EX-99.1 2 d364414dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1
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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Cenovus delivers strong second quarter performance

Planned divestitures and Deep Basin asset integration on track

Calgary, Alberta (July 27, 2017) – Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX: CVE) (NYSE: CVE) had a strong second quarter that reflected 45 days of results from the assets recently acquired from ConocoPhillips. The acquisition gives Cenovus 100% ownership of its oil sands operations and a new production platform in the liquids-rich Deep Basin. Integration of the Deep Basin assets is on track. To further optimize its portfolio and deleverage its balance sheet, the company is pursuing the sale of its legacy conventional oil and natural gas assets, and the sale processes are proceeding well. Cenovus continues to target between $4 billion and $5 billion in announced asset sale agreements during 2017.

Key highlights

 

   

Increased second quarter adjusted funds flow by 80% to $792 million or $0.71 per share compared with the same period in 2016

   

Increased free funds flow by 128% from the second quarter of 2016 to $465 million

   

Reduced planned 2017 capital spending by approximately $200 million to $1.7 billion at the midpoint, with no expected impact to forecast production volumes

 

Financial & production summary

 

 (For the period ended June 30)

  

 

2017

Q2

    

 

2016

Q2

    

 

% change            

 

 Financial1

 ($ millions, except per share amounts)

            

 

 Cash from operating activities

   1,239      205      504            

 

 Adjusted funds flow2

   792      440      80            

   Per share diluted

   0.71      0.53     

 

 Free funds flow2

   465      204      128            

 

 Operating earnings/loss2

   398      -39     

   Per share diluted

   0.36      -0.05     

 

 Net earnings/loss3

   2,640      -267     

   Per share diluted

   2.37      -0.32     

 

 Capital investment

   327      236      39            

 

 Production (before royalties)

            

 

 Oil sands (bbls/d)

   261,812      142,604      84            

 

 Deep Basin liquids4 (bbls/d)

   16,894      n/a      n/a            

 

 Conventional oil4,5 (bbls/d)

   54,958      55,476      -1            

 

 Total oil and liquids (bbls/d)

   333,664      198,080      68            

 

 Deep Basin natural gas (MMcf/d)

   253      n/a      n/a            

 

 Conventional natural gas6 (MMcf/d)

   367      399      -8            

 

 Total natural gas (MMcf/d)

   620      399      55            

 

 Total production (BOE/d)

   436,929      264,580      65            

 

1 Financial information includes results from discontinued operations. Per share amounts include the impact of the bought-deal offering of common shares, which closed April 6, 2017, and consideration shares issued to ConocoPhillips as part of the acquisition purchase price.

2 Adjusted funds flow, free funds flow and operating earnings/loss are non-GAAP measures. For more information, refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Advisory at the end of this quarterly report.

3 Net earnings/loss includes a non-cash after-tax revaluation gain of approximately $1.8 billion related to the deemed disposition of Cenovus’s pre-existing interest in the FCCL Partnership.

4 Includes natural gas liquids (NGLs).

5 Assets are being marketed for sale and are presented as discontinued operations.

6 Majority of assets are being marketed for sale and are presented as discontinued operations. Second quarter 2017 volumes include 12 MMcf/d from the the Athabasca natural gas asset, which is not being marketed for sale.


Table of Contents

Overview

In the second quarter of 2017, Cenovus began to see the benefits of its acquisition of western Canadian assets from ConocoPhillips. The acquisition closed on May 17 and included taking full ownership of Cenovus’s best-in-class oil sands assets in northern Alberta and adding a new production platform in the Deep Basin. With 45 days of contribution from the acquired assets, the company increased adjusted funds flow by 80%, free funds flow by 128% and total production by 65% compared with the second quarter of 2016.

“These results demonstrate that we’re solidly on track with our updated strategy to focus on increasing funds flows through disciplined capital allocation to our two production platforms,” said Brian Ferguson, Cenovus President & Chief Executive Officer. “With our increased size and scale and continued commitment to deleverage our balance sheet – our number one near-term priority – I believe the new Cenovus is well positioned to deliver significant value to shareholders in the years ahead.”

Planned asset divestitures

As part of its updated strategy, the company is focused on its production platforms in the oil sands and the Deep Basin. To further optimize its portfolio, Cenovus has put its legacy conventional oil and natural gas assets up for sale and intends to apply the proceeds from these divestitures against the company’s asset-sale bridge facility. Data rooms for the Pelican Lake and Suffield assets in Alberta have been open since late March, and data rooms for the Palliser assets in Alberta and Weyburn assets in Saskatchewan were opened this month.

“While they are no longer core to Cenovus, these are high-quality assets that continued to deliver solid cash flows and safe and reliable performance in the second quarter,” said Ferguson. “We anticipate announcing sale agreements for both Pelican Lake and Suffield later in the third quarter and for Palliser and Weyburn in the fourth quarter. With the successful completion of these divestitures we expect to make substantial progress towards our target of between $4 billion and $5 billion in announced asset sale agreements during 2017.”

Financial performance

During the second quarter, Cenovus generated adjusted funds flow of $792 million or $0.71 per share compared with $440 million or $0.53 per share in the same period a year earlier, even as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) averaged below US$50/barrel (bbl) in the quarter. This was mostly due to higher liquids and natural gas sales volumes related to the acquisition and incremental volumes from new oil sands phases as well as increased liquids and natural gas sales prices, a realized risk management gain on foreign exchange contracts and a higher current tax recovery compared with 2016. The increase in adjusted funds flow was partially offset by higher finance costs primarily associated with additional debt incurred to finance the acquisition. Second quarter cash from operating activities was $1.2 billion, compared with $205 million in the same period in 2016.

Cenovus’s average liquids sales price rose 22% to $41.35/bbl in the second quarter, largely in line with improved crude oil benchmark prices during the period. Including realized hedges, Cenovus had a company-wide netback of $19.02 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) on its liquids and natural gas production in the second quarter, compared with $13.43/BOE in the year earlier period.

 

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Cenovus had second quarter free funds flow of $465 million compared with $204 million in the same period of 2016. Operating margin net of capital investment from the company’s upstream oil and natural gas operations was $480 million in the second quarter, including the 45 days of contribution from the Deep Basin assets.

Hedging

Cenovus has an active hedging program to support cash outflows and help maintain financial resilience. To further support the company’s financial resilience while the asset-sale bridge facility remains outstanding, Cenovus has hedged a greater percentage of forecast liquids and natural gas volumes. As of July 24, 2017, the company has crude oil hedges in place on approximately 232,000 barrels per day (bbls/d) for the remainder of this year at an average Brent floor price of approximately US$50.74/bbl and 105,000 bbls/d for the first half of 2018 at an average floor price of approximately US$48.55/bbl using both WTI and Brent hedges. Hedges in place for the second half of 2018 consist of 27,000 bbls/d at an average WTI price of US$48.34/bbl. Cenovus also has natural gas hedges in place at an average New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) price of approximately US$3.08 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) on approximately 116,000 MMBtu per day for the remainder of 2017.

 

Current hedge positions for 2017
          Hedges at July 24, 2017    Volume    Price

 

Crude – Brent Fixed Price

July - December

   ~127,000 bbls/d    US$51.34/bbl

 

Crude – WTI Collars

July - December

   50,000 bbls/d    US$44.84/bbl - US$56.47/bbl

 

Crude – Brent Put Contracts

July - December

   55,000 bbls/d    US$53.00/bbl

 

Crude – Brent - WTI Spread

July - December

   50,000 bbls/d    US$(1.88)/bbl

 

Natural Gas – NYMEX Fixed Price

July - December

   ~116,000 MMBtu/d    US$3.08/MMBtu

 

     
Current hedge positions for 2018
          Hedges at July 24, 2017    Volume    Price

 

Crude – Brent Collars

January - June

   30,000 bbls/d    US$49.78/bbl - US$62.08/bbl

 

Crude – Brent Fixed Price

January - June

   10,000 bbls/d    US$54.06/bbl

 

Crude – WTI Collars

January - June

   10,000 bbls/d    US$45.30/bbl - US$62.77/bbl

 

Crude – WTI Fixed Price

January - June

   55,000 bbls/d    US$47.47/bbl

 

Crude – WTI Fixed Price

July - December

   27,000 bbls/d    US$48.34/bbl

 

Continued cost leadership & capital discipline

Since 2014, Cenovus has achieved significant cost reductions across its business, including reducing its per-barrel oil sands non-fuel operating costs by more than 30% and its per-barrel oil sands sustaining capital costs by 50%. As part of its continued commitment to

 

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cost leadership, the company plans to achieve an additional $1 billion of cumulative capital, operating and general and administrative (G&A) cost reductions over the next three years.

To reflect the expected ongoing cost savings and efficiency improvements in its base business as well as the company’s continued focus on capital discipline, Cenovus has further updated its capital spending guidance for 2017. Compared with the company’s June 20, 2017 guidance, total planned capital expenditures this year have been reduced by approximately $200 million at the midpoint of the range, with no expected impact to forecast production volumes for the year. The reduced capital spending is largely due to continued improvements in drilling performance, development planning and optimized scheduling of well startups at Cenovus’s oil sands operations as well as the company’s decision to suspend its drilling program at Palliser for the remainder of the year. Cenovus will continue to evaluate additional opportunities to reduce capital spending across its business. Updated guidance is available at cenovus.com under Investors.

CEO succession plan

Brian Ferguson will retire as President & Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the company on October 31, 2017 and will then continue in an advisory role reporting to the Board Chair until March 31, 2018 to facilitate the leadership transition. Cenovus has engaged an executive search firm which is currently conducting a global search for a new Chief Executive Officer. A committee of the Board of Directors has been appointed to oversee the process.

“Brian has provided Cenovus with strong leadership through the best and worst of the commodity price cycle, and with our recent acquisition, he has left the company well positioned for the future,” said Patrick Daniel, Chair of the Cenovus Board. “As we look for a suitable successor, the Board will consider candidates who have the experience and dynamism to advance and execute the company’s strategy.”

Oil sands production

Production at Cenovus’s Christina Lake and Foster Creek oil sands operations rose to nearly 262,000 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 84% from the same period a year ago. The increase was mainly due to the acquisition and to incremental volumes from Foster Creek phase G and Christina Lake phase F, both of which began producing in the second half of 2016. Construction at Christina Lake phase G resumed in the first quarter of 2017, and activity is expected to ramp up through the second half of the year. The expansion, which is expected to be completed with go-forward capital investment of between $16,000 and $18,000 per flowing barrel, is anticipated to begin production in 2019.

Deep Basin production

The integration of Cenovus’s new Deep Basin leadership team, staff and assets is proceeding as planned. Production from the Deep Basin between the acquisition closing date on May 17, 2017 and the end of the quarter averaged more than 119,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d), in line with the company’s expectations. Averaged across the second quarter, Deep Basin production was approximately 59,000 BOE/d. Cenovus has identified approximately 1,500 net drilling opportunities in the Deep Basin with the potential to generate strong returns, and the company plans to increase production from the assets to an average of 240,000 BOE/d in 2021. Cenovus spudded its first Deep Basin well during the second quarter.

 

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“We brought over an experienced, talented and engaged team from ConocoPhillips,” said Ferguson. “They’re focused on the safe and reliable delivery of our Deep Basin program, and I’m confident that the wealth of experience they bring will help drive significant value from these high-quality assets.”

Second quarter details

Financial

 

   

Operating margin was $778 million in the second quarter, a 44% increase from the same period in 2016. Upstream operating margin increased largely due to higher liquids and natural gas sales volumes as a result of the acquisition, as well as increased liquids and natural gas sales prices. This increase was partially offset by higher transportation and blending expenses, and the increase in operating expenses primarily related to the acquisition, higher fuel costs and the planned turnaround at Foster Creek. Higher royalties and a decrease in risk management gains compared with a year ago also impacted upstream operating margin.

   

Cash from operating activities was $1.2 billion compared with $205 million in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted funds flow was $792 million or $0.71 per share compared with $440 million or $0.53 per share in the second quarter a year earlier. The increase in cash from operating activities and adjusted funds flow was primarily the result of higher operating margin, a realized risk management gain on foreign exchange contracts due to hedging activity and a higher current tax recovery compared with 2016. This was partially offset by higher finance costs primarily associated with additional debt incurred to finance the acquisition.

   

Operating earnings were $398 million or $0.36 per share in the second quarter of 2017 compared with an operating loss of $39 million or $0.05 per share in the same period a year earlier. The increase in operating earnings was primarily due to higher cash from operating activities and adjusted funds flow, unrealized foreign exchange gains related to operating activities and the remeasurement of the contingent payment to ConocoPhillips. The increase in operating earnings was partially offset by higher depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A).

   

Cenovus had net earnings of $2.6 billion or $2.37 per share in the second quarter of 2017. This compares with a net loss of $267 million or $0.32 per share in the same period a year earlier. Net earnings in this year’s quarter included a non-cash, after-tax revaluation gain of $1.8 billion related to the deemed disposition of the company’s pre-existing interest in the FCCL partnership, as well as unrealized risk management gains of $132 million in the second quarter compared with unrealized losses of $284 million in the same period a year earlier. Net earnings in the quarter also included non-operating unrealized foreign exchange gains of $279 million related to the translation of Cenovus’s U.S. dollar denominated debt compared with unrealized losses of $18 million in 2016.

   

G&A costs were $58 million, down from $94 million in the second quarter of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to lower long-term employee incentive costs related to a drop in Cenovus’s share price, compared with the same period in 2016, and a slight recovery this year for certain Calgary office space in excess of the company’s current and near-term requirements compared with a non-cash expense in the same period a year ago. Cenovus also recorded $19 million of severance costs in the second quarter of 2016.

