or by consumers of our products. The imposition of such measures might negatively affect our costs and prices for our products and have an adverse effect on earnings and results of operations.
RISK FACTORS
If any of the following risks occur, our production, revenues and financial condition could be materially impaired, with a resulting decrease in the market price of, our Common Shares. As a result, the trading price of our Common Shares could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks are described under the heading "Business Risks" in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The trading price of our Common Shares is subject to substantial volatility often based on factors related and unrelated to our financial performance or prospects.
Factors unrelated to our performance could include macroeconomic developments nationally, within North America or globally, domestic and global commodity prices or current perceptions of the oil and gas market. Similarly, the market price of our Common Shares could be subject to significant fluctuations in response to variations in our operating results, financial condition, liquidity and other internal factors. Factors that could affect the market price of our Common Shares that are unrelated to our performance include domestic and global commodity prices and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. The price at which our Common Shares will trade cannot be accurately predicted.

 
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Low oil and natural gas prices could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, which, in turn, could negatively affect the market price of the Common Shares.
The market price of the Common Shares depends, in part, on the prices we receive for our oil and natural gas production. Oil and natural gas prices can fluctuate widely on a month-to-month, or even a day-to-day, basis in response to a variety of factors that are beyond our control. While oil prices are set in a much broader global market, natural gas prices are largely dependent on North American economies. Additional factors include:
global energy policy, including the ability of OPEC to set and maintain production levels for oil;
geo-political conditions;
worldwide economic conditions including ongoing credit and liquidity concerns;
weather conditions including weather-related disruptions to the North American natural gas supply;
the supply and price of foreign and North American produced oil and natural gas;
the level of consumer demand;
the price and availability of alternative fuels;
the proximity to, and capacity of, transportation facilities;
the effect of worldwide energy conservation measures; and
government regulation.
Recent market events and conditions, including global excess oil and natural gas supply, recent actions taken by OPEC, slowing growth in China and other emerging economies, market volatility and disruptions in Asia, and sovereign debt levels in various countries, have caused significant weakness and volatility in commodity prices. North American crude oil price differentials are also expected to continue to be volatile throughout 2016 which will have an impact on crude oil prices for Canadian producers.
These events and conditions have caused a significant decrease in the valuation of oil and gas companies and a decrease in confidence in the oil and gas industry. These difficulties have been exacerbated in Canada by the recent changes in government at a federal level and, in case of Alberta, the provincial level and the resultant uncertainty surrounding regulatory, tax and royalty changes that may be implemented by the new governments.
In addition, the inability to get the necessary approvals to build pipelines and other facilities to provide better access to markets for the oil and gas industry in western Canada has led to additional uncertainty and reduced confidence in the oil and gas industry in western Canada.
The amount of future dividends, if any, may vary.
On January 20, 2016, as a result of volatile, uncertain and exceptionally low oil prices, we suspended our monthly dividend until further notice. The amount of future dividends paid by us, if any, will be subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and may vary depending on a variety of factors, forecasts and conditions existing from time to time, including fluctuations in commodity prices, production levels, capital expenditure requirements, debt service requirements, operating costs, royalty burdens, foreign exchange rates and the satisfaction of the liquidity and solvency tests imposed by the ABCA for the declaration and payment of dividends. Depending on these and various other factors, many of which will be beyond our control, we may change our dividend policy from time to time and, as a result, any future dividends could be reduced or suspended entirely.
The future treatment of dividends for tax purposes will be subject to the nature and composition of dividends paid by us and potential legislative and regulatory changes. Dividends may be reduced during periods of lower funds from operations, which result from lower commodity prices and any decision by us to finance capital expenditures using funds from operations.
Our success depends in large measure on certain key and qualified personnel.
The loss of the services of key personnel may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The contributions of the existing management team to our immediate and near term operations are likely to be of central importance. In addition, the competition for qualified personnel in the oil and natural gas industry is intense and there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to attract and retain all personnel necessary for the development and operation of our business. Investors must rely upon the ability, expertise, judgment, discretion, integrity and good faith of our management.
Risk of Delisting from the NYSE
Pengrowth received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on October 29, 2015 that it was no longer in compliance with one of the NYSE’s listing standards, as the closing price of Pengrowth’s common stock was less than US$1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 day trading-day period. Pengrowth has six months from the date of notification to regain compliance with the NYSE’s price listing standard to avoid delisting. Delisting could negatively impact liquidity.

 
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Actual production, reserves and resources will vary from estimates, and those variations could be material and may negatively affect the market price of the Common Shares.
The value of the Common Shares will depend upon, among other things, our reserves and resources. In making strategic decisions, we rely upon reports prepared by our independent reserve engineers and our own internal estimates. Estimating future production, reserves and resources is inherently uncertain. Ultimately, actual production, revenues and expenditures for the underlying properties will vary from estimates and those variations could be material. Changes in the prices of, and markets for, oil and natural gas from those anticipated at the time of making such assessments will affect the return on, and value of, our Common Shares. The reserves, resources and cash flow information contained in the reserve information herein represent estimates only. Petroleum engineers consider many factors and make assumptions in estimating reserves and resources.
Those factors and assumptions include:
historical production from the area compared with production rates from similar producing areas;
the assumed effect of government regulation;
assumptions about future commodity prices, exchange rates, production and development costs, capital expenditures,    abandonment costs, environmental liabilities, and applicable royalty regimes;
initial production rates;
production decline rates;
ultimate recovery of reserves and resources;
marketability of production; and
other government levies that may be imposed over the producing life of reserves.
If any of these factors and assumptions prove to be inaccurate, our actual results may vary materially from our reserve and resource estimates. Many of these factors are subject to change and are beyond our control. In particular, changes in the prices of, and markets for, oil and natural gas from those anticipated at the time of making such assessments will affect the return on, and value of, our Common Shares. In addition, all such assessments involve a measure of geological and engineering uncertainty that could result in lower production and reserves and resources than anticipated. A portion of our reserves are classified as "undeveloped" and are subject to greater uncertainty than reserves classified as "developed".
In accordance with normal industry practices, we engage independent petroleum engineers to conduct a detailed engineering evaluation of our oil and gas properties for the purpose of estimating our reserves as part of our year end reporting process. As a result of that evaluation, we may increase or decrease the estimates of our reserves. We do not consider an increase or decrease in the estimates of our reserves in the range of up to five percent to be material or inconsistent with normal industry practice. Any significant reduction to the estimates of our reserves resulting from any such evaluation could have a material adverse effect on the value of our Common Shares.
If we are unable to acquire or develop additional reserves, the value of the Common Shares may decline.
Oil and natural gas operations involve many risks that even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome. Our long-term commercial success depends on our ability to find, acquire, develop and commercially produce oil and natural gas reserves. Without the continual addition of new reserves, our existing reserves, and the production from them, will decline over time as we produce from such reserves. A future increase in our reserves will depend on both our ability to explore and develop our existing properties and on our ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties or prospects. There is no assurance that we will be able to continue to find satisfactory properties to acquire or participate in. Moreover, our management may determine that current markets, terms of acquisition and, participation or pricing conditions make potential acquisitions or participations uneconomic. There is also no assurance that we will discover or acquire further commercial quantities of oil and natural gas.
Future oil and natural gas exploration may involve unprofitable efforts from dry wells as well as from wells that are productive but do not produce sufficient petroleum substances to return a profit after drilling, completing (including hydraulic fracturing), operating and other costs. Completion of a well does not assure a profit on the investment or recovery of drilling, completion and operating costs.
Drilling hazards, environmental damage and various field operating conditions could greatly increase the cost of operations and adversely affect the production from successful wells. Field operating conditions include, but are not limited to, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or consents, and shut-ins of connected wells resulting from extreme weather conditions, insufficient storage or transportation capacity or other geological and mechanical conditions. While diligent well supervision and effective maintenance operations can contribute to maximizing production rates over time, it is not possible to eliminate production delays and declines from normal field operating conditions, which can negatively affect revenue and cash flow levels to varying degrees.
The amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce and sell is subject to the accessibility, availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, processing and pipeline systems
We deliver our products through gathering, processing and pipeline systems some of which we do not own. Access to the pipeline capacity for the transport of crude oil into the United States has become inadequate for the amount of Canadian production being exported to the

 
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United States and has recently resulted in significantly lower amounts being realized by Canadian producers compared with the WTI price for crude oil. Although opportunities to move oil by rail continue to grow and will provide new outlets for access to North American refineries otherwise not reachable via existing pipeline infrastructure, supply in excess of current pipeline and refining capacity is expected to continue to exist. Although we currently do not directly transport oil by rail, we could be affected by both positive and negative impacts (i.e. pricing of our oil sales from supply/demand issues) that could result from significant fluctuations to this transport method. Material structural changes are required to reduce these bottlenecks and the resulting steep price discounts. A variety of new pipeline expansion projects to provide increased access to eastern Canadian and Gulf Coast refineries, as well as new off-shore markets, have been announced and are in various stages of review and approval. There can be no assurance that such regulatory approvals will be secured on a timely basis or at all. The lack of firm pipeline capacity continues to affect the oil and natural gas industry and limit the ability to produce and to market oil and natural gas production. In addition, the pro-rationing of capacity on inter-provincial pipeline systems also continues to affect the ability to export oil and natural gas.
The lack of access to capacity in any of the gathering, processing and pipeline systems, and in particular the processing facilities, could result in our inability to realize the full economic potential of our production or in a reduction of the price offered for our production. Any significant change in market factors or other conditions affecting these infrastructure systems and facilities, as well as any delays in constructing new infrastructure systems and facilities could harm our business and, in turn, our financial condition.
A portion of our production may, from time to time, be processed through facilities owned by third parties and which we do not have control of. From time to time, these facilities may discontinue or decrease operations either as a result of normal servicing requirements or as a result of unexpected events. A discontinuance or decrease of operations could materially adversely affect our ability to process our production and to deliver the same for sale. Certain pipeline leaks have gained media and other stakeholder attention and may result in additional regulation or changes in law which could impede the conduct of our business or make our operations more expensive.
Following major accidents in Lac-Megantic, Quebec and North Dakota, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the U.S. National Transportation Board have recommended additional regulations for railway tank cars carrying crude oil. These recommendations include, among others, the imposition of higher standards for all DOT-111 tank cars carrying crude oil and the increased auditing of shippers to ensure they properly classify hazardous materials and have adequate safety plans in place. The increased regulation of rail transportation may reduce the ability of railway lines to alleviate pipeline capacity issues and add additional costs to the transportation of crude oil by rail.
If oil and natural gas prices remain at their current levels or decrease further, our estimates of total reserves and the values thereof may be reduced.
Our reserves as at December 31, 2015 are estimated using forecast pricing escalating prices. These prices are substantially above current oil and natural gas prices. If oil and gas prices stay at current levels or drop further our reserves may be substantially reduced as economic limits of developed reserves are reached earlier and undeveloped reserves become uneconomic at such prices. Even if some reserves remain economic at lower price levels, sustained low prices may compel us to re-evaluate our development plans and reduce or eliminate various projects with marginal economics.
In addition, lower commodity prices have restricted, and are anticipated to continue to restrict, our cash flow resulting in a reduced capital expenditure budget. As a result, we may not be able to replace our production with additional reserves and both our production and reserves could be reduced on a year over year basis.
Uncertainty in the industry may restrict the availability or increase the cost of borrowing required for future development and acquisitions.
Due to the conditions in the oil and gas industry and/or global economic volatility, we may from time to time have restricted access to capital and increased borrowing costs. The current conditions in the oil and gas industry have negatively impacted the ability of oil and gas companies to access additional financing. Continued depressed oil and natural gas prices have caused decreases, and may cause further decreases, in our cash flow. To the extent that external sources of capital become limited, unavailable or available on onerous terms, our ability to access sufficient capital for our capital expenditures and acquisitions could be impaired and, as a result, may have a material adverse effect on our ability to execute our business strategy and on our financial condition. There can be no assurance that financing will be available or sufficient to meet these requirements or for other corporate purposes or, if financing is available, that it will be on terms appropriate and acceptable to us. Should the lack of financing and uncertainty in the capital markets adversely impact our ability to refinance debt, additional equity may be issued resulting in a dilutive effect on current and future Shareholders.
In the normal course of our business, we have entered into contractual arrangements with third parties that subject us to the risk that such parties may default on their obligations.
We are exposed to third party credit risk through our contractual arrangements with current or future joint venture partners, marketers of our petroleum and natural gas production and other parties. In the event such entities fail to meet their contractual obligations to us, such failures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, poor credit conditions in the industry and of joint venture partners may impact a joint venture partner’s willingness to participate in our ongoing capital program, potentially delaying the program and the results of such program until we find a suitable alternative partner.

 
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We engage in hedging activities which could limit the full benefit of commodity price increases.
From time to time we enter into agreements to receive fixed prices for our oil and natural gas production to offset the risk of revenue losses if commodity prices decline. However, to the extent that we engage in price risk management activities to protect ourselves from commodity price declines, we may also be prevented from realizing the full benefits of price increases above the levels of the derivative instruments used to manage price risk. In addition, our hedging arrangements may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which:
production falls short of the hedged volumes;
there is a widening of price-basis differentials between delivery points for production and the delivery point assumed in the hedge arrangement;
the counterparties to the hedging arrangements or other price risk management contracts fail to perform under those arrangements; or
a sudden unexpected event materially impacts oil and natural gas prices.
Our current hedging contracts provide a substantial benefit to us during this period of low oil and natural gas prices. These benefits will only be realized for the period and for the commodity quantities in those contracts. Assuming that the futures market for oil and natural gas remains at current pricing levels, a substantial amount of the benefits from such contracts will be realized by the end of 2016 and additional hedges at or near such prior prices may not be available, which will adversely impact our revenues.
From time to time we may also enter into agreements to fix the exchange rate of Canadian to United States dollars in order to offset the risk of revenue losses if the Canadian dollar increases in value compared to the United States dollar. However, if the Canadian dollar declines in value compared to the United States dollar, we will not benefit from the fluctuating exchange rate. In addition, although a low value of the Canadian dollar relative to the United States dollar may positively affect the price we receive for our oil and natural gas production, it could also result in an increase in the price for certain goods used for our operations, which may have a negative impact on our financial results.
Our operation of oil and natural gas wells could subject us to potential environmental claims and liabilities, which will be funded out of our cash flow and will reduce cash flow otherwise available for dividend to Shareholders.
All phases of the oil and natural gas business present environmental risks and hazards and are subject to environmental regulation pursuant to a variety of federal, provincial and local laws and regulations. Environmental legislation provides for, among other things, restrictions and prohibitions on the spill, release or emission of various substances produced in association with certain oil and gas industry operations. In addition, such legislation sets out the requirements with respect to oilfield waste handling and storage, habitat protection and the satisfactory operation, maintenance, abandonment and reclamation of well and facility sites.
Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia have developed liability management programs designed to prevent taxpayers from incurring costs associated with suspension, abandonment, remediation and reclamation of wells, facilities and pipelines in the event that a licensee or permit holder becomes defunct. These programs generally involve an assessment of the ratio of a licensee's deemed assets to deemed liabilities. If a licensee's deemed liabilities exceed its deemed assets, a security deposit is required. Changes of the ratio of our deemed assets to deemed liabilities or changes to the requirements of liability management programs may result in significant increases to the security that must be posted. In addition, the liability management system may prevent or interfere with our ability to acquire or dispose of assets as both the vendor and the purchaser of oil and gas assets must be in compliance with the liability management programs (both before and after the transfer of the assets) for the applicable regulatory agency to allow for the transfer of such assets. See "Industry Conditions - Liability Management Rating Programs".
Compliance with environmental legislation can require significant expenditures and a breach of applicable environmental legislation may result in the imposition of fines and penalties, some of which may be material. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner expected to result in stricter standards and enforcement, larger fines and liability and potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs. The discharge of oil, natural gas or other pollutants into the air, soil or water may give rise to liabilities to governments and third parties and may require us to incur costs to remedy such discharge. Although we believe that we will be in material compliance with current applicable environmental regulations, no assurance can be given that environmental laws will not result in a curtailment of production or a material increase in the costs of production, development or exploration activities or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our exploration and production facilities and other operations and activities emit greenhouse gases which may require us to comply with greenhouse gas emissions legislation in Alberta and British Columbia or that may be enacted in other provinces.
Climate change policy is evolving at regional, national and international levels, and political and economic events may significantly affect the scope and timing of climate change measures that are ultimately put in place. As a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the "UNFCCC") and a participant to the Copenhagen Agreement (a non-binding agreement created by the UNFCCC), the Government of Canada announced on January 29, 2010 that it will seek a 17% reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2020; however, these GHG emission reduction targets are not binding. Some of our significant facilities may ultimately be subject to future regional, provincial and/or federal climate change regulations to manage GHG emissions. As a result of the UNFCCC adopting the Paris

 
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Agreement on December 12, 2015, to which Canada was a participant, the Government of Canada is expected to announce a plan to further reduce its GHG emission reduction targets by March 11, 2016. The direct or indirect costs of compliance with these regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, concerns about climate change have resulted in a number of environmental activists and members of the public opposing the continued exploitation and development of fossil fuels. Given the evolving nature of the debate related to climate change and the control of GHG and resulting requirements, it is not possible to predict the impact on us and our operations and financial condition.
We may be unable to successfully compete with other industry participants, which could negatively affect the market price of the Common Shares.
The petroleum industry is competitive in all its phases. We compete with numerous other entities in the search for, and the acquisition of, oil and natural gas properties and in the marketing of oil and natural gas. Our competitors include oil and natural gas companies that have substantially greater financial resources, staff and facilities than us. Our ability to increase our reserves in the future will depend not only on our ability to explore and develop our present properties, but also on our ability to select and acquire other suitable producing properties or prospects for exploratory drilling. Competitive factors in the distribution and marketing of oil and natural gas include price, methods, and reliability of delivery and storage.
The oil industry is characterized by rapid and significant technological advancements and introductions of new products and services utilizing new technologies.
Other oil companies may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources that allow them to enjoy technological advantages and may in the future allow them to implement new technologies before we can. There can be no assurance that we will be able to respond to such competitive pressures and implement such technologies on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost. One or more of the technologies currently utilized by us or implemented in the future may become obsolete. In such case, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. If we are unable to utilize the most advanced commercially available technology, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas, and technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices could reduce the demand for oil and other liquid hydrocarbons.
We cannot predict the impact of changing demand for oil and natural gas products, and any major changes may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Incorrect assessments of value at the time of acquisitions could adversely affect the value of our Common Shares.
Acquisitions of oil and gas properties or companies are based in large part on engineering and economic assessments made by independent engineers. These assessments include a series of assumptions regarding such factors as recoverability and marketability of oil and gas, future prices of oil and gas and operating costs, future capital expenditures and royalties and other government levies which will be imposed over the producing life of the reserves. Many of these factors are subject to change and are beyond our control. All such assessments involve a measure of geologic and engineering uncertainty which could result in lower than anticipated production and reserves.
Our indebtedness may limit the amount of dividends that we are able to pay our Shareholders, and if we default on our debts, the net proceeds of any foreclosure sale would be allocated to the repayment of our lenders, note holders, Convertible Debenture holders and other creditors and only the remainder, if any, would be available for distribution to our Shareholders.
We are indebted under our Credit Facility, the Convertible Debentures and the Notes. Certain covenants in the agreements with our lenders and with respect to the Notes and the Convertible Debentures may limit the amount of dividends paid to Shareholders. Variations in interest rates, exchange rates and scheduled principal repayments could result in significant changes in the amount we are required to apply to the service of our outstanding indebtedness. If we become unable to pay our debt service charges or otherwise cause an event of default to occur, access to our Credit Facility can become restricted and our lenders may foreclose on, or sell, our properties. The net proceeds of any such sale will be allocated firstly to the repayment of our lenders and other creditors and only the remainder, if any, would be payable to Shareholders. In addition, we may not be able to refinance some or all of these debt obligations through the issuance of new debt obligations on the same terms, and we may be required to refinance through the issuance of new debt obligations on less favourable terms or through the issuance of additional securities or through other means.
We are required to comply with covenants under our Credit Facility, the Convertible Debentures and the Notes. Events beyond our control may contribute to our failure to comply with such covenants. Failing a financial covenant may result in access to our Credit Facility becoming restricted and/or one or more of our loans being in default. In certain circumstances, being in default of one loan will, absent a cure, result in other loans also being in default. In the event that non-compliance continued, we would have to repay, refinance or re-negotiate the terms and conditions of the debt.
If any of our lenders require repayment of all or portion of the amounts outstanding under our loans for any reason, including for a default of a covenant, there is no certainty that we would be in a position to make such repayment. Given the current market conditions and the lack of confidence in the Canadian oil and gas industry, we may have difficulty raising additional funds or if it we are able to do so, it may be on unfavourable and highly dilutive terms.

 
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A decline in our ability to market our oil and natural gas production could have a material adverse effect on production levels or on the price received for production, which, in turn, could affect the market price of the Common Shares.
The marketability of our production depends in part upon the availability, proximity and capacity of gas gathering systems, pipelines, railway lines and processing and storage facilities. United States federal and state and Canadian federal and provincial regulation of oil and gas production and transportation, general economic conditions, changes in supply and demand, market conditions and other conditions affecting infrastructure systems and facilities could adversely affect our ability to produce and market oil and natural gas. If market factors dramatically change, the financial impact on us could be substantial. The availability of markets is beyond our control.
The lack of firm pipeline capacity continues to affect the oil industry and limit the ability to produce and market oil production. In addition, the pro-rationing of capacity on inter-provincial pipeline systems continues to affect the ability to export oil. Unexpected shut downs or curtailment of capacity of pipelines for maintenance or integrity work or because of actions taken by regulators could also affect our production, operations and financial results. Furthermore, producers are increasingly turning to rail as an alternative means of transportation. In recent years, the volume of crude oil shipped by rail in North America has increased dramatically. Any significant change in market factors or other conditions affecting these infrastructure systems and facilities, as well as any delays in constructing new infrastructure systems and facilities could harm our business and, in turn, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The federal government has signaled that it plans to review the National Energy Board approval process for large projects. This may cause the timeframe for project approvals to increase for current and future applications.
Following major accidents in Lac-Megantic, Quebec and North Dakota, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the U.S. National Transportation Board have recommended additional regulations for railway tank cars carrying crude oil. In June 2015, as a result of these recommendations, the Government of Canada passed the Safe and Accountable Rail Act which increased insurance obligations on the shipment of crude oil by rail, imposed a per tonne levy of $1.65 on crude oil shipped by rail to compensate victims and for environmental cleanup in the event of a railway accident. In addition to this legislation, new regulations have implemented the TC-117 standard for all rail tank cars carrying flammable liquids which formalized the commitment to retrofit, and eventually phase out DOT-111 tank cars carrying crude oil. The increased regulation of rail transportation may reduce the ability of railway lines to alleviate pipeline capacity issues and add additional costs to the transportation of crude oil by rail.
Our financial performance also depends on revenues from the sale of commodities which differ in quality and location from underlying commodity prices quoted on financial exchanges. Of particular importance are the price differentials between our light/medium crude oil, heavy crude oil (in particular the light/heavy differential) and bitumen and quoted market prices. Not only are these discounts influenced by regional supply and demand factors, they are also influenced by other factors such as transportation costs, capacity and interruptions; refining demand; the availability and cost of diluent used to blend and transport product; and the quality of the oil produced, all of which are beyond our control.
The operation of a portion of our properties is largely dependent on the ability of third party operators, and harm to their business could cause delays and additional expenses in our receiving revenues, which could negatively affect the market price of the Common Shares.
The continuing production from a property, and to some extent the marketing of production, is dependent upon the ability of the operators of our properties. Approximately 20 percent of our properties are operated by third parties, based on daily production. If, in situations where we are not the operator, the operator fails to perform these functions properly or becomes insolvent, revenues may be reduced. Revenues from production generally flow through the operator and, where we are not the operator; there is a risk of delay and additional expense in receiving such revenues.
The operation of the wells located on properties not operated by us are generally governed by operating agreements which typically require the operator to conduct operations in a good and workman-like manner. Operating agreements generally provide, however, that the operator will have no liability to the other non-operating working interest owners for losses sustained or liabilities incurred, except such as may result from gross negligence or wilful misconduct. In addition, third-party operators are generally not fiduciaries with respect to us or our Shareholders. As owner of working interests in properties not operated by us, we will generally have a cause of action for damages arising from a breach of the operator’s duty. Although not established by definitive legal precedent, it is unlikely that we or our Shareholders would be entitled to bring suit against third party operators to enforce the terms of the operating agreements. Therefore, our Shareholders will be dependent upon us, as owner of the working interest, to enforce such rights.
In addition, due to the current low and volatile commodity prices, many companies, including companies that may operate some of the assets in which we have an interest, may be in financial difficulty, which could impact their ability to fund and pursue capital expenditures, carry out their operations in a safe and effective manner and satisfy regulatory requirements with respect to abandonment and reclamation obligations. If companies that operate some of the assets in which we have an interest fail to satisfy regulatory requirements with respect to abandonment and reclamation obligations we may be required to satisfy such obligations and to seek recourse from such companies. To the extent that any of such companies go bankrupt, become insolvent or make a proposal or institute any proceedings relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, it could result in such assets being shut-in, us potentially becoming subject to additional liabilities relating to such assets and us having difficulty collecting revenue due from such operators. Any of these factors could materially adversely affect our financial and operational results.