 

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Cenovus had second quarter free funds flow of $465 million compared with $204 million in the same period in 2016.

   

The company ended the second quarter of 2017 with total liquidity of about $5 billion comprised of cash and cash equivalents of approximately $489 million as well as $4.5 billion in undrawn capacity under its committed credit facility and no long-term fixed debt maturities until the fourth quarter of 2019.

   

For the third quarter of 2017, the Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on September 29, 2017 to common shareholders of record as of September 15, 2017. Based on the July 26, 2017 closing share price on the Toronto Stock Exchange of $9.95, this represents an annualized yield of about 2.0%. Declaration of dividends is at the sole discretion of the Board and will continue to be evaluated on a quarterly basis.

Oil sands

Foster Creek

 

   

Production averaged 107,859 bbls/d in the second quarter, 67% higher than in the same period of 2016, primarily due to the acquisition, which added 36,534 bbls/d during the quarter. June volumes averaged nearly 166,000 bbls/d. During the quarter, Cenovus safely completed a 20-day planned turnaround, including several days each for ramp-down and ramp-up. The turnaround was completed within budget.

   

Non-fuel per-barrel operating costs increased 11% to $9.42 compared with the second quarter of 2016, primarily as a result of the turnaround, which increased costs for repairs and maintenance, and fluid, waste handling and trucking. Including the impact of higher natural gas prices, total per-barrel operating costs were $12.31, 21% higher than in the same period in 2016.

   

The steam to oil ratio (SOR), the amount of steam needed to produce one barrel of oil, was 2.5 in the second quarter of 2017, compared with 2.9 in the same period of 2016.

Christina Lake

 

   

In the second quarter, production averaged 153,953 bbls/d, a 97% increase from the same period in 2016, primarily due to the acquisition, which added 51,709 bbls/d during the quarter. June volumes averaged more than 205,000 bbls/d.

   

Non-fuel per-barrel operating costs were $ 4.66, a 5% decrease from a year ago, primarily due to higher production. Including the impact of higher natural gas prices, total per-barrel operating costs were $7.04, 11% higher than in the second quarter a year earlier.

   

The SOR was 1.7 in the second quarter of 2017, compared with 1.8 a year earlier.

Deep Basin

 

   

Liquids production, including light and medium crude oil as well as natural gas liquids (NGLs) for the first 45 days of Deep Basin operations, was 34,163 bbls/d, while natural gas production amounted to 512 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d).

   

Averaged across the quarter, production of natural gas was 253 MMcf/d, while liquids production averaged 16,894 bbls/d.

   

Operating costs were $8.84/BOE, driven by workforce, repairs and maintenance, property tax and lease costs, and electricity.

 

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Cenovus started development activities and began a disciplined 28 net well drilling program for 2017, focusing on horizontal production wells targeting liquids-rich natural gas.

Downstream

 

   

The Wood River Refinery in Illinois and Borger Refinery in Texas, which Cenovus jointly owns with the operator, Phillips 66, processed a combined average of 449,000 bbls/d gross of oil (98% utilization) in the second quarter of 2017, compared with 458,000 bbls/d gross in the year earlier period (100% utilization).

   

Cenovus had refining and marketing operating margin of $20 million in the quarter, compared with $193 million in the same period of 2016. The decrease was the result of narrowing heavy crude oil differentials and lower average market crack spreads. The company’s refining operating margin is calculated on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory accounting basis. Using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method employed by most U.S. refiners, Cenovus’s operating margin from refining and marketing would have been $31 million higher in the quarter. In the second quarter of 2016, operating margin would have been $110 million lower on a LIFO reporting basis.

Other developments

 

   

Corporate Knights magazine recognized Cenovus as one of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada for 2016, the seventh consecutive year the company has been included in the listing.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) for Cenovus Energy Inc. (which includes references to “we”, “our”, “us”, “its”, or “Cenovus”, mean Cenovus Energy Inc., the subsidiaries of, and partnership interests held by, Cenovus Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries) dated July 26, 2017, should be read in conjunction with our June 30, 2017 unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes (“interim Consolidated Financial Statements”), the December 31, 2016 audited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes (“Consolidated Financial Statements”) and the December 31, 2016 MD&A (“annual MD&A”). All of the information and statements contained in this MD&A are made as of July 26, 2017, unless otherwise indicated. This MD&A provides an update to our annual MD&A and contains forward-looking information about our current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. The information in this MD&A, as it relates to our operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, reflects the closing of the Acquisition (as defined in this MD&A) on May 17, 2017. See the Transformational Acquisition section of this MD&A for more details. See the Advisory for information on the risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and the assumptions underlying our forward-looking information. Cenovus Management prepared the MD&A. The interim MD&As are approved by the Audit Committee of the Cenovus Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the annual MD&A is reviewed by the Audit Committee and recommended for its approval by the Board. Additional information about Cenovus, including our quarterly and annual reports, the Annual Information Form (“AIF”) and Form 40-F, is available on SEDAR at sedar.com, on EDGAR at sec.gov, and on our website at cenovus.com. Information on or connected to our website, even if referred to in this MD&A, does not constitute part of this MD&A.

Basis of Presentation

This MD&A and the Consolidated Financial Statements and comparative information have been prepared in Canadian dollars, except where another currency has been indicated, and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS” or “GAAP”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). Production volumes are presented on a before royalties basis.

Non-GAAP Measures and Additional Subtotals

Certain financial measures in this document do not have a standardized meaning as prescribed by IFRS, such as Netbacks, Adjusted Funds Flow, Operating Earnings, Free Funds Flow, Debt, Net Debt, Capitalization and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and therefore are considered non-GAAP measures. In addition, Operating Margin is considered an additional subtotal found in note 1 and note 8 of our interim Consolidated Financial Statements. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These measures have been described and presented in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with additional measures for analyzing our ability to generate funds to finance our operations and information regarding our liquidity. This additional information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The definition and reconciliation, if applicable, of each non-GAAP measure or additional subtotal is presented in the Financial Results, Operating Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources, or Advisory sections of this MD&A.

OVERVIEW OF CENOVUS

 

We are a Canadian integrated oil company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with our shares listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. On June 30, 2017, we had an enterprise value of approximately $24 billion. We are in the business of developing, producing and marketing crude oil, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and natural gas in Western Canada. We also conduct marketing activities and have refining operations in the United States (“U.S.”). Our average crude oil and NGLs (collectively, “liquids”) production for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately 284,565 barrels per day, our average natural gas production was 492 MMcf per day, and our total reported production was 366,556 BOE per day. The refining operations processed an average of 428,000 gross barrels per day of crude oil feedstock into an average of 455,000 gross barrels per day of refined products.

Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition

On May 17, 2017, we closed an acquisition from ConocoPhillips Company and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, “ConocoPhillips”) where we acquired their 50 percent interest in FCCL Partnership (“FCCL”) and the majority of their western Canadian conventional crude oil and natural gas assets in Alberta and British Columbia (the “Acquisition”).

The Acquisition provides us with control over our oil sands operations, doubles our oil sands production, and almost doubles our proved bitumen reserves. In addition, the Acquisition provides a second growth platform with more than three million net acres of land, exploration and production assets, and related infrastructure in Alberta and British Columbia (collectively, the “Deep Basin Assets”). The Deep Basin Assets are expected to provide short-cycle development opportunities that complement our long-term oil sands growth portfolio.

Concurrent with the March 29, 2017 announcement of the Acquisition, we commenced marketing for sale our Pelican Lake heavy oil assets, including the adjacent Grand Rapids project in the Greater Pelican Lake region, and our Suffield crude oil and natural gas assets in southern Alberta to help fund the Acquisition. On June 20, 2017, we announced our intention to divest the remainder of our legacy Conventional assets, including our Palliser assets in southern Alberta and our Weyburn oil operation in southern Saskatchewan. Our Conventional segment has been classified as a discontinued operation in our interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our Strategy

We have updated our strategy to reflect the Acquisition and our increased focus on free funds flow. Our strategy is to increase cash flows through disciplined production growth from our vast portfolio of oil sands and Deep Basin natural gas and liquids assets in Western Canada. We are focused on maximizing shareholder value through cost leadership and realizing the best margins for our products to help us maintain financial resilience and deliver sustainable dividend growth.

We plan to achieve our strategy by drawing on the expertise of our people and leveraging our strategic differentiators: premium asset quality, executional excellence, value-added integration, focused innovation and trusted reputation.

 

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We measure our performance through a balanced scorecard that reflects our financial, operational, safety, environmental and organizational health goals.

Our Key Strategic Differentiators

Premium Asset Quality

Cenovus has a deep portfolio of premium-quality oil sands, conventional oil, and natural gas assets that we believe provide us with significant cost and environmental performance advantages. Our in-situ oil sands projects and Deep Basin Assets in Western Canada offer long and short cycle opportunities that provide the capital investment flexibility to position us to deliver value growth at various points of the price cycle. In addition to our exploration and production assets, we have complementary interests in refineries and product transportation infrastructure.

Executional Excellence

Our team is committed to delivering on our business plan in a safe, disciplined and responsible manner and continuously improving our performance to help manage risk and optimize returns. We use a manufacturing approach to support consistent performance and enhance reliability. This involves applying standardized and repeatable designs and processes to the construction and operation of our facilities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies at all project stages. We strive to execute our work in an agile manner with a focus on using our resources effectively.

Value-Added Integration

Our integrated business approach helps provide stability to our cash flows and maximize value for the oil and natural gas we produce. Having ownership in oil refineries positions us to capture the full value chain from production to high-quality end products like transportation fuels. In addition, our pipeline commitments, marine capability, crude-by-rail loading facility and product marketing activities position us to obtain global pricing for our oil. As a consumer of natural gas at our oil sands facilities and refineries, our natural gas production acts as an economic hedge to help manage price volatility. In addition, our cogeneration plants efficiently provide power for our oil sands facilities with the added value of excess electricity being sold to the grid.

Focused Innovation

We focus our innovation efforts on accelerating the adoption of technology solutions and methods of operating to enhance safety, aggressively reduce costs, improve margins and lower emissions. We expect innovation at Cenovus to mean significant improvements and game-changing developments that are implemented to generate value. We embrace the “fail fast” mentality as essential to encouraging behaviours that can transform how we operate. The application of digital innovation across our business is expected to be a key contributor to our competitive advantage. We aim to complement our internal technology development efforts with external collaboration that brings together smart people with diverse ideas that leverage our technology spend.

Trusted Reputation

We are a responsible, progressive company that is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, building strong external relationships, minimizing our environmental footprint and being a part of a zero-emissions future. Our actions are intended to support our trusted reputation and enable us to attract and retain top-quality staff and to engage with and be respected by our stakeholders: investors, the communities in which we operate, environmental groups, governments, Aboriginal people, media, project partners and the general public.

Our Operations

Oil Sands

Our oil sands assets include steam-assisted gravity drainage (“SAGD”) oil sands projects in northern Alberta, namely Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Narrows Lake and other emerging projects. Foster Creek and Christina Lake are producing, while Narrows Lake is in the initial stages of development. These three projects, located in the Athabasca region of northeastern Alberta, are 100 percent owned by Cenovus following the Acquisition. Our 100 percent-owned emerging project at Telephone Lake is located within the Borealis region of northeastern Alberta.

 

   

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2017

($ millions)   Crude Oil              Natural Gas  

Operating Margin

  791       3  

Capital Investment

  384       3  

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  407       -  

Deep Basin

The Deep Basin includes approximately three million net acres of land rich in natural gas and natural gas liquids. The assets are located primarily in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas and

 

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include interests in numerous natural gas processing facilities. The Deep Basin Assets are expected to provide short-cycle development opportunities with high return potential that complement our long-term oil sands development and provide an economic hedge for the natural gas required as a fuel source at both our oil sands and refining operations. The Deep Basin Assets were acquired on May 17, 2017.

 

($ millions)        May 17 –  
June 30, 2017  

Operating Margin

    55  

Capital Investment

    13  

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

    42  

Conventional

Our Conventional segment has been classified as a discontinued operation. We are currently marketing for sale all assets within our Conventional segment. This includes our Pelican Lake heavy oil assets, our Suffield crude oil and natural gas assets, our carbon dioxide (“CO2”) enhanced oil recovery project at Weyburn, and our Palliser assets in southern Alberta. Crude oil production from our Conventional business segment generates dependable near-term cash flows while the natural gas production acts as an economic hedge for the natural gas required as a fuel source at both our oil sands and refining operations.

 

   

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2017

($ millions)   Liquids              Natural Gas  

Operating Margin

  214       89  

Capital Investment

  132       6  

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  82       83  

Refining and Marketing

Our operations include two refineries located in Illinois and Texas that are jointly owned with (50 percent interest) and operated by Phillips 66, an unrelated U.S. public company. The gross crude oil capacity at the Wood River and Borger refineries (the “Refineries”) is approximately 314,000 barrels per day and 146,000 barrels per day, respectively. This includes processing capability of up to 255,000 gross barrels per day of blended heavy crude oil. The refining operations allows us to capture the value from crude oil production through to refined products, such as diesel, gasoline and jet fuel, to partially mitigate volatility associated with regional North American light/heavy crude oil price differential fluctuations.

This segment also includes our crude-by-rail terminal operations, located in Bruderheim, Alberta, and the marketing of third-party purchases and sales of product undertaken to provide operational flexibility for transportation commitments, product quality, delivery points and customer diversification.