 
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The market price of the Common Shares could be adversely affected by unforeseen title defects.
Although title reviews may be conducted prior to the purchase of oil and natural gas producing properties or the commencement of drilling wells, such reviews do not guarantee or certify that an unforeseen defect in the chain of title will not arise. Our actual interest in properties may, accordingly, vary from our records. If a title defect does exist, it is possible that we may lose all or a portion of the properties to which the title defect relates, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. There may be valid challenges to title, or legislative changes which affect title, to the oil and natural gas properties we control that could impair our activities on them and result in a reduction of the revenue received by us.
The Corporation could be negatively impacted by changes in asset retirement obligations.
The Corporation has substantial future asset retirement obligations. There is a risk that the magnitude of these payments may be larger than expected and that the timing of such payments may accelerate. Either of these factors could increase financial costs for the Corporation.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates could adversely affect our business and the market price of the Common Shares.
World oil and natural gas prices are quoted in United States dollars. The Canadian/United States dollar exchange rate fluctuates over time and as a consequence affects the price received by Canadian producers of oil and natural gas. Material increases in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the United States dollar will negatively affect our production revenues. Future Canadian/United States exchange rates could, accordingly, affect the future value of our reserves as determined by independent evaluators.
Pengrowth has substantial exposure to the U.S. dollar. Any decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar results in an increase in the Canadian dollar equivalent of Pengrowth's U.S. dollar denominated term debt as Pengrowth reports and prepares its covenant calculations in Canadian dollars. A significant decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar could cause Pengrowth to be in violation of its debt covenants resulting in Pengrowth being in default of its debt covenants.
To the extent that we engage in risk management activities related to foreign exchange rates, there is a credit risk associated with counterparties with which we may contract.
An increase in interest rates could result in a significant increase in the amount we pay to service debt, resulting in a reduced amount available to fund our exploration and development activities and could negatively impact the market price of our Common Shares.
We may incur material costs as a result of compliance with health, safety and environmental laws and regulations which could negatively affect our financial condition and, therefore decrease the market price of the Common Shares.
Compliance with environmental laws and regulations could materially increase our costs. We may incur substantial capital and operating costs to comply with increasingly complex laws and regulations covering the protection of the environment and human health and safety. In particular, we may be required to incur significant costs to comply with legislation and regulations to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the air. See “Industry Conditions”.
Lower oil and gas prices increase the risk of write-downs of our oil and gas property investments which could be viewed unfavourably in the market or could limit our ability to borrow funds or comply with covenants contained in our current or future credit agreements or other debt instruments.
Under Canadian accounting rules, the net capitalized cost of oil and gas properties may not exceed a "ceiling limit" which is based, in part, upon estimated future net cash flows from reserves. If the net capitalized costs exceed this limit, we must charge the amount of the excess against earnings. As oil and gas prices and engineering price decks decline, our net capitalized cost may approach and, in certain circumstances, exceed this cost ceiling, resulting in a charge against earnings. Under United States accounting rules, the cost ceiling is generally lower than under Canadian rules because the future net cash flows used in the United States ceiling test are based on proved reserves only. Accordingly, we would have more risk of a ceiling test write-down in a declining price environment if we reported under United States generally accepted accounting principles. While these write-downs would not affect cash flow, the charge to earnings could be viewed unfavourably in the market or could limit our ability to borrow funds or comply with covenants contained in our current or future credit agreements or other debt instruments.
The ability of investors resident in the United States to enforce civil remedies may be negatively affected for a number of reasons.
We are an Alberta corporation. We have our principal places of business in Canada. All of our directors and officers are residents of Canada and all or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside of the United States. Consequently, it may be difficult for United States investors to affect service of process within the United States upon us or such persons or to realize in the United States upon judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil remedies under the United States federal securities laws, as amended. Investors should not assume that Canadian courts:
will enforce judgments of United States courts obtained in actions against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws or the securities or "blue sky" laws of any state within the United States; or

 
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will enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or such persons predicated upon the United States federal securities laws or any such state securities or blue sky laws.
Future acquisitions may result in substantial future dilution of your Common Shares.
One of our objectives is to continually add to our reserves through acquisitions and through development. Our success is, in part, dependent on our ability to raise capital from time to time. Shareholders may also suffer dilution in connection with future issuances of Common Shares.
Canadian and United States practices differ in reporting reserves and production and our estimates may not be comparable to those of companies in the United States.
We report our production and reserve quantities in accordance with Canadian practices and specifically in accordance with NI 51-101. These practices are different from the practices used to report production and to estimate reserves in reports and other materials filed with the SEC by companies in the United States.
We incorporate additional information with respect to production and reserves which is either not required to be included or prohibited under rules of the SEC and practices in the United States. We follow the Canadian practice of reporting gross production and reserve volumes; however, we also follow the United States practice of separately reporting these volumes on a net basis (after the deduction of royalties and similar payments). We also follow the Canadian practice of using forecast prices and costs when we estimate our reserves. The SEC permits, but does not require, the disclosure of reserves based on forecast prices and costs.
Reserve information contained herein may include estimates of proved, proved plus probable and possible reserves, as well as resources. The SEC permits, but does not require, the inclusion of estimates of probable and possible reserves in filings made with it by United States oil and gas companies. The SEC does not permit the inclusion of estimates of resources in reports filed with it by United States companies.
Changes in government regulations that affect the crude oil and natural gas industry could adversely affect us.
Various levels of governments impose extensive controls and regulations on oil and natural gas operations (including exploration, development, production, pricing, marketing and transportation). Governments may regulate or intervene with respect to exploration and production activities, prices, taxes and royalties. Amendments to these controls and regulations may occur from time to time in response to economic or political conditions. On January 29, 2016, the Government of Alberta adopted a new royalty regime which will take effect on January 1, 2017. Details of this new regime are scheduled to be finalized and released before March 31, 2016. See "Industry Conditions - Royalties and Incentives". The implementation of new regulations or the modification of existing regulations affecting the oil and natural gas industry could reduce demand for crude oil and natural gas and increase our costs, either of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In order to conduct oil and natural gas operations, we will require regulatory permits, licenses, registrations, approvals and authorizations from various governmental authorities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain all of the permits, licenses, registrations, approvals and authorizations that may be required to conduct operations that it may wish to undertake. In addition to regulatory requirements pertaining to the production, marketing and sale of oil and natural gas mentioned above, our business and financial condition could be influenced by federal legislation affecting, in particular, foreign investment, through legislation such as the Competition Act (Canada) and the Investment Canada Act (Canada). See “Industry Conditions”.
Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand and small amounts of additives under pressure into rock formations to stimulate hydrocarbon (oil and natural gas) production. Specifically, hydraulic fracturing is used to produce commercial quantities of oil and natural gas from reservoirs that were previously unproductive.
The proliferation of the use of hydraulic fracturing as a recovery technique employed in oil and natural gas drilling has given rise to increased public scrutiny of its environmental aspects, particularly with respect to its potential impact on local aquifers. Pengrowth utilizes hydraulic fracturing in a significant portion of the light oil wells it drills and completes. Pengrowth believes that the hydraulic fracturing that it conducts, given the depth and location of the wells and its consistent utilization of good oilfield practices, is environmentally sound and would not give rise to similar concerns respecting local aquifers.
Pengrowth anticipates that there will be a trend towards increased regulatory requirements concerning hydraulic fracturing in the future. In 2012, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers announced hydraulic fracturing operating practices designed to improve water management and water and fluids reporting for shale gas and tight gas development across Canada.
In Alberta, the AER, has implemented requirements for: (i) electronically reporting fracture fluid data, including service provider, fracture scenario, carrier fluid type, proppant type and additives for wells that have been fractured; (ii) electronically reporting water source data, including source location, source type, diversion permit information and volume for all water used in hydraulic fracturing operations with water quality information required for groundwater sources; and (iii) reporting fluid and water source data in daily reports of operations. Additionally, on May 21, 2013, the AER issued a directive establishing requirements for: (i) preventing the loss of well integrity at a subject well; (ii) assessing, planning for, and mitigating the risks of interwellbore communication with offset wells; (iii) notifying licensees of at-

 
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risk offset wells related to hydraulic fracturing operations; (iv) protecting nonsaline aquifers from hydraulic fracturing operations conducted at depths less than 100 metres below of the base of groundwater protection; and (v) notifying the AER about hydraulic fracturing operations.
The Province of British Columbia, beginning June 1, 2013, has required operators to electronically submit reporting information for all hydraulic fracture stimulations performed after May 1, 2013.
Any new laws, regulations or permitting requirements regarding hydraulic fracturing could lead to operational delays, increased operating costs, third party or governmental claims, and could increase our costs of compliance and doing business as well as delay the development of oil and natural gas resources from shale formations, which are not commercial without the use of hydraulic fracturing. Restrictions on hydraulic fracturing could also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that we are ultimately able to produce from our reserves.
We may become involved in, named a as a party to, or be the subject of, various legal proceedings including regulatory proceedings, tax proceedings and legal actions, related to personal injuries, property damage, property tax, land rights, the environment and contract disputes.
The outcome of outstanding, pending or future proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty and may be determined adversely to us and as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our assets, liabilities, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Aboriginal peoples have claimed aboriginal title and rights to portions of western Canada.
We are not aware that any claims have been made in respect of our properties and assets; however, if a claim arose and was successful such claim may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We may disclose confidential information relating to our business, operations or affairs while discussing potential business relationships or other transactions with third parties.
Although confidentiality agreements are signed by third parties prior to the disclosure of any confidential information, a breach could put us at competitive risk and may cause significant damage to our business. The harm to our business from a breach of confidentiality cannot presently be quantified, but may be material and may not be compensable in damages. There is no assurance that, in the event of a breach of confidentiality, we will be able to obtain equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief, from a court of competent jurisdiction in a timely manner, if at all, in order to prevent or mitigate any damage to its business that such a breach of confidentiality may cause.
We file all required income tax returns and we believe that we are in full compliance with the provisions of the Tax Act and all other applicable provincial tax legislation.
However, such returns are subject to reassessment by the applicable taxation authority. In the event of a successful reassessment of us, whether by re-characterization of exploration and development expenditures or otherwise, such reassessment may have an impact on current and future taxes payable.
Income tax laws relating to the oil and gas industry, such as the treatment of resource taxation or dividends, may in the future be changed or interpreted in a manner that adversely affects us. Furthermore, tax authorities having jurisdiction over us may disagree with how we calculate our income for tax purposes or could change administrative practices to our detriment.
The level of activity in the Canadian oil and natural gas industry is influenced by seasonal weather patterns.
Wet weather and spring thaw may make the ground unstable. Consequently, municipalities and provincial transportation departments enforce road bans that restrict the movement of rigs and other heavy equipment, thereby reducing activity levels. Also, certain oil and natural gas producing areas are located in areas that are inaccessible other than during the winter months because the ground surrounding the sites in these areas consists of swampy terrain. Seasonal factors and unexpected weather patterns may lead to declines in exploration and production activity and corresponding declines in the demand for our goods and services.
Terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorist attacks may have an adverse impact on us.
Energy sector participants, including us, are a potential target for terrorists. The possibility that infrastructure facilities may be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror and the implementation of security measures as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks may result in increased cost to our business.
Delays in business operations could adversely affect the market price of the Common Shares.
In addition to the usual delays in payment by purchasers of oil and natural gas to the operators of our properties, and the delays of those operators in remitting payment to us, payments between any of these parties may also be delayed by:
restrictions imposed by lenders;
accounting delays;
delays in the sale or delivery of products;
delays in the connection of wells to a gathering system;

 
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blowouts or other accidents;
adjustments for prior periods;
recovery by the operator of expenses incurred in the operation of the properties; or
the establishment by the operator of reserves for these expenses.
Any of these delays could reduce the amount of cash available for dividend to Shareholders in a given period and expose us to additional third party credit risks.
Changes in market-based factors may adversely affect the trading price of the Common Shares.
The market price of our Common Shares is sensitive to a variety of market based factors including, but not limited to, interest rates, foreign exchange rates and the comparability of the Common Shares to other yield-oriented securities. Any changes in these marketbased factors may adversely affect the trading price of the Common Shares.
Information Security Policies
The Corporation is dependent on the effectiveness of its information security policies, procedures and capabilities to protect its computer and telecommunications systems, and the data that resides on or is transmitted through them. An externally caused information security incident, such as a hacker attack or a virus or worm, or an internally caused issue, such as failure to control access to sensitive systems, could materially interrupt business operations or cause disclosure or modification of sensitive or confidential information and could result in material financial loss, regulatory action and sanctions, reputational harm and/or legal liability, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect the Corporation’s business, financial condition or profitability.
Use of Technology
The Corporation is dependent on the efficiency and effectiveness of the technologies it uses. Improper functioning of any of the technologies could materially interrupt the Corporation’s business operations and cause material financial loss, regulatory actions, reputational harm or legal liability, which in turn, could materially adversely affect the business, financial condition or profitability of the Corporation.
Business Resiliency Plans
Failure to develop effective business resiliency plans could disrupt operations and cause financial losses, which could materially adversely affect the business, financial condition or profitability of the Corporation.
The Corporation is dependent on the availability of its personnel, its office facilities and the proper functioning of its computer and telecommunications systems. While management has implemented a business continuity program, which is reviewed and updated regularly there can be no assurance that the Corporation’s business will not be interrupted and materially adversely affected during a disaster such as a severe weather event, fire, significant water damage, a prolonged loss of electricity or explosion or being collaterally damaged by any of the foregoing occurring to neighbouring businesses. While management believes the business continuity program has been developed to minimize any disruption, there can be no assurance of business continuity in the event that there are disruptions of normal operations. A disaster could materially interrupt business operations and if the disaster recovery plans prove to be ineffective, it could cause material financial loss, loss of human capital, reputational harm or legal liability, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect the business, financial condition or profitability of the Corporation.
The industry in which we operate exposes us to potential liabilities that may not be covered by insurance.
Oil and natural gas exploration, development and production operations are subject to all the risks and hazards typically associated with such operations, including, but not limited to, fire, explosion, blowouts, sour gas releases, spills and other environmental hazards. These typical risks and hazards could result in substantial damage to oil and natural gas wells, production facilities, other property, the environment and personal injury. Particularly, we may explore for and produce sour natural gas in certain areas. An unintentional leak of sour natural gas could result in personal injury, loss of life or damage to property and may necessitate an evacuation of populated areas, all of which could result in liability to us.
Oil and natural gas production operations are also subject to all the risks typically associated with such operations, including encountering unexpected formations or pressures, premature decline of reservoirs and the invasion of water into producing formations. Losses resulting from the occurrence of any of these risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
As is standard industry practice, we are not fully insured against all of these risks, nor are all risks insurable. Although we maintain liability insurance in an amount that we consider consistent with industry practice, liabilities associated with certain risks could exceed policy limits or not be covered. In either event we could incur significant costs.

 
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If there are delays in our projects, this may delay our expected revenues from operations.
We manage a variety of small and large projects in the conduct of our business. Project delays may delay expected revenues from operations. Significant project cost overruns could make a project uneconomic. Our ability to execute projects and market oil and natural gas depends upon numerous factors beyond our control, including:
the availability of processing capacity;
the availability and proximity of pipeline capacity;
the availability of storage capacity;
the effects of inclement weather;
the availability of drilling and related equipment;
unexpected cost increases;
accidental events;
currency fluctuations;
changes in regulations;
the availability and productivity of skilled labour; and
the regulation of the oil and natural gas industry by various levels of government and governmental agencies.
Because of these factors, we could be unable to execute projects on time, on budget or at all, and may be unable to market the oil and natural gas that we produce effectively.
We may be subject to growthrelated risks including capacity constraints and pressure on our internal systems and controls.
Our ability to manage growth effectively will require us to continue to implement and improve our operational and financial systems and to expand, train and manage our employee base. Our inability to deal with this growth may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Potential conflicts of interest.
Certain of our directors are also directors of other oil and gas companies and as such may, in certain circumstances, have a conflict of interest requiring them to abstain from certain decisions. Conflicts, if any, will be subject to the procedures and remedies of the ABCA which require the director or officer who is a party to, or is a director or an officer of, or has a material interest in any person who is a party to, a material contract or proposed material contract with us disclose his or her interest and, in the case of directors, to refrain from voting on any matter in respect of such contract unless otherwise permitted under the ABCA.
Asset Concentration
With the sale of over $1.2 billion of assets since 2012, in part to fund the first commercial phase of our Lindbergh Project, our assets have become much less diversified and increasingly concentrated in one project, product type (bitumen) and one area/formation. A failure to execute at Lindbergh or any of the Corporation's remaining core properties could have a significant adverse effect on the Corporation.
Lindbergh Thermal Project Specific Risks
Our Lindbergh thermal project will require substantial capital investment over the coming years. In addition to the above, there are certain additional risk factors associated with the development of our Lindbergh thermal project. These include the following:
Early Stage of Development
There is a risk that design and construction of the facilities and infrastructure to support our Lindbergh thermal project and any future commercial projects will not be completed on time, on budget or at all. Additionally, there is a risk that the Lindbergh thermal project and any future commercial projects may have delays, interruptions of operations or increased costs due to many factors, including, without limitation:
inability to attract or retain sufficient numbers of qualified workers;
breakdown or failure of equipment or processes;
construction performance falling below expected levels of output or efficiency;
design errors;
non-performance by, or financial failure of, third-party contractors;
labour disputes, disruptions or declines in productivity;
increases in materials or labour costs;
conditions imposed by regulatory approvals;
delays induced by weather;

 
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disruption or delays in availability of pipelines and/or rail transportation services leading to volumes being shut-in or otherwise unable to reach markets;
errors in construction;
changes in project scope;
unforeseen site surface or subsurface conditions;
transportation or construction accidents;
permit requirement violation;
availability of water supplies;
reservoir performance;
energy supply disruption; and
shortages of or delays in accessing drilling rigs and services.
Any expansion phases of the Lindbergh thermal project are not anticipated to be constructed on a turn-key basis. Additionally, given the state of development of the Lindbergh thermal project, various changes to the project may be made. The information contained herein related to the Lindbergh thermal project, including, without limitation, reserve and economic evaluations, assumes receipt of all regulatory approvals and no material changes being made to the project or its scope.
Once expansion phases of the Lindbergh thermal project are sanctioned, it is anticipated that the industry could also be in a period of substantial oil sands development and industrial activity. We will need to compete for equipment, supplies, services, and labour in this environment which could result in increased costs, shortages of goods and services that delay progress, or both. Increased competition for equipment, materials and labour may result in increased costs that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. As such, there are risks associated with project cost estimates provided by us. Cost estimates are provided prior to engineering being 100 percent complete. The final scope, design and detailed engineering are required to reduce the margin of error. Accordingly, actual costs may vary from estimates and these differences may be material.
Operating Costs
The operating costs of the Lindbergh thermal project have the potential to vary considerably throughout the operating period and will be significant components of the cost of production of any petroleum products produced by the Lindbergh thermal project. Project economics and our overall earnings may be reduced if increases in operating costs are incurred. Factors which could affect operating costs include, without limitation;
the amount and cost of labour to operate the Lindbergh thermal project;
the cost of catalyst and chemicals;
the actual steam oil ratio required to operate the SAGD well pairs;
the cost of natural gas and electricity;
power outages, particularly in winter when freeze-ups could occur;
produced sand causing issues of erosion, hot spots and corrosion;
reliability of the facilities;
the maintenance cost of the facilities;
the cost to transport sales products and the cost to dispose of certain by-products;
the cost of insurance; and
catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, storms or explosions.
Infrastructure for the Lindbergh Thermal Project
We will depend, to a large extent, on third party designers, contractors and suppliers to design and construct the necessary facilities and infrastructure for any expansion phases of the Lindbergh thermal project. We also anticipate that we will rely on certain infrastructure owned and operated or to be constructed by others, including, without limitation, pipelines for the transportation of diluent and produced bitumen to the market, natural gas, water source and disposal pipelines and electrical grid transmission lines for the provision and/or sale of electricity to us. The failure of any or all of these third parties to supply utilities, services or construct the infrastructure required to complete the Lindbergh thermal project on a timely basis and on acceptable commercial terms would negatively impact our operation and financial results.
In-situ Extraction
Current SAGD technologies for in-situ recovery of heavy crude oil and bitumen are energy intensive, requiring significant consumption of natural gas and other fuels in the production of steam which is used in the recovery process. The amount of steam required in the production

 
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process can also vary and significantly impact costs. The performance of the reservoir can also impact the timing and levels of production using this technology.
Recovery of Bitumen
Recovering bitumen from oil sands involves particular risks and uncertainties. SAGD bitumen recovery facilities and development and expansion of production can entail significant capital outlays. SAGD projects like Lindbergh are susceptible to loss of production, slowdowns, or restrictions on their ability to produce higher value products due to the interdependence of component systems. Severe weather conditions can cause reduced production and in some situations result in higher costs.
Access to Diluent Supplies at Favourable Prices
Bitumen is characterized by high specific gravity or weight and high viscosity or resistance to flow. Diluent, a hydrocarbon based diluting agent, is required to facilitate the transportation of bitumen. A shortfall in the supply of diluent may cause its price to increase thereby increasing the cost to transport bitumen to market and correspondingly increasing our operating costs, decreasing our net revenues and negatively impacting the overall profitability of the Lindbergh thermal project.
Marketing of Production
The market prices for heavy crude oil (which includes bitumen blends) are lower than the established market indices for light or medium grades of oil, due principally to diluent prices and the higher transportation and refining costs associated with heavy crude oil. Also, the market for heavy crude oil is more limited than for light and medium grades of oil, making it more susceptible to supply and demand fundamentals. Future price differentials are uncertain and any increase in heavy crude oil differentials could have an adverse effect on the anticipated returns from the Lindbergh thermal project as well as our overall business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Regulatory Approvals
In Alberta, oil sands projects require approvals from AER and AESRD and in some cases require a federal review. The AER and AESRD approvals fall under the EPEA and under the EIA for projects over 2,000 m3/day. These approvals can take 18 months or longer under EPEA or 24 months or longer under EIA. The timing to approval with the regulators represents a risk factor to being allowed to expand the Lindbergh project beyond 12,500 bbl/day. The risk areas include but are not limited to; the regulators ability to review the application and associated Supplemental Information Requests, third party reviews on behalf of the regulator taking longer than anticipated, any Statements of Concern submitted by operators, land owners, grazing lease holders, municipalities or Aboriginals in the region as well as any technical or environmental issues identified in the submission itself whether in regard to the surface infrastructure or the subsurface reservoir, cap rock, surface or subsurface water etc. Any of these issues or concerns may take longer to mitigate or eliminate in the view of the regulator and thus could delay approvals. Unresolved Statements of Concern may require a hearing with the regulators which may or may not be resolved in favor of the company and, if resolved via a hearing, will also add delays to the timing of an approval.
Regulatory approval is required to produce annual average bitumen production in excess of nameplate capacity of 12,500 bbl/d. Any delay in receiving such approval could force the Corporation to curtail production or incur penalties.
MARKET FOR SECURITIES
Our outstanding Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the NYSE under the symbol "PGH" and on the TSX under the symbol "PGF". The following tables set forth certain trading information for the Common Shares in 2015 as reported by the TSX and the NYSE.
 
 
TSX
 
NYSE
 
 
($)
High
 
($)
Low
 
Volume
 
(US$)
High
 
(US$)
Low
 
Volume
January
 
3.82
 
3.15
 
53,515,761
 
3.25
 
2.48
 
73,145,752
February
 
4.48
 
3.47
 
29,177,299
 
3.62
 
2.74
 
55,365,515
March
 
4.11
 
3.25
 
31,665,232
 
3.29
 
2.54
 
48,872,339
April
 
4.30
 
3.75
 
27,700,885
 
3.53
 
2.98
 
36,489,074
May
 
4.11
 
3.17
 
19,466,095
 
3.41
 
2.55
 
31,208,718
June
 
3.57
 
2.98
 
28,330,810
 
2.93
 
2.41
 
34,863,799
July
 
3.12
 
1.96
 
22,265,551
 
2.49
 
1.50
 
39,568,700
August
 
2.08
 
1.10
 
32,492,393
 
1.59
 
0.84
 
42,765,085
September
 
1.82
 
1.13
 
30,292,786
 
1.38
 
0.85
 
34,995,630
October
 
1.65
 
1.03
 
33,972,647
 
1.27
 
0.78
 
39,843,554
November
 
1.50
 
1.08
 
39,786,060
 
1.13
 
0.81
 
23,973,532
December
 
1.27
 
0.95
 
42,431,114
 
0.95
 
0.68
 
34,666,191

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     56




Our 6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures are listed and posted for trading on the TSX under the symbol "PGF.DB.B". The following table sets forth certain trading information for our 6.25% Series B Convertible Debentures in 2015 as reported by the TSX.
 
 
6.25% SERIES B CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
 
 
($)
High
 
($)
Low
 
Volume
January
 
99.88
 
89.73
 
5,139,000
February
 
96.55
 
93.30
 
3,921,500
March
 
96.50
 
94.00
 
1,290,000
April
 
97.95
 
95.00
 
1,638,000
May
 
99.93
 
97.50
 
3,370,000
June
 
99.70
 
98.05
 
3,818,000
July
 
98.76
 
87.73
 
3,793,000
August
 
90.00
 
71.00
 
2,449,000
September
 
77.97
 
74.00
 
3,201,900
October
 
85.00
 
74.00
 
1,394,000
November
 
84.00
 
81.01
 
1,821,000
December
 
83.50
 
70.62
 
2,823,000
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The name, jurisdiction of residence, position held and principal occupation for the previous five years of each of our directors and officers are set out below:
Name and Jurisdiction of Residence
Position with Pengrowth
Principal Occupation
 
 
 
John B. Zaozirny(2) 
Alberta, Canada
Chairman and Director
(Director since 1988)
(1)
Vice Chairman of Canaccord Genuity Corp.
 
 
 
Derek W. Evans
Alberta, Canada
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Director since 2009)
(1)
President and Chief Executive Officer of Pengrowth.
 
 
 
Margaret L. Byl(3)(4) 
Alberta, Canada
Director
(Director since 2014)
Executive Director, Alberta Innovates since 2015; prior thereto Corporate Director since December 2014; prior thereto, Executive Coach, EP Consulting Inc. since 2012; prior thereto, Vice President, ERP Consolidation of Suncor Energy Inc.
 
 
 
Wayne K. Foo(2)(4) 
Alberta, Canada
Director
(Director since 2006)
(1)
Chief Executive Officer of Parex Resources Inc. (energy company) since January 2015; prior thereto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parex Resources Inc.
 
 
 
Kelvin B. Johnston(3)(4) 
Alberta, Canada
Director
(Director since 2012)
President of Wylander Crude Corp. and Vice President, Corporate Development of Lakeview Energy Ltd.
 
 
 
James D. McFarland(3)(5) 
Alberta, Canada
Director
(Director since 2010)
(1)
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Valeura Energy Inc. and its predecessor PanWestern Energy Inc. (energy company).
 
 
 
Michael S. Parrett(2)(5)(6) 
Ontario, Canada
Director
(Director since 2004)
(1)
Business Consultant and Corporate Director.
 
 
 
A. Terence Poole(5) 
Alberta, Canada
Director
(Director since 2005)
(1)
Business Consultant and Corporate Director.
 
 
 
Jamie C. Sokalsky(4)(5) 
Ontario, Canada
Director
(Director since 2015)
Corporate Director since September 2014; prior thereto, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrick Gold Corporation from June 2012 to September 2014; prior thereto, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Barrick Gold Corporation.
 
 
 
D. Michael G. Stewart(2)(3) 
Alberta, Canada
Director
(Director since 2006)
(1)
Corporate Director.
 
 
 
Gillian I. Basford
Alberta, Canada
Vice President, Human Resources
Vice President, Human Resources of Pengrowth.
 
 
 

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     57




Name and Jurisdiction of Residence
Position with Pengrowth
Principal Occupation
Douglas C. Bowles
Alberta, Canada
Vice President and Controller
Vice President and Controller of Pengrowth.
 
 
 
Stephen J. De Maio 
Alberta, Canada
Senior Vice President, Thermal Operations
Senior Vice President, Thermal Operations of Pengrowth since May 2015; prior thereto Vice President In-Situ Development & Operations of Pengrowth.
 
 
 
D. Dean Evans
Alberta, Canada
Vice President and Treasurer
Vice President and Treasurer of Pengrowth since August 2012 and prior thereto Treasurer of Pengrowth.
 
 
 
Andrew D. Grasby
Alberta, Canada
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Pengrowth since February 2012; prior thereto Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Pengrowth.
 
 
 
Randall S. Steele
Alberta, Canada
Senior Vice President, Conventional Operations
Senior Vice President, Conventional Operations of Pengrowth since May 2015; prior thereto General Manager, Conventional Operations of Pengrowth since 2013; prior thereto General Manager, Swan Hills of Pengrowth.
 