 

($ millions)  

Six Months  

Ended  
June 30, 2017  

 

Operating Margin

  73  

Capital Investment

  86  

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  (13) 

OIL SANDS AND DEEP BASIN ACQUISITION

 

On May 17, 2017, we closed an acquisition acquiring ConocoPhillips’ 50 percent interest in FCCL and the majority of ConocoPhillips’ western Canadian conventional assets in Alberta and British Columbia. The Acquisition provides us with control over our oil sands operations, doubles our oil sands production, and almost doubles our proved bitumen reserves. The Deep Basin Assets provide an additional growth platform with more than three million net acres of land, exploration and production assets, and related infrastructure in Alberta and British Columbia. The Deep Basin Assets are expected to provide complementary short-cycle development opportunities with high return potential.

Total consideration for the Acquisition includes US$10.6 billion in cash, before adjustments, and 208 million Cenovus common shares. To finance the cash portion of the purchase price, we:

·  

Completed a Bought-Deal Common Share Offering on April 6, 2017 for 187.5 million common shares at a price of $16.00 per share, raising gross proceeds of $3.0 billion;

·  

Completed an offering in the U.S. on April 7, 2017 for US$2.9 billion of senior unsecured notes – US$1.2 billion 4.25 percent senior unsecured notes due April 2027, US$700 million 5.25 percent senior unsecured notes due June 2037, and US$1.0 billion 5.40 percent senior unsecured notes due June 2047;

·  

Borrowed $3.6 billion under a committed asset sale bridge credit facility (“Bridge Facility”); and

·  

Funded the remainder of the purchase price through cash on hand and a draw on our existing committed credit facility.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 10

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

The committed Bridge Facility consists of three tranches which mature 12 months, 18 months and 24 months, respectively, following the Acquisition closing date. We expect to repay the committed Bridge Facility through the sale of certain assets including our legacy Conventional assets.

The Acquisition has an effective date of January 1, 2017. The majority of the purchase price was allocated to Property, Plant and Equipment (“PP&E”), Exploration and Evaluation (“E&E”) assets, and goodwill. Refer to Note 4 in the interim Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of the recognized amounts of acquired assets and liabilities assumed at the date of the Acquisition. For accounting purposes, total consideration includes $361 million related to a contingent payment. See the Corporate and Eliminations section of this MD&A for more details.

Prior to the Acquisition, Cenovus’s 50 percent interest in FCCL was jointly controlled with ConocoPhillips and met the definition of a joint operation under IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements” and as such Cenovus recognized its share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in its consolidated results. Subsequent to the Acquisition, Cenovus controls FCCL, as defined under IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements” and accordingly, FCCL has been consolidated. As required by IFRS 3, when control is achieved in stages, the previously held interest in FCCL was re-measured to its fair value of $12.3 billion and a non-cash revaluation gain of $2.5 billion ($1.8 billion, after-tax) was recorded in net earnings.

The safe and efficient integration of the Deep Basin Assets is a top priority for Cenovus. We are committed to ensuring strong stakeholder and community relations as we establish ourselves as a new operator in the Deep Basin area.

Additional information on the Acquisition is available in our news release, dated March 29, 2017 available on SEDAR at sedar.com, on EDGAR at sec.gov, and on our website at cenovus.com, in our material change report dated April 5, 2017 and in our Business Acquisitions Report dated July 19, 2017, both available on SEDAR and EDGAR.

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

 

We successfully closed the Acquisition in the second quarter of 2017, resulting in control of our oil sands operations and more than doubling our total production. Incremental production from the Acquisition was 297,720 BOE per day for the period May 17 to June 30, 2017 or 147,224 BOE per day for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Our previously announced divestiture process for the Pelican Lake and Suffield assets is progressing well and is on track. On June 20, 2017, we announced our plan to divest our Palliser asset in southern Alberta and our Weyburn oil operation in southern Saskatchewan. Proceeds from the sale of these assets will be used to repay the committed Bridge Facility and deleverage our balance sheet.

During the quarter, crude oil prices continued to be volatile. Although West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) averaged approximately US$48 per barrel, a six percent increase from the same period in 2016, it ranged from a high of US$53.40 per barrel to a low of US$42.53 per barrel. In addition, AECO averaged $2.77 per Mcf, more than doubling from the second quarter of 2016. AECO ranged from a high of $3.03 per Mcf to a low of $2.15 per Mcf. Our average sales price increased 29 percent from 2016, contributing to a companywide Netback of $18.74 per BOE in the second quarter, before realized hedging. We continue to focus on cost leadership and capital discipline to help maintain financial resilience, while delivering safe and reliable operations.

In the second quarter, we:

 

Increased total liquids production by 68 percent from the second quarter of 2016, primarily due to incremental production volumes from the Acquisition as well as from Foster Creek phase G and Christina Lake phase F, both of which started up in the second half of 2016;

 

Generated combined upstream revenues, including the Conventional segment, of $2,082 million compared with $967 million in 2016, primarily related to increased sales volumes and higher liquids sales prices;

 

Reported upstream operating costs, including the Conventional segment, of $387 million, an increase of $176 million compared with the second quarter of 2016 primarily due to the Acquisition, higher fuel costs as a result of an increase in natural gas prices, and costs related to Foster Creek turnaround activities;

 

Achieved Cash From Operating Activities and Adjusted Funds Flow of $1,239 million and $792 million, respectively, an increase from the second quarter of 2016 of $1,034 million and $352 million, respectively; and

 

Recorded net earnings of $2.6 billion, which included an after-tax revaluation gain of $1.8 billion on our pre-existing interest in FCCL.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 11

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

OPERATING RESULTS

 

Our upstream assets continued to perform well in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. Total production increased primarily due to the Acquisition and our recent oil sands expansion phases.

Production Volumes

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
      2017          

Percent  

Change  

        2016           2017          

Percent  

Change  

        2016  

Liquids (barrels per day)

                           

Oil Sands

                           

Foster Creek

   107,859        67%        64,544        94,437        51%        62,713  

Christina Lake

   153,953        97%        78,060        127,442        64%        77,577  
   261,812        84%        142,604        221,879        58%        140,290  

Deep Basin

                           

Light and Medium Oil

   3,059        -%        -        1,538        -%        -  

NGLs

   13,835        -%        -        6,956        -%        -  
   16,894        -%        -        8,494        -%        -  

Conventional (Discontinued Operations)

                           

Heavy Oil

   26,593        (7)%        28,500        26,933        (10)%        29,873  

Light and Medium Oil

   27,233        4%        26,177        26,167        (2)%        26,649  

NGLs

   1,132        42%        799        1,090        9%        1,003  
   54,958        (1)%        55,476        54,190        (6)%        57,525  

Total Liquids Production (barrels per day)

   333,664        68%        198,080        284,563        44%        197,815  

Natural Gas (MMcf per day)

                           

Oil Sands

   12        (33)%        18        13        (24)%        17  

Deep Basin

   253        -%        -        127        -%        -  

Conventional (Discontinued Operations)

   355        (7)%        381        352        (9)%        386  

Total Natural Gas Production (MMcf per day)

   620        55%        399        492        22%        403  

Total Production (BOE per day)

   436,929        65%        264,580        366,556        38%        264,982  

Production at Foster Creek and Christina Lake was higher in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 due to the incremental production volumes from the Acquisition and expansion phases, partially offset by the impact of a 20-day planned turnaround, including ramp down and ramp up, at Foster Creek. The planned turnaround was the largest scale turnaround executed to date at Foster Creek. The increase in production at Foster Creek and Christina Lake from May 17, 2017 to June 30, 2017, due to the Acquisition, was 73,880 barrels per day and 104,567 barrels per day, respectively.

Total production from the Deep Basin for the 45 days of operations averaged 119,273 BOE per day, equivalent to 58,981 BOE per day for the three months ended June 30, 2017, and 29,654 BOE per day for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Deep Basin liquids production from May 17, 2017 to June 30, 2017 was 34,163 barrels per day, equivalent to 16,894 barrels per day for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 8,494 barrels per day for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Our Conventional liquids production declined in the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis compared to 2016 primarily due to expected natural declines, partially offset by an increase in production associated with the tight oil drilling program in southern Alberta. In the second quarter of 2016, production at Pelican Lake was shut-down for two days as a safety precaution due to a nearby forest fire resulting in lost production of approximately 650 barrels per day for the quarter.

In the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis, our natural gas production increased compared with 2016 due to the Acquisition, partially offset by expected natural declines in our Conventional segment. Natural gas production from the Deep Basin for the 45 days of operation was approximately 512 MMcf per day.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 12

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Netbacks

Netback is a non-GAAP measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring operating performance on a per-unit basis. Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel of oil equivalent basis. Netback is defined as gross sales less royalties, transportation and blending, operating expenses and production and mineral taxes divided by sales volumes. Netbacks do not reflect the non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the product is sold. The sales price, transportation and blending costs, and sales volumes exclude the impact of purchased condensate. Condensate is blended with the heavy oil to reduce its thickness in order to transport it to market. Our Netback calculation is aligned with the definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook. For a reconciliation of our Netbacks see the Advisory section of this MD&A.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,    
($/BOE)                2017                       2016                       2017                       2016  

Sales Price

   35.58        27.56        35.89        21.41  

Royalties

   2.34        1.51        2.62        1.16  

Transportation and Blending

   4.78        5.07        4.55        4.79  

Operating Expenses

   9.59        8.89        9.67        9.52  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.13        0.12        0.16        0.10  

Netback Excluding Realized Risk Management (1)

   18.74        11.97        18.89        5.84  

Realized Risk Management Gain (Loss)

   0.28        1.46        (1.21)       3.81  

Netback Including Realized Risk Management (1)

   19.02        13.43        17.68        9.65  

 

(1) Includes results from our Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

Our average Netback for the second quarter of 2017 and on a year-to-date basis, excluding realized risk management gains and losses, was substantially higher compared with 2016. The rise in our average Netback was primarily due to increased sales prices, consistent with the rise in benchmark prices, a weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, and the increase in diversity of products with higher light and medium crude oil and NGLs being produced as a result of the Acquisition, partially offset by higher royalties. On a year-to-date basis, the weakening of the Canadian dollar compared with 2016 had a positive impact on our sales price of approximately $0.10 per BOE.

Refining

In the second quarter, crude oil runs and refined product output declined slightly compared with 2016 primarily due to unplanned maintenance at both Refineries. On a year-to-date basis, crude oil runs and refined product output declined due to the larger scope of the planned turnarounds at both Refineries during the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2016. In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, lower heavy crude oil volumes were processed due to optimization of the total crude input slate.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
                  2017          

        Percent  

Change  

                2016                       2017          

        Percent  

Change  

                2016  

Crude Oil Runs (1) (Mbbls/d)

   449        (2)%        458        428        (4)%        446  

Heavy Crude Oil (1)

   201        (12)%        228        201        (14)%        235  

Refined Product (1) (Mbbls/d)

   476        (1)%        483        455        (4)%        472  

Crude Utilization (1) (percent)

  

98  

       (2)%          100          93          (4)%          97  

 

(1) Represents 100 percent of the Wood River and Borger refinery operations.

Operating Margin from Refining and Marketing in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was $20 million and $73 million, respectively (2016 – $193 million and $170 million, respectively). The decline in the second quarter was primarily due to a decrease in our gross margin, consistent with narrowing heavy crude oil differentials and lower average market crack spreads, partially offset by a decline in realized risk management losses in the second quarter of 2017 and the weakening of the Canadian dollar. On a year-to-date basis, the decline in Operating Margin was primarily due to narrowing of heavy crude oil differentials, lower crude utilization rates, higher operating costs and lower margins on the sale of secondary products.

Further information on the changes in our production volumes, items included in our Netbacks and refining results can be found in the Reportable Segments section of this MD&A. Further information on our risk management activities can be found in the Risk Management section of this MD&A and in the notes to the June 30, 2017 interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 13

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

COMMODITY PRICES UNDERLYING OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Key performance drivers for our financial results include commodity prices, price differentials, refining crack spreads as well as the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate. The following table shows selected market benchmark prices and the U.S./Canadian dollar average exchange rates to assist in understanding our financial results.

Selected Benchmark Prices and Exchange Rates (1)

 

    

Six Months Ended June 30,

                          
(US$/bbl, unless otherwise indicated)    2017           2016          

Percent  

Change  

       

Q2  

2017  

       

Q1  

2017  

       

Q2  

2016  

Crude Oil Prices

                           

Brent

                           

Average

   52.79        41.03        29%        50.92        54.66        46.97  

End of Period

   47.92        49.68        (4)%        47.92        52.83        49.68  

WTI

                           

Average

   50.10        39.52        27%        48.29        51.91        45.59  

End of Period

   46.04        48.33        (5)%        46.04        50.60        48.33  

Average Differential Brent-WTI

   2.69        1.51        78%        2.63        2.75        1.38  

WCS

                           

Average

   37.25        25.75        45%        37.16        37.33        32.29  

Average (C$/bbl)

   49.67        34.24        45%        49.95        49.38        41.61  

End of Period

   36.36        35.79        2%        36.36        39.77        35.79  

Average Differential WTI-WCS

   12.85        13.77        (7)%        11.13        14.58        13.30  

Condensate (C5 @ Edmonton)

                           

Average (2)

   50.35        39.23        28%        48.44        52.26        44.07  

Average Differential WTI-Condensate (Premium)/Discount

   (0.25)       0.29        (186)%        (0.15)       (0.35)       1.52  

Average Differential WCS-Condensate (Premium)/Discount

   (13.10)       (13.48)       (3)%        (11.28)       (14.93)       (11.78) 

Mixed Sweet Blend (“MSW” @ Edmonton)

                           

Average

   47.20        36.13        31%        46.03        48.37        42.51  

End of Period

   43.66        46.19        (5)%        43.66        50.07        46.19  

Average Refined Product Prices

                           

Chicago Regular Unleaded Gasoline (“RUL”)

   63.28        53.12        19%        63.44        63.13        64.25  

Chicago Ultra-low Sulphur Diesel (“ULSD”)

   63.02        51.98        21%        62.18        63.86        59.40  

Refining Margin: Average 3-2-1 Crack Spreads (3)

                           

Chicago

   13.16        13.36        (1)%        14.78        11.54        17.15  

Average Natural Gas Prices

                           

AECO (C$/Mcf)

   2.86        1.68        70%        2.77        2.94        1.25  

NYMEX (US$/Mcf)

   3.25        2.02        61%        3.18        3.32        1.95  

Basis Differential NYMEX-AECO (US$/Mcf)

   1.12        0.78        44%        1.13        1.10        0.99  

Foreign Exchange Rate (US$ per C$1)

                           

Average

   0.750          0.752          -%          0.744          0.756          0.776  

 

(1)

These benchmark prices do not reflect our realized sales prices. For our average realized sales prices and realized risk management results, refer to the Netbacks table in the Operating Results section of this MD&A.