 
 
Christopher G. Webster
Alberta, Canada
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer of Pengrowth.
Notes:
(1)
Denotes year first appointed as a director of Pengrowth Corporation, a predecessor of ours. Each of the directors has agreed to serve as such until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successor is duly appointed.
(2)
Member of Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
(3)
Member of Compensation Committee.
(4)
Member of Reserves, Health, Safety and Environment Committee.
(5)
Member of Audit and Risk Committee.
(6)
Mr. Parrett was a director of Mongolia Minerals Corporation (a private company involved in mining investments in Mongolia) which filed for protection under the CCAA in June, 2014.
As at December 31, 2015, the foregoing directors and officers, as a group, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, 2,607,898 Common Shares or approximately 0.48 percent of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and held rights and options to acquire a further 4,652,629 Common Shares (assuming 100 percent vesting of all performance-based rights). The information as to shares beneficially owned, not being within our knowledge, has been furnished by the respective individuals.
The term of office for each director expires at the next annual meeting of Shareholders.
Corporate Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Personal Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions
No director or executive officer is as at the date hereof, or has been within ten years of the date hereof, a director or chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company, including us, that:
(a)
while the director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer was the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or
(b)
was subject to a cease trade or similar order, or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
Other than as set out above, no current director or executive officer or securityholder holding a sufficient number of our securities to affect materially our control has, within the last ten years prior to the date hereof, been a director or executive officer of any company (including us) that, while such person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets.
In addition, no current director or executive officer or securityholder holding a sufficient number of our securities to affect materially our control has, within the last ten years prior to the date hereof, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the director, officer or securityholder.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     58




No current director or executive officer or securityholder holding a sufficient number of our securities to affect materially control of us has been subject to: (i) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (ii) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision.
AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE
The Audit and Risk Committee is appointed annually by our Board of Directors. The responsibilities and duties of the Audit and Risk Committee are set forth in the Audit and Risk Committee Terms of Reference attached hereto as Schedule III. The following table sets forth the name of each of the current members of our Audit and Risk Committee, whether such member is independent and financially literate, as those terms are defined in National Instrument 52‑110 Audit Committees, and the relevant education and experience of each member:
Name
Independent
Financially Literate
Relevant Education and Experience
 
 
 
 
James D. McFarland
Yes
Yes
Mr. McFarland has more than 43 years' experience in the oil and gas industry, most recently as President, Chief Executive Officer, director and co-founder of Valeura Energy Inc., a TSX listed issuer. Prior thereto Mr. McFarland was President, Chief Executive Officer, director and a co-founder of Verenex Energy Inc., a TSX listed issuer. He has served in senior executive roles as Managing Director of Southern Pacific Petroleum N.L. in Australia (an Australian Securities Exchange listed issuer), President and Chief Operating Officer of Husky Oil Limited (a TSX listed issuer) and in a wide range of upstream and corporate functions in an earlier 23-year career with Imperial Oil Limited and other ExxonMobil affiliates in Canada, the US and western Europe. Mr. McFarland currently serves as a director of MEG Energy Corp. and is a past director of Aventura Energy Inc., Vermilion Energy Trust and Vermilion Resources Ltd. (all TSX-listed issuers). Mr. McFarland is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, the Society of Petroleum Engineers International, the Program Committee of the World Petroleum Council and the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is also a past member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr. McFarland received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Queen's University and a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alberta.
 
 
 
 
Michael S. Parrett
Yes
Yes
Mr. Parrett currently serves as a director of Stillwater Mining Company, a NYSE listed company and Centerra Gold Inc., a TSX listed company. He formerly served as a director of (Chairman 2010-2013) Mongolia Minerals Corporation and as a director of Sunshine Silver Mines Corporation, both private corporations. He was formerly Chairman of Gabriel Resources Limited, President of Rio Algom Limited and prior to that Chief Financial Officer of Rio Algom and Falconbridge Limited. Mr. Parrett has also acted as an independent consultant providing advisory service to various companies in Canada and the United States. Mr. Parrett is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from York University.
 
 
 
 
A. Terence Poole
Yes
Yes
Mr. Poole brings extensive senior financial management, accounting, capital and debt market experience to Pengrowth. He retired from Nova Chemicals Corporation in 2006 where he had held various senior management positions including Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development. Mr. Poole currently serves on the board of directors for Methanex Corporation. Mr. Poole received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation.
 
 
 
 
Jamie C. Sokalsky
Yes
Yes
Mr. Sokalsky currently serves as the Chairman of, and as the Chair of the audit committee of, Probe Metals Inc., a TSX-V listed company. He is currently a member of the audit committees of Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited and Royal Gold Inc., both TSX-listed companies. He was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrick Gold Corporation (2012-2014) and prior to that, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Barrick Gold Corporation (1999-2012). He is the former Chairman of Probe Mining Limited. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (honours) from Lakehead University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     59




Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table provides information about the aggregate fees billed to us for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP during fiscal 2015 and 2014:
 
 
2015
($thousands)
 
2014
($thousands)
Audit Fees
 
962
 
955
Audit Related Fees
 
-
 
-
Tax Fees
 
39
 
182
All Other Fees
 
102
 
143
Total
 
1,103
 
1,280
Audit Fees
Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of our annual financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees normally include due diligence reviews in connection with acquisitions, research of accounting and audit-related issues and the completion of audits required by contracts to which we are a party.
Tax Fees
During 2015 and 2014 the services provided in this category included assistance and advice in relation to the preparation of income tax returns for us and our subsidiaries, tax advice and planning and commodity tax consultation.
All Other Fees
During 2015 and 2014 the services provided in this category relate to translation of financial statements, management discussion and analysis and other regulatory filings into French.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Pengrowth has adopted the following policies and procedures with respect to the pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by KPMG LLP. The Audit and Risk Committee approves a schedule which summarizes the services to be provided that the Audit and Risk Committee believes to be typical, recurring or otherwise likely to be provided by KPMG LLP. The schedule generally covers the period between the adoption of the schedule and the end of the year, but at the option of the Audit and Risk Committee, may cover a shorter or longer period. The list of services is sufficiently detailed as to the particular services to be provided to ensure that: (i) the Audit and Risk Committee knows precisely what services it is being asked to pre-approve; and (ii) it is not necessary for any member of Pengrowth's management to make a judgment as to whether a proposed service fits within the pre-approved services. Services that arise that were not contemplated in the schedule must be pre-approved by the Audit and Risk Committee chairman or a delegate of the Audit and Risk Committee. The full Audit and Risk Committee is informed of the services at its next meeting.
Pengrowth has not approved any non-audit services on the basis of the de minimis exemptions. All non-audit services are pre-approved by the Audit and Risk Committee in accordance with the pre-approval policy referenced herein.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Our Board of Directors supervises our management of our business and affairs. The Board of Directors approves significant strategic operational decisions and all decisions relating to:
the issuance of additional Common Shares;
material acquisitions and dispositions of properties;
material capital expenditures;
borrowing; and
the payment of dividends.
Circumstances may arise where members of our Board of Directors serve as directors or officers of corporations which are in competition to our interests. The Board of Directors reviews potential conflicts of interest at each meeting. No assurances can be given that opportunities

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     60




identified by such board members will be provided to us. In addition, some members of our senior management team sit as directors of other corporations. Any such positions must be disclosed to the Board of Directors and approved by the Chief Executive Officer.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are sometimes named as a defendant in litigation. The nature of these claims is usually related to settlement of normal operational or labour issues. The outcome of such claims against us are not determinable at this time, however they are not expected to have a materially adverse effect on us as a whole. We are not, and have not been at any time within the most recently completed financial year, a party to any legal proceedings, known or contemplated, where the damages involved, excluding interest and costs, exceed ten percent of our assets.
See "Risk Factors - We may become involved in, named a as a party to, or be the subject of, various legal proceedings including regulatory proceedings, tax proceedings and legal actions, related to personal injuries, property damage, property tax, land rights, the environment and contract disputes".
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Other than as discussed herein, there are no material interests, direct or indirect, of any of our directors, executive officers, senior officers, any direct or indirect Shareholder who beneficially owns, or who exercises control over, more than 10 percent of our outstanding Common Shares or any known associate or affiliate of such persons, in any transaction within the three most recently completed financial years or during the current financial year that has materially affected or is reasonably expected to materially affect us.
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS
As of the date hereof, the directors and officers of GLJ, as a group, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than one percent of the outstanding Common Shares.
KPMG LLP are our auditors and have confirmed that they are independent with respect to us within the meaning of the relevant rules and related interpretations prescribed by the relevant professional bodies in Canada and any applicable legislation or regulations and also that they are independent accountants with respect to us under all relevant U.S. professional and regulatory standards.
AUDITORS, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares is Computershare Trust Company of Canada at its principal office in the City of Toronto, Ontario. Our auditors are KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants in Calgary, Alberta.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
The only material contracts entered into by us or Pengrowth Energy Trust during the most recently completed financial year, or before the most recently completed financial year and still in effect, other than during the ordinary course of business, are as follows:
(i)
the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 30, 2015 between Pengrowth and a syndicate of eleven financial institutions concerning the Credit Facility as amended by an amending agreement dated December 10, 2015;
(ii)
the Note Purchase Agreement dated October 18, 2012 concerning the 2012 Senior Notes;
(iii)
the Note Purchase Agreement dated May 11, 2010 concerning the 2010 Senior Notes;
(iv)
the Note Purchase Agreement dated August 21, 2008 concerning the 2008 Senior Notes; and
(v)
the Note Purchase Agreement dated July 26, 2007 concerning the 2007 US Senior Notes.
Copies of these contracts have been filed by us on SEDAR and are available through the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
CODE OF ETHICS
Pengrowth has adopted a code of ethics, as that term is defined in Form 40-F under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Code of Ethics") that applies to Pengrowth's management, including its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and principal accounting officers. The Code of Ethics is available for viewing on our website www.pengrowth.com under the name "Code of Business Conduct and

 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     61




Ethics", and is available in print to any Shareholder who requests it. Requests for copies of the Code of Ethics should be made by contacting: Investor Relations, Pengrowth Energy Corporation, Suite 2100, 222 – 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 0B4.
The Board adopted an amended and restated Code of Ethics on November 4, 2015. All Directors, officers, employees, consultants and contractors are required to accept the Code of Ethics annually.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, Pengrowth has not granted any waivers (including implicit waivers) from the Code of Ethics in respect of its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or its principal accounting officers.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Pengrowth has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
As a Canadian reporting issuer with securities listed on the TSX and the NYSE, Pengrowth has in place a system of corporate governance practices which complies with Canadian securities laws and the TSX corporate governance guidelines as well as the corporate governance rules of the NYSE applicable to foreign private issuers. Pengrowth qualifies as a foreign private issuer under SEC rules and therefore only certain of the NYSE rules are applicable to Pengrowth. However, Pengrowth benchmarks its policies and procedures against major North American entities, with a view to adopting the best practices when appropriate to its circumstances.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted and published a Corporate Governance Policy which affirms Pengrowth's commitment to maintaining a high standard of corporate governance. This policy is published on Pengrowth's website at www.pengrowth.com. The Board of Directors of the Corporation has also adopted Terms of Reference for each of an Audit and Risk Committee, a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Reserves, Health, Safety and Environment Committee, a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, a Corporate Disclosure Policy and a Policy on Trading in Securities, each of which is published on Pengrowth's website, and is available in print to any Shareholder who requests it. The Audit and Risk Committee's Terms of Reference are attached hereto as Schedule III. From time to time, special committees of the Board of Directors are formed with prescribed mandates.
There is only one significant way in which Pengrowth's corporate governance practices differ from those required to be followed by domestic United States issuers under the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The NYSE Listed Company Manual requires shareholder approval of all equity compensation plans and any material revisions to such plans, regardless of whether the securities to be delivered under such plans are newly issued or purchased on the open market, subject to a few limited exceptions. In contrast, the TSX rules require shareholder approval of equity compensation plans only when such plans involve newly issued securities. Additionally, if an equity compensation plan provides a procedure for its amendment, the TSX rules require shareholder approval of amendments only where the amendment involves a reduction in the exercise price or an extension of the term of options held by insiders.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information, including directors' and officers' remuneration, the principal holders of Common Shares and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, is contained in our Management Information Circular which relates to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 28, 2016. Additional financial information is contained in our comparative consolidated financial statements and associated management's discussion and analysis for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Additional information relating to us may be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
For additional copies of the Annual Information Form and the materials listed in the preceding paragraphs please contact:
Investor Relations
Pengrowth Energy Corporation
Suite 2100, 222 – 3rd Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0B4
Telephone: (403) 233-0224
Toll Free: (855) 336-8814
Facsimile: (403) 265-6251
Website: www.pengrowth.com
E-mail: investorrelations@pengrowth.com


 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     62




APPENDIX A
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE - CONTINGENT RESOURCES
The Corporation has engaged GLJ to prepare Contingent Resource evaluations of its Lindbergh and Groundbirch properties. The following is a brief description of these two properties and a summary of those evaluations.
Lindbergh Oil Sands Reserves and Contingent Resources
The Lindbergh property is described above under "Principal Producing Properties - Lindbergh".
Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves have been assigned within the approved project area. Additional Undeveloped Reserves have been assigned in the Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves categories within the expansion application project area. Furthermore, there are Contingent Resources for the area beyond the reserves. GLJ has updated its evaluation of the reserves and Contingent Resources for Lindbergh as of December 31, 2015. The evaluation was limited to portions of the reservoir amenable to SAGD. The profitability of the commercial project will be sensitive to oil prices and reservoir quality.
The tables below summarize the estimated volumes and net present value of Future Net Revenue for the Company Interest reserves and Contingent Resources attributable to the Lindbergh property based upon forecast prices and costs. Contingent Resources are reported by category and project maturity sub-class, unrisked and risked for chance of development. The estimates are in accordance with the definitions and guidelines in the COGE Handbook and NI 51-101. Please note that reserves and Contingent Resources involve different risks associated with achieving commerciality. Under the fiscal conditions, including commodity price and cost assumptions, applied in the estimation of reserves, the likelihood that a project will achieve commerciality is effectively 100 percent, whereas the likelihood of a Contingent Resource achieving commerciality will be less than 100 percent.
Summary of Gross Bitumen Reserves as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Bitumen - Reserves Category
 
Total Proved

Total Proved Plus
Probable

Total Proved Plus
Probable Plus Possible

Gross Reserves (Mbbl)
103,351

263,396

370,627


Summary of Gross Bitumen Contingent Resources as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Bitumen - Contingent Resource Category
Project Maturity Sub-Class(1)
Low Estimate

Best Estimate

High Estimate

Development Pending(2) - Unrisked (Mbbl)
16,226

65,888

100,299

Chance of Development
95
%
95
%
95
%
Development Pending - Risked (Mbbl)
15,415

62,593

95,284

Development Unclarified(3) - Unrisked (Mbbl)
32,010

63,784

94,423

Chance of Development
58
%
58
%
58
%
Development Unclarified - Risked (Mbbl)
18,438

36,740

54,388

Notes:
(1)
Project maturity describes the stage of an exploration or development project and broadly corresponds to the chance of commerciality of the project. The project maturity sub-classes (in order of increasing chance of commerciality) are: development not viable, development unclarified, development on hold and development pending. The boundaries between the maturity sub-classes represent "decision gates" that reflect the actions (business decisions) required by the resource owner to move the project up the maturity "ladder" toward commercial production. The project maturity sub-class is accompanied by an estimate of the probability of progressing to the next level of maturity, which is independent of the uncertainty associated with the range of recoverable volumes.
(2)
Development Pending describes the status of a project where resolution of the final conditions for development is being actively pursued (high chance of development).
(3)
Development Unclarified describes the status of a project where the evaluation is incomplete and there is ongoing activity to resolve any risks and uncertainties.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | I




Summary of Net Bitumen Reserves as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Bitumen - Reserves Category
 
Total Proved

Total Proved Plus
Probable

Total Proved Plus
Probable Plus Possible

Gross Reserves (Mbbl)
90,213

221,203

297,558


Summary of Net Bitumen Contingent Resources as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Bitumen - Contingent Resource Category
Project Maturity Sub-Class(1)
Low Estimate

Best Estimate

High Estimate

Development Pending(2) - Unrisked (Mbbl)
14,288

55,124

84,356

Chance of Development
95
%
95
%
95
%
Development Pending - Risked (Mbbl)
13,574

52,368

80,138

Development Unclarified(3) - Unrisked (Mbbl)
29,214

58,258

84,394

Chance of Development
58
%
58
%
58
%
Development Unclarified - Risked (Mbbl)
16,827

33,557

48,611

Notes:
(1)
Project maturity describes the stage of an exploration or development project and broadly corresponds to the chance of commerciality of the project. The project maturity sub-classes (in order of increasing chance of commerciality) are: development not viable, development unclarified, development on hold and development pending. The boundaries between the maturity sub-classes represent "decision gates" that reflect the actions (business decisions) required by the resource owner to move the project up the maturity "ladder" toward commercial production. The project maturity sub-class is accompanied by an estimate of the probability of progressing to the next level of maturity, which is independent of the uncertainty associated with the range of recoverable volumes.
(2)
Development Pending describes the status of a project where resolution of the final conditions for development is being actively pursued (high chance of development).
(3)
Development Unclarified describes the status of a project where the evaluation is incomplete and there is ongoing activity to resolve any risks and uncertainties.

Summary of Bitumen Reserves
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Before Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year) - $MM
Reserves Category
0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Total Proved
2,173

1,262

808

563

420

Total Proved Plus Probable
5,640

2,842

1,559

913

560

Total Proved Plus Probable Plus Possible
10,261

4,224

2,098

1,197

752



 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | II




Summary of Bitumen Contingent Resources
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
 
 
Before Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year) - $MM
Project Maturity Sub-Class
 
 
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Development Pending
Low Estimate
Unrisked
264
73
19
4
-
 
 
Chance of Development
95%
95%
95%
95%
95%
 
 
Risked
251
69
18
4
-
 
Best Estimate
Unrisked
1,229
606
337
200
123
 
 
Chance of Development
95%
95%
95%
95%
95%
 
 
Risked
1,168
576
320
190
117
 
High Estimate
Unrisked
1,262
1,119
680
378
201
 
 
Chance of Development
95%
95%
95%
95%
95%
 
 
Risked
1,199
1,063
646
360
191
Development Unclarified
Low Estimate
Unrisked
283
(6)
(63)
(64)
(53)
 
 
Chance of Development
58%
58%
58%
58%
58%
 
 
Risked
163
(3)
(36)
(37)
(30)
 
Best Estimate
Unrisked
1,039
275
38
(33)
(48)
 
 
Chance of Development
58%
58%
58%
58%
58%
 
 
Risked
598
158
22
(19)
(28)
 
High Estimate
Unrisked
2,235
630
165
22
(22)
 
 
Chance of Development
58%
58%
58%
58%
58%
 
 
Risked
1,287
363
95
13
(13)
Note:
(1)
An estimate of risked net present value of future net revenue of Contingent Resources is preliminary in nature and is provided to assist the reader in reaching an opinion on the merit and likelihood of the Corporation proceeding with the required investment. It includes Contingent Resources that are considered too uncertain with respect to the chance of development to be classified as reserves. There is uncertainty that the risked net present value of future net revenue will be realized.
Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves have been assigned within the region of the current and proposed commercial development areas where the pool has been sufficiently delineated. The Proved and Probable Reserves attributed to the Lindbergh property have been included in the reserves disclosed under "Statement of Oil and Gas Reserves and Reserves Data".
Contingent Resources have been assigned to the remaining areas of the reservoir within the property that meet certain minimum criteria. Contingent Resources are estimated on the basis of a technically feasible SAGD recovery project having been defined. However, there is uncertainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the Contingent Resources.
A significant portion of the resource volumes are still classified as a Contingent Resource rather than a reserve due to the following contingencies:
Higher evaluation well density – additional drilling within the area of the known accumulation is required to allow further project and reserves definition.
Regulatory approval of the EIA expansion application to 30,000 bbl/d.
Firm development plans and company commitment for future development phases – confirmation of corporate intent to proceed with defined expansion plans, beyond the initial expansion phase, within an acceptable time period.
Final project design and sanctioning for any potential future expansion phases.
The Contingent Resources are evaluated based on the same fiscal conditions used in the assessment of reserves and, as such, are expected to be economic. They are estimated on the basis of established technology, namely the application of SAGD technology in sandstone reservoirs. We anticipate the contingencies mentioned above will be satisfied over time which should allow us to book some portion of the Contingent Resources as Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves in future years.
The development pending project maturity sub-class relates to the Contingent Resources assigned to areas of the reservoir around the edge of the main Lindbergh pool. It is an extension of the existing commercial development and within the area covered by the Phase 2 expansion application which is currently awaiting regulatory approval. Development pending Contingent Resources are also assigned to infill drilling between existing and future SAGD well pairs within the approved project area and the expansion area. There is a very high expectation that development will occur but requires a firm development plan and commitment by the Corporation to proceed with the required capital expenditure for additional wells, making use of existing and proposed expansion facility capacity. A chance of development of 95 percent has thus been assigned to these development pending Contingent Resources.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | III




The development unclarified project maturity sub-class relates to the Contingent Resources assigned to a standalone SAGD development on the Muriel Lake lands. The development unclarified Contingent Resources here are based on a pre-development study. The total Best Estimate capital cost to achieve commercial production is estimated to be $517 million with initial capital expenditures forecast in 2023 and production to commence in 2025. There is more risk associated with the chance of developing this portion of the project relating to the uncertainty in the economics, which requires high quality cost estimates, regulatory approval of a standalone development and the need for a firm development plan which will proceed in a reasonable timeframe. Based on these uncertainties, a chance of development of 58 percent has been assigned.
Groundbirch Reserves and Contingent Resources
The Groundbirch property is described above under "Principal Producing Properties - Groundbirch".
Commercial production at Groundbirch was established in 2010 and there are 17 wells currently producing. For those areas producing and immediately adjacent to existing wells, GLJ has assigned Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves. For areas outside of this and in prospective deeper intervals, GLJ has completed a Contingent Resource assessment. The expectation is to continue developing our lands with four to five wells per section in each of multiple layers to fully exploit the thick reservoir and keep our gas processing facility full. Should economic conditions warrant, consideration will be given to expanding our facility capacity and increasing the pace of development in the future. In evaluating reserves and Contingent Resources, as of December 31, 2015, the GLJ forecasts are consistent with this development scenario.
The tables below summarize the estimated volumes and net present value of Future Net Revenue for the Company Interest reserves and Contingent Resources attributable to the Groundbirch property based upon forecast prices and costs. Contingent Resources are reported by category and project maturity sub-class, unrisked and risked for chance of development. The estimates are in accordance with the definitions and guidelines in the COGE Handbook and NI 51-101. Please note that reserves and Contingent Resources involve different risks associated with achieving commerciality. Under the fiscal conditions, including commodity price and cost assumptions, applied in the estimation of reserves, the likelihood that a project will achieve commerciality is effectively 100 percent, whereas the likelihood of a Contingent Resource achieving commerciality will be less than 100 percent.
Summary of Gross Shale Gas Reserves as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Shale Gas - Reserves Category
 
Total Proved

Total Proved Plus
Probable

Total Proved Plus
Probable Plus Possible

Gross Reserves (MMcf)
120,911

693,117

843,914


Summary of Gross Shale Gas Contingent Resources as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Shale Gas - Contingent Resource Category
Project Maturity Sub-Class(1)
Low Estimate

Best Estimate

High Estimate

Development Pending(2) - Unrisked (MMcf)
121,030

200,267

276,654

Chance of Development
90
%
90
%
90
%
Development Pending - Risked
108,927

180,240

248,988

Development Unclarified(3) - Unrisked (MMcf)
191,100

680,992

914,009

Chance of Development
70
%
70
%
70
%
Development Unclarified - Risked (MMcf)
133,770

476,694

639,806

Notes:
(1)
Project maturity describes the stage of an exploration or development project and broadly corresponds to the chance of commerciality of the project. The project maturity sub-classes (in order of increasing chance of commerciality) are: development not viable, development unclarified, development on hold and development pending. The boundaries between the maturity sub-classes represent "decision gates" that reflect the actions (business decisions) required by the resource owner to move the project up the maturity "ladder" toward commercial production. The project maturity sub-class is accompanied by an estimate of the probability of progressing to the next level of maturity, which is independent of the uncertainty associated with the range of recoverable volumes.
(2)
Development Pending describes the status of a project where resolution of the final conditions for development is being actively pursued (high chance of development).
(3)
Development Unclarified describes the status of a project where the evaluation is incomplete and there is ongoing activity to resolve any risks and uncertainties.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | IV




Summary of Net Shale Gas Reserves as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Shale Gas - Reserves Category
 
Total Proved

Total Proved Plus
Probable

Total Proved Plus
Probable Plus Possible

Gross Reserves (MMcf)
105,834

581,947

700,767


Summary of Net Shale Gas Contingent Resources as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Shale Gas - Contingent Resource Category
Project Maturity Sub-Class(1)
Low Estimate

Best Estimate

High Estimate

Development Pending(2) - Unrisked (MMcf)
100,640

164,623

224,696

Chance of Development
90
%
90
%
90
%
Development Pending - Risked
90,576

148,161

202,226

Development Unclarified(3) - Unrisked (MMcf)
158,643

572,176

755,661

Chance of Development
70
%
70
%
70
%
Development Unclarified - Risked (MMcf)
111,050

400,523

528,963

Notes:
(1)
Project maturity describes the stage of an exploration or development project and broadly corresponds to the chance of commerciality of the project. The project maturity sub-classes (in order of increasing chance of commerciality) are: development not viable, development unclarified, development on hold and development pending. The boundaries between the maturity sub-classes represent "decision gates" that reflect the actions (business decisions) required by the resource owner to move the project up the maturity "ladder" toward commercial production. The project maturity sub-class is accompanied by an estimate of the probability of progressing to the next level of maturity, which is independent of the uncertainty associated with the range of recoverable volumes.
(2)
Development Pending describes the status of a project where resolution of the final conditions for development is being actively pursued (high chance of development).
(3)
Development Unclarified describes the status of a project where the evaluation is incomplete and there is ongoing activity to resolve any risks and uncertainties.