(2)

The average Canadian dollar condensate benchmark price for the second quarter of 2017 was $65.11 per barrel (2016 – $56.79 per barrel) and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $67.13 per barrel (2016 – $52.17 per barrel).

(3)

The average 3-2-1 Crack Spread is an indicator of the refining margin and is valued on a last in, first out accounting basis.

Crude Oil Benchmarks

The average Brent, WTI and Western Canadian Select (“WCS”) benchmark prices improved in the first six months of 2017 as compliance with the production cuts agreed to in the fourth quarter of 2016 by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) led to wide-spread market expectations at the beginning of 2017 of an accelerated return to normal inventory levels without supporting supply and demand drivers. However, near the

end of the first half of 2017 prices continued to be volatile as crude oil and product inventories did not decrease as expected partially due to the rising U.S. rig count and growing supply from the U.S., Libya and Nigeria.

WTI is an important benchmark for Canadian crude oil since it reflects inland North American crude oil prices and its Canadian dollar equivalent is the basis for determining royalties for a number of our crude oil properties. WTI benchmark prices weakened relative to Brent compared with the second quarter of 2016 and on a year-to-date basis due to the combination of growing U.S. crude oil supply and OPEC’s compliance with production cuts.

WCS is blended heavy oil which consists of both conventional heavy oil and unconventional diluted bitumen. The average WTI-WCS differential narrowed in the second quarter of 2017 and on a year-to-date basis compared with 2016. The differential narrowed due to significant production outages in Alberta and OPEC cuts.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 14

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents
LOGO    LOGO

Blending condensate with bitumen and heavy oil enables our production to be transported through pipelines. Our blending ratios range from approximately 10 percent to 33 percent. The WCS-Condensate differential is an important benchmark as a narrower differential generally results in an increase in the recovery of condensate costs when selling a barrel of blended crude oil. When the supply of condensate in Alberta does not meet the demand, Edmonton condensate prices may be driven by U.S. Gulf Coast condensate prices plus the cost attributed to transporting the condensate to Edmonton.

The average WTI-Condensate differential narrowed in the second quarter of 2017 and on a year-to-date basis as a result of seasonal changes in blending requirements.

MSW, is an Alberta based, Canadian light sweet crude oil benchmark that is representative of Canadian conventional production and comparable to the crude oil produced by our Deep Basin Assets.

Refining Benchmarks

The Chicago Regular Unleaded Gasoline (“RUL”) and Chicago Ultra-low Sulphur Diesel (“ULSD”) benchmark prices are representative of inland refined product prices and are used to derive the Chicago 3-2-1 crack spread. The 3-2-1 crack spread is an indicator of the refining margin generated by converting three barrels of crude oil into two barrels of regular unleaded gasoline and one barrel of ultra-low sulphur diesel using current month WTI-based crude oil feedstock prices and valued on a last in, first out accounting basis.

Average Chicago refined product prices increased in the second quarter of 2017 and on a year-to-date basis primarily due to higher crude oil prices, partially offset by higher refinery utilization which increased supply. Average Chicago 3-2-1 crack spreads declined during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared with 2016 due to higher refinery utilization. Our realized crack spreads are affected by many other factors such as the variety of crude oil feedstock, refinery configuration and product output, the time lag between the purchase and delivery of crude oil feedstock, and the cost of feedstock which is valued on a first in, first out (“FIFO”) accounting basis.

 

LOGO    LOGO

Natural Gas Benchmarks

Average natural gas prices in the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis increased significantly compared with 2016. Natural gas prices strengthened in 2017 as North American inventory levels declined due to lower production and stronger demand. Production decreased as a result of reduced drilling programs while demand increased from additional capacity to export North American natural gas to foreign markets, partially offset by mild weather and less natural gas used for domestic electricity generation. In 2016, natural gas prices were negatively impacted by an exceptionally warm winter that resulted in poor heating demand and record-high seasonal North American natural gas storage levels.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 15

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Foreign Exchange Benchmark

Revenues are subject to foreign exchange exposure as the sales prices of our crude oil, natural gas and refined products are determined by reference to U.S. benchmark prices. A decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar compared with the U.S. dollar has a positive impact on our reported results. Likewise, as the Canadian dollar strengthens, our reported results are lower. In addition to our revenues being denominated in U.S. dollars, a portion of our long-term debt is also U.S. dollar denominated. In periods of a strengthening Canadian dollar, our U.S. dollar debt gives rise to unrealized foreign exchange gains when translated to Canadian dollars.

In the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis, the Canadian dollar weakened relative to the U.S. dollar due to differing interest rate expectations between Canada and the U.S. The weakening of the Canadian dollar in the first half of the year, compared with 2016, had a positive impact of approximately $22 million on our revenues, including our Conventional segment. As at June 30, 2017, the Canadian dollar was stronger relative to the U.S. dollar on December 31, 2016, which resulted in $335 million of unrealized foreign exchange gains on the translation of our U.S. dollar debt.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Results

The Acquisition and improvements in commodity prices in the first half of 2017 were the primary drivers of our financial results. The following key performance measures are discussed in more detail within this MD&A.

 

($ millions, except per share    Six Months
Ended June 30,
     2017      2016      2015  
amounts)    2017       2016       Q2       Q1       Q4       Q3       Q2       Q1       Q4       Q3       Q2   
     

Revenues (1) (2)

     7,578         4,737         4,037         3,541         3,324         2,945         2,746         1,991         2,601         2,905         3,244   

Operating Margin (2)

                                      

Total Operating Margin

     1,228         685         778         450         595         487         541         144         357         602         932   

From Continuing Operations

     924         446         619         305         442         335         424         22         153         360         631   

Cash From Operating Activities

                                      

Total Cash From Operating Activities

     1,567         387         1,239         328         164         310         205         182         322         542         335   

From Continuing Operations

     1,297         215         1,102         94         22         189         121         94         123         366         86   

Adjusted Funds Flow (3)

                                      

Total Adjusted Funds Flow

     1,115         466         792         323         535         422         440         26         275         444         477   

From Continuing Operations

     833         287         650         (65)        382         296         352         (65)        71         266         227   

Operating Earnings (Loss) (3)

                                      

Total Operating Earnings (Loss)

     359         (462)        398         (39)        321         (236)        (39)        (423)        (438)        (28)        151   

Per Share – Diluted ($)

     0.37         (0.55)        0.36         (0.05)        0.39         (0.28)        (0.05)        (0.51)        (0.53)        (0.03)        0.18   

From Continuing Operations

     305         (272)        344         (39)        21         (40)        (3)        (269)        (245)        (23)        201   

Per Share – Diluted ($)

     0.31         (0.33)        0.31         (0.05)        0.03         (0.05)               (0.32)        (0.29)        (0.03)        0.24   

Net Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations

     2,792         (195)        2,581         211         (209)        (55)        (231)        36         (448)        1,806         176   

Per Share – Basic and

Diluted ($)

     2.87         (0.23)        2.32         0.25         (0.25)        (0.07)        (0.28)        0.04         (0.54)        2.17         0.21   

Net Earnings (Loss)

     2,851         (385)        2,640         211         91         (251)        (267)        (118)        (641)        1,801         126   

Per Share – Basic and

Diluted ($)

     2.93         (0.46)        2.37         0.25         0.11         (0.30)        (0.32)        (0.14)        (0.77)        2.16         0.15   

Capital Investment (4)

     640         559         327         313         259         208         236         323         428         400         357   

Dividends

                                      

Cash Dividends

     102         83         61         41         42         41         42         41         132         133         125   

In Shares from Treasury

                                                                           98   

Per Share ($)

     0.10         0.10         0.05         0.05         0.05         0.05         0.05         0.05         0.16         0.16         0.2662   

 

(1)

Excludes revenues from discontinued operations. For the three and six months ending June 30, 2017, revenues related to discontinued operations were $336 million and $660 million, respectively (2016 – $261 million and $515 million, respectively). The comparative periods have been restated to reflect discontinued operations.

(2)

Additional subtotal found in Note 1 and Note 8 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements and defined in this MD&A.

(3)

Non-GAAP measure defined in this MD&A.

(4)

Includes expenditures on PP&E, E&E assets, assets held for sale and discontinued operations.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 16

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Revenues

 

($ millions)   

Three  

Months  

Ended  

       

Six  

Months  

Ended  

Revenues for the Periods Ended June 30, 2016

   2,746        4,737  

Increase (Decrease) due to:

       

Oil Sands

   924        1,489  

Deep Basin

   116        116  

Refining and Marketing

   268        1,284  

Corporate and Eliminations

   (17)       (48) 

Revenues for the Periods Ended June 30, 2017

   4,037        7,578  

Combined upstream revenues, excluding Conventional revenues, increased in the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis, compared with 2016. The increase was primarily related to an increase in sales volumes due to the Acquisition and the Foster Creek phase G and Christina Lake phase F expansion phases in our Oil Sands segment, higher commodity prices and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. These increases were partially offset by a rise in royalties. Conventional revenues have been reported in net earnings from discontinued operations and are discussed below.

Revenues from our Refining and Marketing segment in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 increased 13 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Refining revenues rose due to the increase in refined product pricing, consistent with higher average Chicago refined product benchmark prices and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The rise was partially offset by decreased refined product output. Revenues from third-party crude oil and natural gas sales undertaken by the marketing group increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared with 2016. In the second quarter, the increase was primarily due to higher crude oil and natural gas sales prices, partially offset by a decrease in purchased crude oil, natural gas and condensate volumes. On a year-to-date basis, the rise in marketing revenues was due to higher crude oil and natural gas sales prices and an increase in purchased crude oil and condensate volumes, partially offset by a decline in natural gas volumes.

Corporate and Eliminations revenues relate to sales and operating revenues between segments and are recorded at transfer prices based on current market prices.

We intend to divest all of our legacy Conventional assets. As such, our Conventional segment has been classified as a discontinued operation. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, Conventional revenues were $336 million and $660 million, respectively. The increase in revenues compared with 2016 was primarily due to higher commodity prices and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. These increases were partially offset by a rise in royalties.

Further information regarding our revenues can be found in the Reportable Segments section of this MD&A.

Operating Margin

Operating Margin is an additional subtotal found in Note 1 and Note 8 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements and is used to provide a consistent measure of the cash generating performance of our assets for comparability of our underlying financial performance between periods. Operating Margin is defined as revenues less purchased product, transportation and blending, operating expenses, production and mineral taxes plus realized gains less realized losses on risk management activities. Items within the Corporate and Eliminations segment are excluded from the calculation of Operating Margin.

Total Operating Margin

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,      Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Revenues

   4,479        3,096        8,442        5,408  

(Add) Deduct:

                 

Purchased Product

   2,183        1,712        4,513        3,140  

Transportation and Blending

   943        440        1,560        891  

Operating Expenses

   579        393        1,048        845  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   5        3        10        5  

Realized (Gain) Loss on Risk Management Activities

   (9)       7        83        (158) 

Total Operating Margin (1)

   778        541        1,228        685  

 

(1) Includes results from our Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 17

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

 

Total Operating Margin increased 44 percent in the second quarter of 2017 compared with 2016 primarily due to:

·       A 72 percent increase in our liquids sales volumes as well as a 55 percent rise in our natural gas sales volumes, primarily related to the Acquisition and our recent oil sands expansion phases; and

·       Our average liquids sales price rising 22 percent and our average natural gas sales price increasing 84 percent, consistent with higher associated benchmark prices and the increase in diversity of products with higher light and medium crude oil and NGLs being produced by our Deep Basin Assets.

  

Total Operating Margin by Segment

LOGO

These increases in Operating Margin were partially offset by:

·  

A rise in transportation and blending expenses due to higher blending costs, related to an increase in condensate volumes required for blending our increased oil sands production along with higher condensate prices;

·  

An increase in operating expenses primarily due to the Acquisition, higher fuel costs as a result of an increase in natural gas prices, and a rise in repairs and maintenance activities primarily related to the planned turnaround at Foster Creek that was in line with budget;

·  

Lower Operating Margin from Refining and Marketing due to narrowing heavy crude oil differentials and a decline in average market crack spreads, partially offset by lower realized risk management losses;

·  

Higher royalties primarily due to an increase in the WTI benchmark price (which determines the royalty rate), a rise in our liquids sales price, and an increase in sales volumes due to the Acquisition; and

·  

Realized risk management gains of $11 million, associated with our upstream assets, compared with gains of $35 million in the second quarter of 2016.

Total Operating Margin Variance

 

LOGO

 

(1) Other includes the value of condensate sold as heavy oil blend recorded in revenues and condensate costs recorded in transportation and blending expense. The crude oil price excludes the impact of condensate purchases.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 18

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

 

Operating Margin increased 79 percent in the first six months of 2017 compared with 2016 primarily due to:

·       Our average liquids sales price increasing 67 percent and our average natural gas sales price rising 50 percent, consistent with higher associated benchmark prices and the increase in diversity of products with higher light and medium crude oil and NGLs being produced by our Deep Basin Assets; and

·      A 41 percent increase in our liquids sales volumes as well as a 22 percent rise in our natural gas sales volumes, primarily related to the Acquisition and our recent oil sand expansion phases.

  

Total Operating Margin by Segment

LOGO

These increases to Operating Margin were partially offset by:

·  

A rise in transportation and blending expenses due to higher blending costs, related to an increase in condensate volumes required for blending our increased oil sands production along with higher condensate prices;

·  

Realized risk management losses of $79 million, associated with our upstream assets, compared with gains of $180 million in 2016;

·  

An increase in operating expenses primarily due to the Acquisition and higher fuel costs related to the increase in natural gas pricing;

·  

Higher royalties primarily due to an increase in the WTI benchmark price (which determines the royalty rate), a rise in our liquids sales price, and an increase in sales volumes due to the Acquisition; and

·  

Lower Operating Margin from Refining and Marketing due to narrowing heavy crude oil differentials, a decline in crude utilization rates and higher operating costs related to the larger scope of turnaround activities in the first quarter, and lower margins on the sale of secondary products.

Total Operating Margin Variance

LOGO LOGO

 

(1) Other includes the value of condensate sold as heavy oil blend recorded in revenues and condensate costs recorded in transportation and blending expense. The crude oil price excludes the impact of condensate purchases.

Additional details explaining the changes in Operating Margin can be found in the Reportable Segments section of this MD&A.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 19

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Operating Margin From Continuing Operations

Operating Margin From Continuing Operations excludes results from our Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Revenues

   4,143        2,835        7,782        4,893  

(Add) Deduct:

                 

Purchased Product

   2,183        1,712        4,513        3,140  

Transportation and Blending

   889        395        1,455        799  

Operating Expenses

   464        286        823        616  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   -        -        -        -  

Realized (Gain) Loss on Risk Management Activities

   (12)       18        67        (108) 

Operating Margin From Continuing Operations

   619        424        924        446  

Cash From Operating Activities and Adjusted Funds Flow

Adjusted Funds Flow is a non-GAAP measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring a company’s ability to finance its capital programs and meet its financial obligations. Adjusted Funds Flow is defined as Cash From Operating Activities excluding net change in other assets and liabilities and net change in non-cash working capital. Net change in other assets and liabilities is composed of site restoration costs and pension funding. Non-cash working capital is composed of current assets and current liabilities, excluding cash and cash equivalents and risk management.

Total Cash From Operating Activities and Adjusted Funds Flow

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Cash From Operating Activities (1)

   1,239        205        1,567        387  

(Add) Deduct:

                 

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities

   (25)       (17)       (56)       (46) 

Net Change in Non-Cash Working Capital

   472        (218)       508        (33) 

Adjusted Funds Flow (1)

   792        440        1,115        466  

 

(1) Includes results from our Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, Cash From Operating Activities and Adjusted Funds Flow increased primarily as a result of higher Operating Margin, as discussed above, a realized risk management gain on foreign exchange contracts due to hedging activity undertaken to support the Acquisition, and a higher current tax recovery, partially offset by higher finance costs primarily associated with additional debt incurred to finance the Acquisition.

The change in non-cash working capital for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was primarily due to a decline in accounts receivable, partially offset by an increase in income tax receivable. For the three months ended June 30, 2016, the change in non-cash working capital was primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable, partially offset by a rise in accounts payable.

The change in non-cash working capital for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was primarily due to a decline in accounts receivable, partially offset by an increase in income tax receivable. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the change in non-cash working capital was primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable and a rise in inventory, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable.

Cash From Operating Activities From Continuing Operations and Adjusted Funds Flow From Continuing Operations

Cash From Operating Activities From Continuing Operations and Adjusted Funds Flow From Continuing Operations excludes results from our Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Cash From Operating Activities From Continuing Operations

   1,102        121        1,297        215  

(Add) Deduct:

                 

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities

   (20)       (13)       (44)       (39) 

Net Change in Non-Cash Working Capital

   472        (218)       508        (33) 

Adjusted Funds Flow From Continuing Operations

   650        352        833        287  

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 20

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Operating Earnings (Loss)

Operating Earnings (Loss) is a non-GAAP measure used to provide a consistent measure of the comparability of our underlying financial performance between periods by removing non-operating items. Operating Earnings (Loss) is defined as Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax excluding gain (loss) on discontinuance, revaluation gain, gain on bargain purchase, unrealized risk management gains (losses) on derivative instruments, unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on translation of U.S. dollar denominated notes issued from Canada, foreign exchange gains (losses) on settlement of intercompany transactions, gains (losses) on divestiture of assets, less income taxes on Operating Earnings (Loss) before tax, excluding the effect of changes in statutory income tax rates and the recognition of an increase in U.S. tax basis.

Total Operating Earnings

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,      Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Earnings (Loss), Before Income Tax (1)

   3,342        (348)       3,602        (683) 

Add (Deduct):

                 

Unrealized Risk Management (Gain) Loss (2)

   (132)       284        (411)       433  

Non-Operating Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss (3)

   (279)       18        (335)       (395) 

Revaluation (Gain)

   (2,524)       -        (2,524)       -  

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

   -        1        1        1  

Operating Earnings (Loss), Before Income Tax

   407        (45)       333        (644) 

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

   9        (6)       (26)       (182) 

Operating Earnings (Loss)

   398        (39)       359        (462) 

 

(1)

Includes discontinued operations.

(2)

Includes the reversal of unrealized (gains) losses recorded in prior periods.

(3)

Includes unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses on translation of U.S. dollar denominated notes issued from Canada and foreign exchange (gains) losses on settlement of intercompany transactions.

Operating Earnings increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared with 2016 primarily due to higher Cash from Operating Activities and Adjusted Funds Flow, as discussed above, unrealized foreign exchange gains related to operating activities as compared with losses in 2016, and the re-measurement of the contingent payment. In the three months ended June 30, 2017, the increase in Operating Earnings was partially offset by an increase in DD&A. On a year-to-date basis, DD&A declined slightly improving Operating Earnings.

Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations

Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations excludes results from our Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,      Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations, Before Income Tax

   3,263        (296)       3,523        (406) 

Add (Deduct):

                 

Unrealized Risk Management (Gain) Loss (1)

   (132)       284        (411)       433  

Non-Operating Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss (2)

   (279)       18        (335)       (395) 

Revaluation (Gain)

   (2,524)       -        (2,524)       -  

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

   -        1        1        1  

Operating Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations, Before Income Tax

   328        7        254        (367) 

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

   (16)       10        (51)       (95) 

Operating Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations

   344        (3)       305        (272) 

 

(1)

Includes the reversal of unrealized (gains) losses recorded in prior periods.

(2)

Includes unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses on translation of U.S. dollar denominated notes issued from Canada and foreign exchange (gains) losses on settlement of intercompany transactions.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 21

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Net Earnings

 

($ millions)   

Three Months  

Ended  

         

  Six Months  

Ended  

 

Net Earnings (Loss) for the Periods Ended June 30, 2016

     (267)             (385)   

Increase (Decrease) due to:

       

Operating Margin From Continuing Operations

     195            478    

Corporate and Eliminations:

       

Unrealized Risk Management Gain (Loss)

     416            844    

Unrealized Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss)

     414            77    

Revaluation (Gain)

     2,524            2,524    

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

     66            66    

Gain (Loss) on Divestiture of Assets

     1            -    

Expenses (1)

     105            123    

DD&A

     (162)           (184)   

Exploration Expense

     -            1    

Income Tax Recovery (Expense)

     (747)           (942)   

Earnings From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax

     95            249    

Net Earnings (Loss) for the Periods Ended June 30, 2017

     2,640            2,851    

 

(1)

Includes realized risk management (gains) losses, general and administrative, finance costs, interest income, realized foreign exchange (gains) losses, transaction costs, research costs, other (income) loss, net and Corporate and Eliminations revenues, purchased product, transportation and blending, and operating expenses.

Net Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased primarily due to:

·  

A revaluation gain of $2,524 million related to the deemed disposition of our pre-existing interest in FCCL. See the Corporate and Eliminations or the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition sections of this MD&A for more details;

·  

Higher Operating Earnings, as discussed above;

·  

Unrealized risk management gains of $132 million in the quarter compared with unrealized losses of $284 million in the second quarter of 2016; and

·  

Non-operating unrealized foreign exchange gains of $279 million related to the translation of our U.S. dollar denominated debt compared with unrealized losses of $18 million in 2016.

These decreases were partially offset by higher deferred income tax expense in 2017 primarily due to the gain on the revaluation of our pre-existing partnership interest in FCCL in connection with the Acquisition compared with a deferred tax recovery in 2016.

Net Earnings improved for the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to the revaluation gain, unrealized risk management gains of $411 million compared with unrealized losses of $433 million in 2016, and higher Operating Earnings, as discussed above. These increases were partially offset by a deferred income tax expense compared with a deferred income tax recovery in 2016 and non-operating unrealized foreign exchange gains of $335 million compared with unrealized gains of $395 million in 2016.

Net Capital Investment

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Oil Sands

   215        139        387        366  

Deep Basin

   13        -        13        -  

Conventional

   50        34        138        73  

Refining and Marketing

   40        53        86        105  

Corporate and Eliminations

   9        10        16        15  

Capital Investment

   327        236        640        559  

Acquisitions (1)

  

29,835  

    

11  

    

29,835  

    

11  

Divestitures (1)

  

(9,081) 

    

-  

    

(9,081) 

    

-  

Net Capital Investment (2)

   21,081        247        21,394        570  

 

(1)

In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus was deemed to have disposed of its pre-existing interest in FCCL and re-acquired it at fair value as required by IFRS 3.

(2)

Includes expenditures on PP&E, E&E assets, assets held for sale and discontinued operations.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 22

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Capital investment in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017 increased 39 percent and 14 percent, respectively compared to 2016. In the first half of 2017, Oil Sands capital investment focused primarily on sustaining capital related to existing production; stratigraphic test wells to determine pad placement for sustaining wells, near-term expansion phases, and progression of certain emerging assets; and for Christina Lake expansion phase G. Deep Basin capital investment in the first 45 days of ownership focused on asset development planning and the commencement of our drilling program. Drilling activity will be focused on drilling horizontal production wells targeting liquids rich gas in the Deep Basin corridor. In the first half of 2017, Conventional capital investment focused on sustaining capital and the tight oil drilling program in southern Alberta. Capital investment in the Refining and Marketing segment focused on capital maintenance and reliability work.

Further information regarding our capital investment can be found in the Reportable Segments section of this MD&A.

Capital Investment Decisions

We are intently focused on completing divestitures of our legacy Conventional assets in order to deleverage our balance sheet. Repaying the committed Bridge Facility is our number one priority.

Our disciplined approach to long-term capital allocation includes prioritizing our uses of cash in the following manner:

·  

First, to sustaining and maintenance capital for our existing business operations;

·  

Second, to paying our current dividend as part of providing strong total shareholder return; and

·  

Third, for growth or discretionary capital.

Our approach to capital allocation includes evaluating all opportunities using specific rigorous criteria with the objective of maintaining a prudent and flexible capital structure and strong balance sheet metrics, which position us to be financially resilient in times of lower cash flows. In addition, we continue to evaluate other corporate and financial opportunities, including generating cash from our existing portfolio. Refer to the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this MD&A for further information.

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,       Six Months Ended June 30,
($ millions)   2017         2016         2017         2016 

 

Adjusted Funds Flow (1)

  792      440      1,115      466 

Capital Investment (Sustaining and Growth)

  327      236      640      559 

Free Funds Flow (1) (2)

  465      204      475      (93)

Cash Dividends

  61      42      102      83 
  404      162      373      (176)

 

(1)

Includes discontinued operations.

(2)

Free Funds Flow is a non-GAAP measure defined as Adjusted Funds Flow less capital investment.

Upon further review of our capital program following our June 20, 2017 news release, we updated our 2017 guidance estimates, including future capital investment, as cost savings opportunities have been identified. We now expect to spend between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion. Guidance has decreased from June 20, 2017 by approximately 11 percent.

In the first half of 2016, capital investment in excess of Adjusted Funds Flow was funded through our cash balance on hand.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 23

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

REPORTABLE SEGMENTS

 

 

Our reportable segments are as follows:

 

Oil Sands, which includes the development and production of bitumen and natural gas in northeast Alberta. Cenovus’s bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake as well as projects in the early stages of development, such as Telephone Lake. Our interest in certain of our operated oil sands properties, notably Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake increased from 50 percent to 100 percent on May 17, 2017.

 

Deep Basin, which includes approximately three million net acres of land primarily in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas, rich in natural gas and natural gas liquids. The assets reside in Alberta and British Columbia and include interests in numerous natural gas processing facilities. The Deep Basin Assets were acquired on May 17, 2017.