Summary of Shale Gas Reserves
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
Before Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year) - $MM
Reserves Category
0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Total Proved
203

104

57

31

16

Total Proved Plus Probable
1,600

624

279

129

56

Total Proved Plus Probable Plus Possible
2,279

819

365

180

90



 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | V




Summary of Shale Gas Contingent Resources
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as of December 31, 2015
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
 
 
 
Before Income Taxes Discounted at (%/year) - $MM
Project Maturity Sub-Class
 
 
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Development Pending
Low Estimate
Unrisked
235
71
20
3
(2)
 
 
Chance of Development
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
 
 
Risked
211
64
18
3
(2)
 
Best Estimate
Unrisked
474
131
38
8
(2)
 
 
Chance of Development
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
 
 
Risked
426
118
34
7
(1)
 
High Estimate
Unrisked
730
184
49
9
(4)
 
 
Chance of Development
90%
90%
90%
90%
90%
 
 
Risked
657
166
44
8
(3)
Development Unclarified
Low Estimate
Unrisked
460
151
55
21
8
 
 
Chance of Development
70%
70%
70%
70%
70%
 
 
Risked
322
106
38
15
6
 
Best Estimate
Unrisked
1,643
457
134
30
(7)
 
 
Chance of Development
70%
70%
70%
70%
70%
 
 
Risked
1,150
320
94
21
(5)
 
High Estimate
Unrisked
2,623
712
227
72
15
 
 
Chance of Development
70%
70%
70%
70%
70%
 
 
Risked
1,836
498
159
50
11
Note:
(1)
An estimate of risked net present value of future net revenue of Contingent Resources is preliminary in nature and is provided to assist the reader in reaching an opinion on the merit and likelihood of the Corporation proceeding with the required investment. It includes Contingent Resources that are considered too uncertain with respect to the chance of development to be classified as reserves. There is uncertainty that the risked net present value of future net revenue will be realized.
Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Possible Reserves have been assigned to existing wells and the adjacent undeveloped lands where the Montney reservoir has been sufficiently delineated and development is expected to occur in a reasonable timeframe. The Proved and Probable Reserves attributed to the Groundbirch property have been included in the reserves disclosed under "Statement of Oil and Gas Reserves and Reserves Data".
Contingent Resources are assigned on the basis of a technically feasible recovery project having been defined using established technology, which includes the drilling of horizontal wells and the application of multi-stage fracture techniques. These Contingent Resources are expected to be economic to develop. The Groundbirch Montney shale gas resource is in the early stage of evaluation and development. Contingent Resources are assigned by GLJ beyond those areas with reserves, to regions of the field where the zone is delineated to an appropriate level to understand the reservoir, and to remove reservoir risk. Additional drilling, completion and test data is required for planning and design purposes with respect to well spacing, pipeline and facility capacity and scheduling of further development. The reclassification of these Contingent Resources as reserves is contingent upon:
A positive commercial environment with respect to prices and capital costs;
The need for long term competitive drilling and completion costs;
Creation of a development plan that will proceed in an acceptable time period which involves an aggressive drilling pace and significant facility expansion; and
Corporate approval and commitment to spend the required capital to develop these Contingent Resources.
Pengrowth is currently actively pursuing resolution of these contingencies, however, there is uncertainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the Contingent Resources.
The Contingent Resources are sub-classified on the basis of their project maturity level as development pending and development unclarified. This is done as we step out further from the existing development and reflects the risk associated with the chance of development as it is forecast further into the future, requiring long term development plans and an ongoing capital commitment by the Corporation.
There is a high expectation that the development pending portion of the Contingent Resources will be produced and a chance of development of 90 percent has been assigned. This portion is an extension of the existing area where there is production and undeveloped reserves assigned. The uncertainties relate to longer term drilling and completion costs and a development plan and commitment by Pengrowth to pursue development within the next five year period.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | VI




There is a higher risk associated with the development unclarified Contingent Resources as development steps out further and onto separate lands. The development unclarified portion has been assigned a chance of development of 70 percent. Development planning in this area is in the pre-development study stage. There are uncertainties relating to the economics, timing of development, well spacing, optimum facility capacity and infrastructure needs. Evaluation is thus incomplete and ongoing.




 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     APPENDIX A | VII




SCHEDULE I
FORM 51-101F2
REPORT ON RESERVES DATA, CONTINGENT RESOURCES DATA
BY INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED RESERVES
EVALUATOR OR AUDITOR
To the board of directors of Pengrowth Energy Corporation (the "Corporation"):
1.
We have evaluated the Corporation's reserves data and contingent resources data as at December 31, 2015. The reserves data are estimates of proved reserves and probable reserves and related future net revenue as at December 31, 2015, estimated using forecast prices and costs. The contingent resources data are risked estimates of volume of contingent resources and related risked net present value of future net revenue as at December 31, 2015, estimated using forecast prices and costs.
2.
The reserves data and contingent resources data are the responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the reserves data and contingent resources data based on our evaluation.
3.
We carried out our evaluation in accordance with standards set out in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook as amended from time to time (the "COGE Handbook") maintained by the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (Calgary Chapter).
4.
Those standards require that we plan and perform an evaluation to obtain reasonable assurance as to whether the reserves data and contingent resources data are free of material misstatement. An evaluation also includes assessing whether the reserves data and contingent resources data are in accordance with principles and definitions presented in the COGE Handbook.
5.
The following table shows the net present value of future net revenue (before deduction of income taxes) attributed to proved plus probable reserves, estimated using forecast prices and costs and calculated using a discount rate of 10 percent, included in the reserves data of the Corporation evaluated for the year ended December 31, 2015, and identifies the respective portions thereof that we have evaluated and reported on to the Corporation's board of directors:
Independent Qualified
Reserves Evaluator or Auditor
Effective Date of Evaluation Report
Location of Reserves (Country or Foreign Geographic Area)
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue
(before income taxes, 10% discount rate - $MM)
Audited
Evaluated
Reviewed
Total
GLJ Petroleum Consultants
Dec. 31, 2015
Canada
-
3,268
-
3,268
6.
The following tables set forth the risked volume and risked net present value of future net revenue of contingent resources (before deduction of income taxes) attributed to contingent resources, estimated using forecast prices and costs and calculated using a discount rate of 10 percent, included in the Corporation's statement prepared in accordance with Form 51-101F1 and identifies the respective portions of the contingent resources data that we have evaluated and reported on to the Corporation's board of directors:
Classification
Independent Qualified
Reserves Evaluator or Auditor
Effective Date of Evaluation Report
Location of Reserves (Country or Foreign Geographic Area)
Risked Volume
(MMboe)
Risked Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue
(before income taxes, 10% discount rate - $MM)
Audited
Evaluated
Total
Development Pending Contingent Resources (2C)
GLJ Petroleum Consultants
Dec. 31, 2015
Canada
92.6
-
354
354
 
Classification
Independent Qualified
Reserves Evaluator or Auditor
Effective Date of Evaluation Report
Location of Reserves (Country or Foreign Geographic Area)
Risked Volume
(MMboe)
 
 
Development Unclarified
Contingent Resources (2C)
GLJ Petroleum Consultants
Dec. 31, 2015
Canada
116


 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE I | I




7.
In our opinion, the reserves data and the contingent resources data respectively evaluated by us have, in all material respects, been determined and are in accordance with the COGE Handbook, consistently applied. We express no opinion on the reserves data and the contingent resources data that we reviewed but did not audit or evaluate.
8.
We have no responsibility to update our reports referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6 for events and circumstances occurring after the effective date of our reports.
9.
Because the reserves data and the contingent resources data are based on judgments regarding future events, actual results will vary and the variations may be material.
Executed as to our report referred to above:
GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, February 23, 2016.
(signed) "Todd J. Ikeda"
Todd J. Ikeda, P.Eng.
Vice President


 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE I | II




SCHEDULE II
FORM 51-101F3
REPORT OF
MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS ON
RESERVES DATA AND OTHER INFORMATION
Management of Pengrowth Energy Corporation (the "Corporation") are responsible for the preparation and disclosure of information with respect to the Corporation’s oil and gas activities in accordance with securities regulatory requirements. This information includes reserves data, which are estimates of proved reserves and probable reserves and related future net revenue as at December 31, 2015, estimated using forecast prices and costs and includes contingent resources data, which are risked estimates of the volume of contingent resources and related risked net present value of future net revenue as at December 31, 2015, estimated using forecast prices and costs.
An independent qualified reserves evaluator has evaluated the Corporation's reserves data and contingent resources data. The report of the independent qualified reserves evaluator will be filed with securities regulatory authorities concurrently with this report.
The Reserves, Health, Safety and Environment Committee of the board of directors of the Corporation has:
(a)
reviewed the Corporation's procedures for providing information to the independent qualified reserves evaluator;
(b)
met with the independent qualified reserves evaluator to determine whether any restrictions affected the ability of the independent qualified reserves evaluator to report without reservation; and
(c)
reviewed the reserves data and the contingent resources data with management and the independent qualified reserves evaluator.
The Reserves, Health, Safety and Environment Committee of the board of directors has reviewed the Corporation's procedures for assembling and reporting other information associated with oil and gas activities and has reviewed that information with management. The board of directors has, on the recommendation of the Reserves, Health, Safety and Environment Committee, approved:
(a)
the content and filing with securities regulatory authorities of Form 51-101F1 containing reserves data and contingent resources data and other oil and gas information;
(b)
the filing of Form 51-101F2 which is the report of the independent qualified reserves evaluator on the reserves data, contingent resources data, or prospective resources data; and
(c)
the content and filing of this report.
Because the reserves data and contingent resources data are based on judgments regarding future events, actual results will vary and the variations may be material.
(signed) "Derek W. Evans"
 
(signed) "Randall S. Steele"
Derek W. Evans
 
Randall S. Steele
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Senior Vice President, Conventional Operations
 
 
 
(signed) "Wayne K. Foo"
 
(signed) "Kelvin B. Johnston"
Wayne K. Foo
 
Kelvin B. Johnston
Director
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
February 24, 2016
 
 

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE II




SCHEDULE III
AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE
TERMS OF REFERENCE
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION
Policies and Practices
Page
1 of 11

TERMS OF REFERENCE
AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE

OBJECTIVES
The Audit and Risk Committee (the "Committee") is appointed by the board of directors (the "Board") of Pengrowth Energy Corporation (the "Corporation") to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Corporation, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, are collectively referred to herein as "Pengrowth".
The Committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to:
monitor the performance of Pengrowth's internal audit function and the integrity of Pengrowth's financial reporting process and systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting, and legal compliance;
assist Board oversight of: (i) the integrity of Pengrowth's financial statements; (ii) Pengrowth's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iii) the performance of Pengrowth's internal audit function and independent auditors;
monitor the independence, qualification and performance of Pengrowth's external auditors;
provide an avenue of communication among the external auditors, the internal auditors, management and the Board; and
oversee Pengrowth’s risk management processes.
The Committee will continuously review and modify its terms of reference with regard to, and to reflect changes in, the business environment, industry standards on matters of corporate governance, additional standards which the Committee believes may be applicable to Pengrowth's business, the location of Pengrowth's business and its shareholders and the application of laws and policies.
COMPOSITION
Committee members must meet the requirements of applicable securities laws and each of the stock exchanges on which the shares of Pengrowth trade. The Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than six directors all of whom shall be "independent" and "financially literate", as those terms are defined in National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees ("NI 52-110") of the Canadian Securities Administrators (as set out in Schedule "A" hereto), Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as set out in Schedule "B" hereto), and Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (as set out in Schedule "C" hereto), as applicable, and as "financially literate" is interpreted by the Board in its business judgement. In addition, at least one member of the Committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise as defined by paragraph (8) of general instruction B to Form 40‑F and as interpreted by the Board in its business judgement.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board as members of the Committee and shall continue as such until their successors are appointed or until they cease to be directors of the Corporation. At any time, the Board may fill any vacancy in the membership of the Committee.
The chair of the Committee (the "Chair") will be appointed by the Board or, if one is not appointed, the members of the Committee may elect a chair by vote of a majority of the membership of such committee.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | I





MEETINGS AND MINUTES
The Committee shall meet at least four times annually, or more frequently if determined necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
A meeting may be called by any member of the Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Corporation. A notice of the time and place of every meeting of the Committee shall be given in writing to each member of the Committee at least two business days prior to the time fixed for such meeting, unless notice of a meeting is waived by all members entitled to attend. Attendance of a member of the Committee at a meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of the meeting except where a member attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting was not lawfully called.
A quorum for meetings of the Committee shall require a majority of its members present in person or by telephone. If the Chair of the Committee is not present at any meeting of the Committee, one of the other members of the Committee present at the meeting will be chosen to preside by a majority of the members of the Committee present at that meeting.
The President and CEO of the Corporation shall be available to advise the Committee, shall receive notice of meetings and may attend meetings of the Committee at the invitation of the Chair. Other management representatives, as well as Pengrowth's internal and external auditors, shall be invited to attend as necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chair of the Committee shall hold in camera sessions, without management present, at every meeting of the Committee.
Decisions of the Committee shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.
The Committee shall appoint a member of the Committee, the Corporate Secretary or another officer of Pengrowth to act as secretary at each meeting for the purpose of recording the minutes of each meeting.
The Committee shall provide the Board with a summary of all meetings together with a copy of the minutes from such meetings. Where minutes have not yet been prepared, the Chair shall provide the Board with oral reports on the activities of the Committee. All information reviewed and discussed by the Committee at any meeting shall be referred to in the minutes and made available for examination by the Board upon request to the Chair.
SCOPE, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MANDATORY DUTIES
REVIEW PROCEDURES
Pursuant to the requirements of NI 52-110 and other applicable laws, the Committee will:
1.
Review and reassess the adequacy of the Committee's terms of reference at least annually, submit the terms of reference to the Board for approval and have the document published annually in Pengrowth's annual information circular and at least every three years in accordance with the regulations of the United States' Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.
Prior to filing or public distribution, review, discuss with management and the internal and external auditors and recommend to the Board for approval, Pengrowth's audited annual financial statements, annual earnings press releases, annual information form, all financial statements including the related management's discussion and analysis required in prospectuses and other offering memoranda, financial statements required by regulatory authorities, all prospectuses and all documents which may be incorporated by reference into a prospectus, including without limitation, the annual information circular. Approve, on behalf of the Board, Pengrowth's interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis and interim earnings press releases. This review should include discussions with management, the internal auditors and the external auditors of significant issues regarding accounting principles, practices and judgements. Discuss any significant changes to Pengrowth's accounting principles and any items required to be communicated by the external auditors in accordance with Assurance and Related Services Guideline #11 (AuG-11).
3.
Ensure that adequate procedures are in place for the review of Pengrowth's public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from Pengrowth's financial statements, other than the public disclosure referred to in paragraph 2 above and periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures.