 

Conventional, which has been classified as a discontinued operation as we have commenced marketing for sale our Conventional assets. This segment includes the development and production of conventional crude oil, NGLs and natural gas in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including the heavy oil assets at Pelican Lake, the CO2 enhanced oil recovery project at Weyburn and emerging tight oil opportunities.

 

Refining and Marketing, which is responsible for transporting, selling and refining crude oil into petroleum and chemical products. Cenovus jointly owns two refineries in the U.S. with the operator Phillips 66, an unrelated U.S. public company. In addition, Cenovus owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. This segment coordinates Cenovus’s marketing and transportation initiatives to optimize product mix, delivery points, transportation commitments and customer diversification.

 

     LOGO

Corporate and Eliminations, which primarily includes unrealized gains and losses recorded on derivative financial instruments, gains and losses on divestiture of assets, as well as other Cenovus-wide costs for general and administrative, financing activities and research costs. As financial instruments are settled, the realized gains and losses are recorded in the reportable segment to which the derivative instrument relates. Eliminations relate to sales and operating revenues, and purchased product between segments, recorded at transfer prices based on current market prices, and to unrealized intersegment profits in inventory.

Revenues by Reportable Segment (1)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)    2017          2016          2017          2016  

Oil Sands (2)

   1,630        706        2,665        1,176  

Deep Basin (3)

   116        -        116        -  

Refining and Marketing

   2,397        2,129        5,001        3,717  

Corporate and Eliminations

   (106)       (89)       (204)       (156) 
   4,037        2,746        7,578        4,737  

 

(1)

In the first quarter of 2017, we announced the sale of certain assets, including our Pelican Lake and Suffield assets, as part of our plan to repay the committed Bridge Facility associated with the Acquisition. In the second quarter of 2017, we announced our intention to divest the remaining Conventional segment assets, including our Palliser and Weyburn assets. The Conventional segment has been classified as a discontinued operation. For the three and six months ending June 30, 2017, revenues related to discontinued operations were $336 million and $660 million, respectively (2016 – $261 million and $515 million, respectively).

(2)

Our second quarter results include 45 days of FCCL operations at 100 percent interest from May 17, 2017 until June 30, 2017. See the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition section and the Oil Sands segment section of this MD&A for more details.

(3)

Our second quarter results include 45 days of operations from the Deep Basin Assets from May 17, 2017 until June 30, 2017. See the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition section and the Deep Basin segment section of this MD&A for more details.

 

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OIL SANDS

In northeastern Alberta, we now own 100 percent of the Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake oil sands projects following the completion of the Acquisition. We have several emerging projects in the early stages of development, including our 100 percent-owned project at Telephone Lake. The Oil Sands segment also includes the Athabasca natural gas property, from which a portion of the natural gas production is used as fuel at the adjacent Foster Creek operations.

Significant developments in our Oil Sands segment in the second quarter of 2017 compared with 2016 include:

·  

Increasing our ownership of FCCL from 50 percent to 100 percent upon closing of the Acquisition on May 17, 2017;

·  

Increasing crude oil production by 84 percent due to the Acquisition and incremental production volumes from Foster Creek phase G and Christina Lake phase F, both of which started-up in the second half of 2016;

·  

Crude oil netbacks, excluding realized risk management activities, of $22.34 per barrel, a 55 percent increase from the second quarter of 2016; and

·  

Generating Operating Margin net of capital investment of $329 million, an increase of $237 million.

Oil Sands – Crude Oil

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

Financial Results

 

      Three Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)   2017             2016   

 

Gross Sales

  1,661        707   

Less: Royalties

  36        3   

Revenues

  1,625        704   

Expenses

     

Transportation and Blending

  879        395   

Operating

  218        101   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (14)       (24)  

Operating Margin

  542        232   

Capital Investment

  215        138   

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  327        94   

Operating Margin Variance

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Revenues include the value of condensate sold as heavy oil blend. Condensate costs are recorded in transportation and blending expense. The crude oil price excludes the impact of condensate purchases.

Revenues

Price

In the second quarter of 2017, our average crude oil sales price increased significantly to $39.73 per barrel (2016 – $30.59 per barrel). The rise in our crude oil price was consistent with the increase in the WCS and Christina Dilbit Blend (“CDB”) benchmark prices, the narrowing of the WCS-Condensate differential, and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The WCS-CDB differential narrowed to a discount of US$1.53 per barrel (2016 – discount of US$2.64 per barrel).

Our crude oil sales price is influenced by the cost of condensate used in blending. Our blending ratios range between 25 percent and 33 percent. As the cost of condensate increases relative to the price of blended crude oil, our bitumen sales price decreases. Due to high demand for condensate at Edmonton, we also purchase condensate from U.S. markets. As such, our average cost of condensate is generally higher than the Edmonton benchmark

 

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price due to transportation between market hubs and transportation to field locations. In addition, up to three months may elapse from when we purchase condensate to when we blend it with our production. In a rising price environment, we expect to see some benefit in our bitumen sales price as we are using condensate purchased at a lower price earlier in the year.

Production Volumes

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,
(barrels per day)   2017           

         Percent  

Change  

         2016  

 

Foster Creek

  107,859       67%       64,544  

Christina Lake

  153,953       97%       78,060  
           261,812       84%                142,604  

Production at Foster Creek was higher compared with 2016 primarily due to the Acquisition and incremental production volumes from the phase G expansion, partially offset by the impact of a 20-day planned turnaround, including ramp down and ramp up, at Foster Creek. The total increase in production volumes related to the Acquisition in the three months ended June 30, 2017 was 36,534 barrels per day. The impact of the planned turnaround was approximately 11,073 barrels per day in the second quarter of 2017.

Production from Christina Lake increased in the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to the Acquisition and incremental production volumes from the phase F expansion. The total increase in production volumes related to the Acquisition in the three months ended June 30, 2017 was 51,709 barrels per day.

Condensate

The bitumen currently produced by Cenovus must be blended with condensate to reduce its thickness in order to transport it to market through pipelines. Revenues represent the total value of blended crude oil sold and include the value of condensate. Consistent with the narrowing of the WCS-Condensate differential during the second quarter, the proportion of the cost of condensate recovered increased. The amount of condensate used increased as a result of the Acquisition.

Royalties

Royalty calculations for our oil sands projects are based on government prescribed pre- and post-payout royalty rates which are determined on a sliding scale using the Canadian dollar equivalent WTI benchmark price. Royalty calculations differ between properties.

Royalties at Foster Creek, a post-payout project, are based on an annualized calculation which uses the greater of: (1) the gross revenues multiplied by the applicable royalty rate (one to nine percent, based on the Canadian dollar equivalent WTI benchmark price); or (2) the net profits of the project multiplied by the applicable royalty rate (25 to 40 percent, based on the Canadian dollar equivalent WTI benchmark price). Gross revenues are a function of sales volumes and sales prices. Net profits are a function of sales volumes, sales prices and allowed operating and capital costs. In the three months ended June 30, 2017, our royalty calculation was based on net profits as compared with a calculation based on gross revenues for 2016.

Royalties at Christina Lake, a pre-payout project, are based on a monthly calculation that applies a royalty rate (ranging from one to nine percent, based on the Canadian dollar equivalent WTI benchmark price) to the gross revenues from the project.

Effective Royalty Rates

 

     Three Months Ended June 30, 
(percent)    2017       2016  

 

Foster Creek

   7.3       1.0  

Christina Lake

   2.6       1.2  

Royalties increased $33 million in the second quarter compared with 2016, primarily due to an increase in the WTI benchmark price (which determines the royalty rate).

Expenses

Transportation and Blending

Transportation and blending costs increased $484 million. Blending costs increased due to a rise in condensate volumes required for our increased production along with higher condensate prices. Our condensate costs were higher than the average Edmonton benchmark price in the second quarter, primarily due to the transportation expense associated with moving the condensate between market hubs and to our oil sands projects.

 

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Transportation costs increased primarily due to higher sales volumes due to the Acquisition and ramp up of the expansion phases. To help ensure adequate capacity for our expected production growth, we have capacity commitments in excess of our current production. Production growth is expected to reduce our per-barrel transportation costs.

In addition, rail costs rose as a result of moving higher volumes by rail in the second quarter compared with 2016. We transported an average of 8,280 barrels per day of crude oil by rail (2016 – 5,405 barrels per day).

Per-unit Transportation Expenses

At Foster Creek, per-barrel transportation costs declined $1.00 per barrel and at Christina Lake transportation costs declined $0.80 per barrel. The decreases were primarily due to an increase in sales volumes and an increase in the proportion of Canadian to U.S. sales resulting in lower costs associated with pipeline tariffs. The decline at Foster Creek was partially offset by an increase in rail costs related to an increase in volumes shipped via unit trains.

Operating

Primary drivers of our operating expenses for the second quarter were workforce, fuel, repairs and maintenance, and chemical costs. Total operating expenses increased $117 million primarily due to the Acquisition, increased fuel costs with the rise in natural gas prices, and higher repairs and maintenance primarily due to the turnaround at Foster Creek.

Per-unit Operating Expenses

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,
($/bbl)   2017         

Percent  

Change  

       2016  

Foster Creek

         

Fuel

  2.89       76%       1.64  

Non-fuel

  9.42       11%       8.51  

Total

  12.31       21%       10.15  

Christina Lake

         

Fuel

  2.38       68%       1.42  

Non-fuel

  4.66       (5)%       4.93  

Total

  7.04       11%       6.35  

Total

  9.19       14%       8.06  

At Foster Creek, per-barrel fuel costs rose compared with 2016 primarily due to higher natural gas prices. Non-fuel operating expenses increased on a per-barrel basis primarily due to higher repairs and maintenance, and fluid and waste handling and trucking costs related to turnaround activities, partially offset by higher production.

At Christina Lake, fuel costs increased on a per-barrel basis in 2017 primarily due to higher natural gas prices. Non-fuel operating expenses declined due to higher production, partially offset by an increase in workforce and chemical costs related to phase F.

Netbacks (1)

 

    Foster Creek       Christina Lake
    Three Months Ended June 30,
($/bbl)   2017          2016          2017          2016  

 

Sales Price

  44.38       33.40       36.54       28.31  

Royalties

  2.49       0.23       0.85       0.28  

Transportation and Blending

  10.44       11.44       4.10       4.90  

Operating Expenses

  12.31       10.15       7.04       6.35  

Netback Excluding Realized Risk Management

  19.14       11.58       24.55       16.78  

Realized Risk Management Gain (Loss)

  1.01       1.88       0.34       1.96  

Netback Including Realized Risk Management

  20.15       13.46       24.89       18.74  

 

(1) Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended crude oil.

Risk Management

Risk management activities in the second quarter resulted in realized gains of $14 million (2016 – realized gains of $24 million), consistent with our contract prices exceeding average benchmark prices.

 

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Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

Financial Results

    Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)                 2017                        2016   

 

Gross Sales

  2,716        1,172   

Less: Royalties

  63        3   

Revenues

  2,653        1,169   

Expenses

     

Transportation and Blending

  1,445        799   

Operating

  354        223   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  63        (130)  

Operating Margin

  791        277   

Capital Investment

  384        365   

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  407        (88)  

In 2016, capital investment in excess of Operating Margin from Oil Sands was funded through Operating Margin generated by our Conventional and Refining and Marketing segments, as well as our cash balance on hand.

Operating Margin Variance

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Revenues include the value of condensate sold as heavy oil blend. Condensate costs are recorded in transportation and blending expense. The crude oil price excludes the impact of condensate purchases.

Revenues

Price

In the six months ended June 30, 2017, our average crude oil sales price increased significantly to $39.09 per barrel (2016 – $20.28 per barrel). The significant rise in our crude oil price was consistent with the increase in the WCS and Christina Dilbit Blend (“CDB”) benchmark prices, the narrowing of the WCS-Condensate differential, and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. The WCS-CDB differential narrowed to a discount of US$1.66 per barrel (2016 – discount of US$2.30 per barrel).

Production Volumes

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,
(barrels per day)   2017        

            Percent  

Change  

 

 

  2016  

Foster Creek

  94,437       51%       62,713  

Christina Lake

  127,442       64%       77,577  
              221,879       58%                   140,290  

Production at Foster Creek was higher compared with 2016 due to incremental production volumes from the phase G expansion and the Acquisition, partially offset by the impact of a 20-day planned turnaround at Foster Creek. Production from Christina Lake increased in the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to the Acquisition and incremental production volumes from the phase F expansion. The total increase in production volumes related to the Acquisition in the six months ended June 30, 2017 was 18,453 barrels per day and 25,998 barrels per day for Foster Creek and Christina Lake, respectively. The impact of the Foster Creek turnaround was approximately 5,567 barrels per day in 2017.

 

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Royalties

Effective Royalty Rates

 

     Six Months Ended June 30, 
(percent)    2017      2016  

 

Foster Creek

   7.8      0.3  

Christina Lake

   2.6      1.2  

Royalties increased $60 million. On a year-to-date basis, our Foster Creek royalty calculation was based on net profits as compared with a calculation based on gross revenues in 2016. Our royalties at Foster Creek increased primarily due to an increase in the WTI benchmark price (which determines the royalty rate). In 2016, the low royalty rate was primarily due to low crude oil sales prices and a true-up of the 2015 royalty calculation.

Christina Lake royalties increased in 2017 primarily as a result of a rise in the WTI benchmark price (which determines the royalty rate) and higher sales prices.

Expenses

Transportation and Blending

Transportation and blending costs increased $646 million. Blending costs increased due to a rise in condensate volumes required for our increased production along with higher condensate prices. Our condensate costs were higher than the average Edmonton benchmark price in the six months ended June 30, 2017, primarily due to the transportation expense associated with moving the condensate between market hubs and to our oil sands projects.

Transportation costs increased primarily due to higher sales volumes related to the ramp up of the expansion phases and the Acquisition.

In addition, rail costs rose as a result of moving higher volumes by rail compared with 2016. We transported an average of 9,370 barrels per day of crude oil by rail (2016 – 3,859 barrels per day).

Per-unit Transportation Expenses

At Foster Creek, per-barrel transportation costs declined $0.80 per barrel and at Christina Lake transportation costs declined $0.99 per barrel. The decreases were primarily due to an increase in sales volumes and an increase in the proportion of Canadian to U.S. sales resulting in lower costs associated with pipeline tariffs. The decline at Foster Creek was partially offset by an increase in rail costs related to an increase in volumes shipped via unit trains.

Operating

Primary drivers of our operating expenses in the first half of 2017 were workforce, fuel, repairs and maintenance, workovers, and chemicals. Total operating expenses increased $131 million primarily due to increased fuel costs with the rise in natural gas prices, the Acquisition, and higher repairs and maintenance primarily due to the turnaround at Foster Creek.

Per-unit Operating Expenses

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,
($/bbl)   2017        

Percent  

Change  

 

 

  2016  

 

Foster Creek

         

Fuel

  2.91       42%       2.05  

Non-fuel

  8.42       (7)%       9.04  

Total

  11.33       2%       11.09  

Christina Lake

         

Fuel

  2.45       44%       1.70  

Non-fuel

  4.97       (6)%       5.30  

Total

  7.42       6%       7.00  

Total

  9.10       4%       8.79  

At Foster Creek, per-barrel fuel costs increased primarily due to the rise in natural gas prices. Per-barrel non-fuel operating expenses declined primarily due to higher production and a true-up of the 2016 emissions charge under the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (“SGER”), partially offset by higher repairs and maintenance, fluid and waste handling and trucking costs related to turnaround activities, an increase in workover costs due to a higher number of pump changes, and higher electrical consumption.

At Christina Lake, fuel costs rose on a per-barrel basis due to higher natural gas prices. Per-barrel non-fuel operating expenses decreased primarily due to higher production, partially offset by a true-up of the 2016 emissions charged under the SGER, and an increase in workforce and chemical costs related to phase F. Christina Lake’s emissions are below the threshold set by the SGER program and generate performance credits which are applied to the charges incurred at Foster Creek.

 

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Netbacks (1)

 

    Foster Creek       Christina Lake
    Six Months Ended June 30,
($/bbl)   2017         2016         2017         2016  

Sales Price

  42.79       22.78       36.29       18.33  

Royalties

  2.64       0.04       0.85       0.16  

Transportation and Blending

  9.29       10.09       4.11       5.10  

Operating Expenses

  11.33       11.09       7.42       7.00  

Netback Excluding Realized Risk Management

  19.53       1.56       23.91       6.07  

Realized Risk Management Gain (Loss)

  (1.84)      5.63       (1.44)      4.77  

Netback Including Realized Risk Management

  17.69       7.19       22.47       10.84  

 

(1) Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended crude oil.

Risk Management

Risk management activities in the first six months of 2017 resulted in realized losses of $63 million (2016 – realized gains of $130 million), consistent with average benchmark prices exceeding our contract prices.

Oil Sands – Natural Gas

Oil Sands includes our natural gas operations in northeastern Alberta. A portion of the natural gas produced from our Athabasca property is used as fuel at Foster Creek. Our natural gas production for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, net of internal usage, was 12 MMcf per day and 13 MMcf per day, respectively (2016 – 18 MMcf per day and 17 MMcf per day, respectively).

Operating Margin from our Oil Sands natural gas production was $2 million in the second quarter (2016 – $nil) and $3 million on a year-to-date basis (2016 – $1 million), increasing primarily due to higher natural gas sales prices.

Oil Sands – Capital Investment

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)       2017             2016              2017             2016  

Foster Creek

  120       68       190       157  

Christina Lake

  77       61       140       175  
  197       129       330       332  

Narrows Lake

  3       1       8       5  

Telephone Lake

  5       3       29       10  

Grand Rapids

  1       1       1       6  

Other (1)

  9       5       19       13  

Capital Investment (2)

  215       139       387       366  

 

(1) Includes new resource plays and Athabasca natural gas.
(2) Includes expenditures on PP&E, E&E assets, and assets held for sale.

Existing Projects

Capital investment reflects our 100 percent ownership of FCCL from May 17, 2017 forward. Capital investment at Foster Creek in the first half of 2017 focused on sustaining capital related to existing production and stratigraphic test wells. In 2016, capital investment remained low due to spending reductions in response to the low commodity price environment.

In the first half of 2017, Christina Lake capital investment focused on sustaining capital related to existing production, the phase G expansion and stratigraphic test wells. Capital investment increased in the second quarter of 2017 compared with 2016 due to our 100 percent ownership of FCCL from May 17, 2017 forward. On a year-to-date basis, capital investment declined in 2017 due to the completion of the phase F expansion. In 2016, capital was focused on sustaining capital related to existing production, the completion of expansion phase F and stratigraphic test wells.

Capital investment at Narrows Lake in the first half of 2017 focused on drilling of stratigraphic test wells to further progress the project. Capital investment remained relatively consistent in 2017 compared with 2016.

Emerging Projects

In the first half of 2017, Telephone Lake capital investment focused on the drilling of stratigraphic test wells to further assess the project. In 2017, Telephone Lake capital investment increased compared with 2016. In 2016, spending was reduced in response to the low commodity price environment and focused on front-end engineering work for the central processing facility.

 

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Drilling Activity

 

   

Gross Stratigraphic

Test Wells

       

Gross Production

Wells (1)

Six Months Ended June 30,       2017                2016                  2017              2016  

 

Foster Creek

  93        95       20        11  

Christina Lake

  98        97       8        19  
  191        192       28        30  

Narrows Lake

  2        -       -        -  

Telephone Lake

  13        -       -        -  

Other

  1        5       -        -  
  207        197       28        30  

 

(1) SAGD well pairs are counted as a single producing well.

Stratigraphic test wells were drilled to help identify well pad locations for sustaining wells and near-term expansion phases and to further progress the evaluation of emerging assets.

Future Capital Investment

Upon further review of our capital program following our June 20, 2017 news release, we updated our 2017 guidance estimate.

Our revised full year 2017 Oil Sands capital investment is forecast to be between $1,000 million and $1,120 million. Guidance has decreased from June 20, 2017 by approximately seven percent.

Foster Creek is currently producing from phases A through G. Capital investment for 2017 is forecast to be between $480 million and $530 million. We plan to continue focusing on sustaining capital related to existing production and to progress phase H, a potential 40,000 barrels per day phase, towards being sanction ready.

Christina Lake is producing from phases A through F. Capital investment for 2017 is forecast to be between $450 million and $500 million, focused on sustaining capital and construction of the phase G expansion, which had previously been deferred. Field construction of phase G, which has an initial design capacity of 50,000 barrels per day, resumed in the first quarter of 2017 and remains on track. Phase G is expected to start producing in late 2019.

Capital investment at Narrows Lake and our new resource plays in 2017 is forecast to be between $70 million and $90 million, focusing on a stratigraphic test well programs at Telephone Lake and Narrows Lake, and engineering and equipment preservation related to the suspension of construction at Narrows Lake.

DD&A and Exploration Expense

We deplete crude oil and natural gas properties on a unit-of-production basis over proved reserves. The unit-of-production rate takes into account expenditures incurred to date, together with future development expenditures required to develop those proved reserves. This rate, calculated at an area level, is then applied to our sales volume to determine DD&A in a given period. We believe that this method of calculating DD&A charges each barrel of crude oil equivalent sold with its proportionate share of the cost of capital invested over the total estimated life of the related asset as represented by proved reserves.

The following calculation illustrates how the implied depletion rate for our total upstream assets could be determined using the reported consolidated data and includes our Conventional segment, which has been classified as held for sale. Once classified as held for sale depletion stops.

 

($ millions, unless otherwise indicated)  

As at   

December 31, 2016   

Upstream Property, Plant and Equipment Carrying Value

  11,878   

Estimated Future Development Capital

  18,378   

Total Estimated Upstream Cost Base

  30,256   

Total Proved Reserves (MMBOE)

  2,667   

Implied Depletion Rate ($/BOE)

  11.34   

While this illustrates the calculation of the implied depletion rate, our depletion rates result in a total average rate ranging between $9.40 to $9.90 per BOE. Amounts related to assets under construction, assets held for sale, and discontinued operations which would be included in the total upstream cost base and would have proved reserves attributed to them, are not depleted. Property specific rates will exclude upstream assets that are depreciated on a straight-line basis. As such, our actual depletion will differ from depletion calculated by applying the above implied depletion rate. Further information on our accounting policy for DD&A is included in our notes to the December 31, 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, Oil Sands DD&A increased $117 and $139 million, respectively, from 2016. The increase was due to higher sales volumes primarily due to the Acquisition. The average depletion rate for the first six months of 2017 was approximately $10.99 per barrel compared with $11.55 per barrel in

 

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2016. Our DD&A rate decreased due to proved reserves additions and lower future development costs. The decrease in DD&A rates was partially offset by an increase in the carrying value of our assets due to the re-measurement of our pre-existing and the acquisition of the additional 50 percent interest at fair value.

Future development costs declined due to cost savings at both Foster Creek and Christina Lake related to a reduction in per well costs and increased well pair spacing. This decline was partially offset by an increase in costs related to the expansion of the development area and inclusion of phase G costs at Christina Lake.

There was no exploration expense recorded in 2017 (2016 – $1 million).

Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale

Concurrent with the announcement to acquire ConocoPhillips’ 50 percent interest in FCCL and the majority of ConocoPhillips’ Deep Basin Assets, which occurred on March 29, 2017, we commenced marketing for sale certain non-core properties. This includes our Grand Rapids project, which is adjacent to our Pelican Lake heavy oil asset. As a result, our Grand Rapids project was reclassified as assets held for sale. The assets are recorded at the lesser of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. The estimated fair value exceeds our carrying value.

DEEP BASIN

On May 17, 2017, we acquired the majority of ConocoPhillips’ western Canadian conventional crude oil and natural gas assets including undeveloped land, exploration and production assets, and related infrastructure in Alberta and British Columbia. Our Deep Basin Assets include approximately three million net acres of land primarily in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas, with an average 70 percent working interest. In addition, the Deep Basin Assets include interests in numerous natural gas processing plants with an estimated net processing capacity of 1.4 Bcf per day. The Deep Basin Assets are expected to provide short-cycle development opportunities with high return potential that complement our long-term oil sands development. Deep Basin production is expected to provide an economic hedge for the natural gas required as a fuel source at both our oil sands and refining operations, as well as NGLs that could be used as inputs for future solvent aided oil sands projects.

Our second quarter results include 45 days of operations from the Deep Basin Assets commencing May 17, 2017. The safe and efficient integration of the Deep Basin Assets is a top priority for Cenovus. We are committed to ensuring strong stakeholder and community relations as we establish ourselves as a new operator in the Deep Basin area. Significant developments that impacted our Deep Basin segment included:

·  

Netbacks of $9.66 per BOE;

·  

Total production from the date of acquisition averaging 119,273 BOE per day, equivalent to 58,981 BOE per day for the three months ended June 30, 2017, and 29,654 BOE per day for the six months ended June 30, 2017;

·  

Revenues of $116 million;

·  

Total operating costs of $51 million or $8.84 per BOE; and

·  

Generating Operating Margin net of capital investment of $42 million.

Financial Results

 

($ millions)  

May 17 –   

June 30, 2017   

 

Gross Sales

    124     

Less: Royalties

    8     

Revenues

    116     

Expenses

 

Transportation and Blending

    10     

Operating

    51     

Operating Margin

    55     

Capital Investment

    13     

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

    42     

 

Revenues

 

Price

 

 

 

    

May 17 –   

June 30, 2017   

 

NGLs ($/bbl)

    27.22     

Light and Medium Oil ($/bbl)

    62.29     

Natural Gas ($/mcf)

    2.88     

Total Oil Equivalent ($/BOE)

    21.94     

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 32

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Our Deep Basin Assets produce a diverse spectrum of products from natural gas, condensate, other NGLs (including, ethane, propane, butane and pentane) and light and medium oil. Our total oil equivalent sales price averaged $21.94 per BOE for the period ending June 30, 2017.

Revenues include $6 million of processing fee revenue related to our interest in natural gas processing facilities. We do not include processing fee revenue in our per-unit pricing metrics or our netbacks.

Production Volumes

 

     

Three Months

Ended

June 30, 2017

   

    

Six Months

Ended

June 30, 2017

 

Liquids

       

NGLs (barrels per day)

     13,835          6,956  

Light and Medium Oil (barrels per day)

     3,059          1,538  
     16,894            8,494  

Natural Gas (MMcf per day)

     253          127  

Total Production (BOE/d)

     58,981          29,654  

Natural Gas Production (percentage of total)

     71%          71%  

Liquids Production (percentage of total)

     29%          29%  

Total production from the date of acquisition to June 30, 2017 was 119,273 BOE per day, equivalent to 58,981 BOE per day for the three months ended June 30, 2017, and 29,654 BOE per day for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Royalties

The Deep Basin Assets are subject to royalty regimes in both Alberta and British Columbia. In Alberta, royalties benefit from a number of different programs that reduce the royalty rate on natural gas production. Natural gas wells in Alberta also benefit from the Gas Cost Allowance (“GCA”), which reduces royalties, to account for capital and operating costs incurred to process and transport the Crown’s portion of natural gas production.