 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | II





4.
Be responsible for reviewing the disclosure contained in Pengrowth's annual information form as required by Form 52-110F1 Audit Committee Information Required in an AIF, attached to NI 52-110. If proxies are solicited for the election of directors of Pengrowth, the Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that Pengrowth's information circular includes a cross-reference to the sections in Pengrowth's annual information form that contain the information required by Form 52-110F1.
EXTERNAL AUDITORS
1.
The Committee shall advise the external auditors of their accountability to the Committee and the Board as representatives of Pengrowth’s shareholders to whom the external auditors are ultimately responsible. The external auditors shall report directly to the Committee. The Committee is directly responsible for overseeing the work of the external auditors, shall review at least annually the independence and performance of the external auditors and shall annually recommend to the Board the appointment of the external auditors or approve any discharge of auditors when circumstances warrant. The Committee shall, on an annual basis, obtain and review a report by the external auditor describing: (i) the external auditor's internal quality-control procedures; (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the external auditors, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the external auditors, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (iii) all relationships between the independent auditor and Pengrowth.
2.
Approve the fees and other compensation to be paid to the external auditors.
3.
Pre-approve all services to be provided to Pengrowth or its subsidiary entities by Pengrowth's external auditors and all related terms of engagement.
OTHER COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
1.
Establish procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by Pengrowth regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of Pengrowth of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
2.
Review and approve Pengrowth's hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditors of Pengrowth.
DISCRETIONARY DUTIES
The Committee's responsibilities may, at the Board's discretion, also include the following:
REVIEW PROCEDURES
1.
In consultation with management, the internal auditors and the external auditors, consider the integrity of Pengrowth's financial reporting processes and controls and the performance of Pengrowth's internal financial accounting staff; discuss significant financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor, control and report such exposures; and review significant findings prepared by the internal or external auditors together with management's responses.
2.
Review, with financial management, the internal auditors and the external auditors, Pengrowth's policies relating to risk management and risk assessment.
3.
Meet separately with each of management, the internal auditors and the external auditors to discuss difficulties or concerns, specifically: (i) any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management; (ii) any changes required in the planned scope of the audit; and (iii) the responsibilities, budget, and staffing of the internal audit function, and report to the Board on such meetings.
4.
Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Committee.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | III





INTERNAL AUDITORS
1.
Review the annual audit plans of the internal auditors.
2.
Review the significant findings prepared by the internal auditors and recommendations issued by any external party relating to internal audit issues, together with management's response.
3.
Review the adequacy of the resources of the internal auditors to ensure the objectivity and independence of the internal audit function.
4.
Consult with management on management's appointment, replacement, reassignment or dismissal of the internal auditors.
5.
Ensure that the internal auditors have access to the Chairman of the Board and the President and CEO.
EXTERNAL AUDITORS
1.
On an annual basis, the Committee should review and discuss with the external auditors all significant relationships they have with Pengrowth that could impair the auditors' independence.
2.
The Committee shall review the external auditors audit plan – discuss scope, staffing, locations, and reliance upon management and general audit approach.
3.
Consider the external auditors' judgments about the quality and appropriateness of Pengrowth's accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting.
4.
Be responsible for the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding financial performance.
5.
Ensure compliance by the external auditors with the requirements set forth in National Instrument 52 108 Auditor Oversight.
6.
Ensure that the external auditors are participants in good standing with the Canadian Public Accountability Board ("CPAB") and participate in the oversight programs established by the CPAB from time to time and that the external auditors have complied with any restrictions or sanctions imposed by the CPAB as of the date of the applicable auditor's report relating to Pengrowth's annual audited financial statements.
7.
Monitor compliance with the lead auditor rotation requirements of Regulation S-X.
RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Review and recommend for approval by the Board changes considered advisable, after consultation with officers of the Corporation, to the Corporation’s policies relating to:
(a)
The risks inherent in the Corporation’s businesses, facilities, strategic direction;
(b)
The overall risk management strategies (including insurance coverage);
(c)
The risk retention philosophy and the resulting uninsured exposure of the Corporation; and
(d)
The loss prevention policies, risk management and hedging programs, and standard and accountabilities of the Corporation in the context of competitive and operational considerations.
RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESSES
Review with management at least annually the Corporation’s processes to identify, monitor, evaluate and address important enterprise-wide business risks.

 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | IV





FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Review with management activity related to management of financial risks to the Corporation.
OTHER COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
1.
On at least an annual basis, review with Pengrowth's legal counsel any legal matters that could have a significant impact on the organization's financial statements, Pengrowth's compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and inquiries received from regulators or governmental agencies.
2.
Annually prepare a report to shareholders as required by the United States' Securities and Exchange Commission; the report should be included in Pengrowth's annual information circular.
3.
Ensure due compliance with each obligation to certify, on an annual and interim basis, internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations.
4.
Review all exceptions to established policies, procedures and internal controls of Pengrowth, which have been approved by any two officers of Pengrowth.
5.
Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, Pengrowth's by-laws, and other governing law as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
6.
Maintain minutes of meetings and periodically report to the Board on significant results of the foregoing activities.
COMMUNICATION, AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE ADVISORS AND EXPENSES
The Committee shall have direct access to such officers and employees of the Corporation, including the Corporation's internal and external auditors and to any other consultants or advisors, as well as to such information respecting Pengrowth it considers necessary to perform its duties and responsibilities.
Any employee may bring before the Committee, on a confidential basis, any concerns relating to matters over which the Committee has oversight responsibilities.
The Committee has the authority to engage the external auditors, independent legal counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties and to set the compensation for any auditors, counsel and other advisors, such engagement to be at the Corporation's expense. The Corporation shall be responsible for all other expenses of the Committee that are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee in order to carry out its duties.
As last amended by the Board of Pengrowth on November 4, 2015.
Last reviewed and approved by the Board of Pengrowth on November 4, 2015.


 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | V





Schedule "A"
National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees
Meaning of "Independence"
1.
An audit committee member is independent if he or she has no direct or indirect material relationship with Pengrowth.
2.
For the purposes of paragraph 1, a "material relationship" is a relationship which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a member's independent judgment.
3.
Despite paragraph 2, the following individuals are considered to have a material relationship with Pengrowth:
(a)
an individual who is, or has been within the last three years, an employee or executive officer of Pengrowth;
(b)
an individual whose immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of Pengrowth;
(c)
an individual who:
i.
is a partner of a firm that is Pengrowth's internal or external auditor,
ii.
is an employee of that firm, or
iii.
was within the last three years a partner or employee of that firm and personally worked on Pengrowth's audit within that time;
(d)
an individual whose spouse, minor child or stepchild, or child or stepchild who shares a home with the individual:
i.
is a partner of a firm that is Pengrowth's internal or external auditor,
ii.
is an employee of that firm and participates in its audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice, or
iii.
was within the last three years a partner or employee of that firm and personally worked on Pengrowth's audit within that time;
(e)
an individual who, or whose immediate family member, is or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of an entity if any of Pengrowth's current executive officers serves or served at that same time on the entity's compensation committee; and
(f)
an individual who received, or whose immediate family member who is employed as an executive officer of Pengrowth received, more than $75,000 in direct compensation from Pengrowth during any 12 month period within the last three years.
4.
For the purposes of paragraphs 3(c) and 3(d), a partner does not include a fixed income partner whose interest in the firm that is the internal or external auditor is limited to the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation (including deferred compensation) for prior service with that firm if the compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service.
5.
For the purposes of paragraph 3(f), direct compensation does not include
(a)
remuneration for acting as a member of the Board or of any committee of the Board, and
(b)
the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with Pengrowth if the compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service.
6.
Despite paragraph 3, an individual will not be considered to have a material relationship with Pengrowth solely because the individual or his or her immediate family member

 
 
 
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(a)
has previously acted as an interim chief executive officer of Pengrowth, or
(b)
acts, or has previously acted, as a chair or vice-chair of the Board or of any committee of the Board on a part-time basis.
7.
For the purpose of paragraph 3, "Pengrowth" includes all of its subsidiary entities.
8.
Despite any determination made under paragraphs 3 through 7 above, an individual who
(a)
accepts, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from Pengrowth or any subsidiary entity of Pengrowth, other than as remuneration for acting in his or her capacity as a member of the Board or any Board committee, or as a part-time chair or vice-chair of the Board or any Board committee; or
(b)
is an affiliated entity of Pengrowth or any of its subsidiary entities,
is considered to have a material relationship with Pengrowth.
9.
For the purposes of paragraph 8, the indirect acceptance by an individual of any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee includes acceptance of a fee by
(a)
an individual's spouse, minor child or stepchild, or a child or stepchild who shares the individual's home; or
(b)
an entity in which such individual is a partner, member, an officer such as a managing director occupying a comparable position or executive officer, or occupies a similar position (except limited partners, non-managing members and those occupying similar positions who, in each case, have no active role in providing services to the entity) and which provides accounting, consulting, legal, investment banking or financial advisory services to Pengrowth or any subsidiary entity of Pengrowth.
10.
For the purposes of paragraph 8, compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with Pengrowth if the compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service.
Standard of "Financial Literacy"
An individual is financially literate if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by Pengrowth's financial statements.


 
 
 
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Schedule "B"
Excerpts from Rule 10A-3 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
Standard of "Independence"
b.    Required standards.
1.    Independence.
i.
Each member of the audit committee must be a member of the board of directors of the listed issuer, and must otherwise be independent; provided that, where a listed issuer is one of two dual holding companies, those companies may designate one audit committee for both companies so long as each member of the audit committee is a member of the board of directors of at least one of such dual holding companies.
ii.
Independence requirements for non-investment company issuers. In order to be considered to be independent for purposes of this paragraph (b)(1), a member of an audit committee of a listed issuer that is not an investment company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee:
A.
Accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the issuer or any subsidiary thereof, provided that, unless the rules of the national securities exchange or national securities association provide otherwise, compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the listed issuer (provided that such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service); or
B.
Be an affiliated person of the issuer or any subsidiary thereof.
e.
Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used in this section have the same meaning as in the Act. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply for purposes of this section:
1.
i.
The term affiliate of, or a person affiliated with, a specified person, means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.
ii.    
A.
A person will be deemed not to be in control of a specified person for purposes of this section if the person:
1.
Is not the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of any class of voting equity securities of the specified person; and
2.
Is not an executive officer of the specified person.
B.
Paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(A) of this section only creates a safe harbor position that a person does not control a specified person. The existence of the safe harbor does not create a presumption in any way that a person exceeding the ownership requirement in paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(A)(1) of this section controls or is otherwise an affiliate of a specified person.
iii.
The following will be deemed to be affiliates:
A.    An executive officer of an affiliate;
B.    A director who also is an employee of an affiliate;

 
 
 
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C.    A general partner of an affiliate; and
D.    A managing member of an affiliate.
iv.
For purposes of paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, dual holding companies will not be deemed to be affiliates of or persons affiliated with each other by virtue of their dual holding company arrangements with each other, including where directors of one dual holding company are also directors of the other dual holding company, or where directors of one or both dual holding companies are also directors of the businesses jointly controlled, directly or indirectly, by the dual holding companies (and, in each case, receive only ordinary-course compensation for serving as a member of the board of directors, audit committee or any other board committee of the dual holding companies or any entity that is jointly controlled, directly or indirectly, by the dual holding companies).
4.
The term control (including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
8.
The term indirect acceptance by a member of an audit committee of any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee includes acceptance of such a fee by a spouse, a minor child or stepchild or a child or stepchild sharing a home with the member or by an entity in which such member is a partner, member, an officer such as a managing director occupying a comparable position or executive officer, or occupies a similar position (except limited partners, non-managing members and those occupying similar positions who, in each case, have no active role in providing services to the entity) and which provides accounting, consulting, legal, investment banking or financial advisory services to the issuer or any subsidiary of the issuer.



 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | IX





Schedule "C"
Excerpts from Section 303A.00 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual
303A.02 "Independence" Tests
The NYSE Listed Company Manual contains the following provisions regarding the independence requirements of members of the audit committee:
(a)
(i)    No director qualifies as "independent" unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company).
(ii)
In addition, in affirmatively determining the independence of any director who will serve on the compensation committee of the listed company's board of directors, the board of directors must consider all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to the listed company which is material to that director's ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to:
(A)
the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by the listed company to such director; and
(B)
whether such director is affiliated with the listed company, a subsidiary of the listed company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the listed company.
(b)
In addition, a director is not independent if:
(i)
The director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the listed company, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer, of the listed company.
(ii)
The director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the listed company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service).
(iii)
(A) The director is a current partner or employee of a firm that is the listed company's internal or external auditor; (B) the director has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on the listed company's audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the listed company's audit within that time.
(iv)
The director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the listed company's present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company's compensation committee.
(v)
The director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the listed company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company's consolidated gross revenues.

 
 
 
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General Commentary to Section 303A.02(b):
An "immediate family member" includes a person's spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares such person's home. When applying the look-back provisions in Section 303A.02(b), listed companies need not consider individuals who are no longer immediate family members as a result of legal separation or divorce, or those who have died or become incapacitated.
In addition, references to the "listed company" or "company" include any parent or subsidiary in a consolidated group with the listed company or such other company as is relevant to any determination under the independent standards set forth in this Section 303A.02(b).
For purposes of Section 303A, the term "executive officer" has the same meaning specified for the term "officer" in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as follows:
The term "officer" shall mean an issuer's president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or, if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the issuer in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the issuer. Officers of the issuer's parent(s) or subsidiaries shall be deemed officers of the issuer if they perform such policy-making functions for the issuer. In addition, when the issuer is a limited partnership, officers or employees of the general partner(s) who perform policy-making functions for the limited partnership are deemed officers of the limited partnership. When the issuer is a trust, officers or employees of the trustee(s) who perform policy-making functions for the trust are deemed officers of the trust.


 
 
 
PENGROWTH ENERGY CORPORATION | 2015 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM     SCHEDULE III | XI