Effective January 1, 2017, the Alberta Government released a new Royalty Regime, Alberta’s Modernized Royalty Framework (“MRF”), which applies to all producing wells after January 1, 2017. Under this new framework, Cenovus will pay a five percent pre-payout royalty on all production until the total revenue from a well equals the drilling and completion cost allowance calculated for each well that meets certain MRF criteria. Subsequently, a higher post-payout royalty rate will apply and will vary based on product-specific market prices. Once a well reaches a maturity threshold, the royalty rate will drop to better match declining production rates. Wells drilled before January 1, 2017 will be managed under the old framework until 2027 and then will convert to the MRF.

In British Columbia, royalties also benefit from programs to reduce the royalty rate on natural gas production. British Columbia applies a GCA, but only on natural gas processed through producer-owned plants. British Columbia also offers a Producer Cost of Service (“PCOS”) allowance, which reduces the royalty for the processing of the Crown’s portion of natural gas production.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the effective liquids royalty rate for our Deep Basin properties was 11.7 percent. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the effective natural gas royalty rate for our Deep Basin properties was 4.1 percent.

Expenses

Operating

Primary drivers of our operating expenses from May 17 to June 30, 2017 related to workforce, repairs and maintenance, property tax and lease costs, and electricity. Operating costs were $8.84 per BOE.

Transportation

Transportation costs were $1.96 per BOE and includes charges for the transportation of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs to the sales point.

Netbacks

 

($/BOE)   

May 17 –

June 30, 2017

 

Sales Price

     21.94  

Royalties

     1.45  

Transportation and Blending

     1.96  

Operating Expenses

     8.84  

Production and Mineral Taxes

     0.03  

Netback

     9.66  

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 33

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Deep Basin – Capital Investment and Drilling Activity

In the Deep Basin, we are taking a disciplined approach to restarting development activities, including the commencement of our drilling program in the second quarter. Our drilling activity will be focused on drilling horizontal production wells targeting liquids rich gas within the Deep Basin corridor.

Future Capital Investment

Upon further review of our capital program following our June 20, 2017 news release, we updated our 2017 guidance.

We are taking a disciplined development approach on the Deep Basin Assets through 2017 and anticipate ramping up our activity levels through 2020. We plan to focus capital investment on a number of drilling opportunities that have the potential to generate strong returns and start to use facilities that are currently underutilized. Our 2017 Deep Basin capital investment post May 17, 2017 is forecast to be between $160 million and $180 million.

DD&A

We deplete crude oil and natural gas properties on a unit-of-production basis over proved reserves. The unit-of-production rate takes into account expenditures incurred to date, together with future development expenditures required to develop those proved reserves. This rate, calculated at an area level, is then applied to our sales volume to determine DD&A in a given period. We believe that this method of calculating DD&A charges each barrel of crude oil equivalent sold with its proportionate share of the cost of capital invested over the total estimated life of the related asset as represented by proved reserves. Deep Basin DD&A for the 45 days ended June 30, 2017 was $45 million.

CONVENTIONAL (DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS)

We plan to divest our legacy Conventional assets. This includes our Pelican Lake heavy oil assets that use polymer flood and waterflood technology, our Suffield crude oil and natural gas assets in southern Alberta, a CO2 enhanced oil recovery project at Weyburn, and emerging tight oil assets in the Palliser area of Alberta. As such, our Conventional segment has been classified as a discontinued operation. The established assets in this segment have long life reserves, stable operations and produce a diversity of crude oil.

Significant developments that impacted our Conventional segment in the second quarter of 2017 compared with 2016 include:

·  

Our average liquids sales price increasing 22 percent to $51.22 per barrel;

·  

Liquids and natural gas Netbacks, excluding realized risk management activities, of $23.02 per barrel (2016 – $18.06 per barrel) and $1.42 per Mcf (2016 – $0.28 per Mcf), respectively;

·  

Liquids production averaging 54,958 barrels per day, declining slightly from 2016 primarily due to expected natural declines, partially offset by an increase in production associated with the tight oil drilling program in southern Alberta; and

·  

Generating Operating Margin net of capital investment of $109 million, an increase of 31 percent.

Conventional – Liquids

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

Financial Results

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,    
($ millions)                 2017                       2016    

Gross Sales

  293        239    

Less: Royalties

  44        31    

Revenues

  249        208    

Expenses

     

Transportation and Blending

  51        40    

Operating

  76        70    

Production and Mineral Taxes

  5        3    

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  3        (11)   

Operating Margin

  114        106    

Capital Investment

  47        32    

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  67        74    

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 34

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Operating Margin Variance

 

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Revenues include the value of condensate sold as heavy oil blend. Condensate costs are recorded in transportation and blending expense. The crude oil price excludes the impact of condensate purchases.

Revenues

Price

Our Conventional assets produce a diverse spectrum of crude oils, ranging from heavy oil, which realizes a price based on the WCS benchmark, to light oil, which realizes a price closer to the WTI benchmark.

Our liquids sales price averaged $51.22 per barrel in the second quarter of 2017, a 22 percent increase from 2016, due to higher crude oil benchmark prices, adjusted for applicable differentials, the narrowing of the WCS-Condensate differential and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. As the cost of condensate decreases relative to the price of blended crude oil, our heavy oil sales price increases. Due to high demand for condensate at Edmonton, we also purchase condensate from U.S. markets. As such, our average cost of condensate is generally higher than the Edmonton benchmark price due to transportation between market hubs and to field locations. In addition, up to three months may elapse from when we purchase condensate to when we blend it with our production. In a rising price environment, we expect to see some benefit in our heavy oil sales price as we are using condensate purchased at a lower price earlier in the year.

Production Volumes

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,
(barrels per day)   2017        

Percent  

Change  

 

 

  2016  

Heavy Oil

  26,593       (7)%       28,500  

Light and Medium Oil

  27,233       4%       26,177  

NGLs

  1,132       42%       799  
  54,958       (1)%       55,476  

Total production declined slightly in 2017 compared with 2016 primarily as a result of expected natural declines. In the second quarter of 2016, production at Pelican Lake was shut down for two days as a safety precaution due to a nearby forest fire, resulting in lost production of approximately 650 barrels per day for the quarter. Light and medium oil increased in 2017 associated with our tight oil drilling program in southern Alberta. NGLs increased compared to 2016 primarily due to improved NGL plant performance.

Condensate

The heavy oil currently produced by Cenovus must be blended with condensate to reduce its thickness in order to transport it to market through pipelines. Our blending ratios for Conventional heavy oil range between 10 percent and 16 percent. Revenues represent the total value of blended crude oil sold and includes the value of condensate. Consistent with the narrowing of the WCS-Condensate differential in the second quarter of 2017, the proportion of the cost of condensate recovered increased.

Royalties

Conventional liquids royalties increased primarily due to higher sales prices. In the second quarter of 2017, the effective liquids royalty rate for our Conventional properties was 18.4 percent (2016 – 15.5 percent).

Crown royalties at Pelican Lake are determined under oil sands royalty calculations. Pelican Lake is a post-payout project, therefore royalties are based on an annualized calculation which uses the greater of: (1) the gross revenues multiplied by the applicable royalty rate (one to nine percent, based on the Canadian dollar equivalent WTI benchmark price); or (2) the net profits of the project multiplied by the applicable royalty rate (25 to 40 percent, based on the Canadian dollar equivalent WTI benchmark price). Gross revenues are a function of sales volumes and sales prices. Net profits are a function of sales volumes, sales prices and allowed operating and capital costs. The Pelican Lake crown royalty calculation was based on net profits for the second quarter of 2016 and 2017.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 35

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Expenses

Transportation and Blending

Transportation and blending costs increased in the second quarter of 2017. Blending costs rose primarily due to higher condensate prices. Transportation charges were slightly higher.

Operating

Primary drivers of our operating expenses in the second quarter of 2017 were workforce, workovers, electricity, property taxes and lease costs, and repairs and maintenance. Operating costs increased seven percent to $14.99 per barrel primarily due to:

·  

An increase in workover costs and repairs and maintenance as a result of increased activity;

·  

An increase in electricity costs; and

·  

Higher fluid and waste handling and trucking costs.

In the second quarter of 2017, production and mineral taxes increased slightly, consistent with the rise in crude oil prices.

Netbacks (1)

     Heavy Oil        Light and Medium Oil
     Three Months Ended June 30,
($/bbl)    2017          2016          2017          2016  

 

Sales Price

   46.67        36.77        56.40        48.09  

Royalties

   6.15        3.95        11.58        8.52  

Transportation and Blending

   4.48        3.85        2.82        2.77  

Operating Expenses

   14.56        12.34        16.08        16.21  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.01        0.01        1.85        1.18  

Netback Excluding Realized Risk Management

   21.47        16.62        24.07        19.41  

Realized Risk Management Gain (Loss)

   (0.50)       2.12        (0.79)       2.09  

Netback Including Realized Risk Management

   20.97        18.74        23.28        21.50  

 

(1) Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended crude oil.

Risk Management

Risk management activities for the second quarter resulted in realized losses of $3 million (2016 – realized gains of $11 million), consistent with average benchmark prices exceeding our contract prices.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

Financial Results

 

              Six Months Ended June 30,    
($ millions)                          2017           2016  

Gross Sales

             572        428  

Less: Royalties

             90        48  

Revenues

             482        380  

Expenses

                 

Transportation and Blending

             98        84  

Operating

             145        148  

Production and Mineral Taxes

             9        5  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

             16        (51) 

Operating Margin

             214        194  

Capital Investment

             132        69  

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

             82        125  

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 36

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Operating Margin Variance

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Revenues include the value of condensate sold as heavy oil blend. Condensate costs are recorded in transportation and blending expense. The crude oil price excludes the impact of condensate purchases.

Revenues

Price

Our average liquids sales price increased 45 percent to $51.65 per barrel consistent with the improvement in crude oil benchmark prices, net of applicable differentials.

Production Volumes

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,
(barrels per day)    2017          

Percent  

Change  

        2016  

Heavy Oil

   26,933                    (10)%        29,873  

Light and Medium Oil

   26,167        (2)%        26,649  

NGLs

   1,090        9%        1,003  
               54,190        (6)%                    57,525  

Total production decreased primarily as a result of expected natural declines, partially offset by an increase in production associated with our tight oil drilling program in southern Alberta and a rise in our NGLs production related to improved NGL plant performance.

Royalties

Royalties increased $42 million primarily due to higher sales prices and lower allowable costs for royalty purposes in Weyburn, partially offset by a reduction in sales volumes. In the first six months of 2017, the effective liquids royalty rate for our Conventional properties was 19.3 percent (2016 – 14.3 percent). The Pelican Lake crown royalty calculation was based on net profits in both 2017 and 2016.

Expenses

Transportation and Blending

Transportation and blending costs increased $14 million. Blending costs rose due to higher condensate prices, partially offset by a decrease in condensate volumes, consistent with lower production. Transportation charges were lower largely due to a decline in sales volumes.

Operating

Primary drivers of our operating expenses in the first six months of 2017 were workforce costs, workover activities, electricity, property taxes and lease costs, repairs and maintenance, and chemical consumption. Operating expenses increased $0.34 per barrel.

The per unit increase was primarily due to lower production volume and higher energy costs and an increase in workover activities. This increase was partially offset by:

·  

A decrease in chemical costs associated with reduced polymer consumption;

·  

Lower property taxes and lease costs;

·  

A decline in fluid and waste handling and trucking costs; and

·  

Lower electricity costs as a result of a decline in prices.

Production and mineral taxes increased on a year-to-date basis due to the rise in crude oil prices.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 37

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Netbacks

 

                        Heavy Oil                                        Light and Medium Oil        
    Six Months Ended June 30,
($/bbl)   2017          2016          2017          2016  

Sales Price

  47.20       31.15       56.61       41.12  

Royalties

  6.57       2.62       12.14       6.82  

Transportation and Blending

  3.96       4.33       2.76       2.75  

Operating Expenses

  13.74       13.19       16.41       16.28  

Production and Mineral Taxes

  0.02       -       1.90       1.00  

Netback Excluding Realized Risk Management

  22.91       11.01       23.40       14.27  

Realized Risk Management Gain (Loss)

  (1.74)      5.17       (1.62)      5.04  

Netback Including Realized Risk Management

              21.17                   16.18                   21.78                   19.31  

 

(1)       Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended crude oil.

             

Risk Management

Risk management activities in the first half of the year resulted in realized losses of $16 million (2016 – realized gains of $51 million), consistent with average benchmark prices exceeding our contract prices.

Conventional – Natural Gas

Financial Results

 

        Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,  
($ millions)   2017          2016          2017          2016  

Gross Sales

  91       53       185       135  

Less: Royalties

  6       2       10       5  

Revenues

  85       51       175       130  

Expenses

             

Transportation and Blending

  3       5       7       8  

Operating

  37       36       78       78  

Production and Mineral Taxes

  -       -       1       -  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  -       -       -        1  

Operating Margin

  45       10       89       43  

Capital Investment

  3       2       6       4  

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

              42                   8                   83                   39  

Operating Margin from natural gas continued to help fund growth opportunities in our Oil Sands segment.

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared With June 30, 2016

Revenues

Price

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, our average natural gas sales price increased 84 percent to $2.80 per Mcf and 51 percent to $2.90 per Mcf, respectively. This is consistent with the rise in the AECO benchmark price.

Production

Production decreased seven percent to 355 MMcf per day in the second quarter. On a year-to-date basis, production declined nine percent to 352 MMcf per day due to expected natural declines.

Royalties

Royalties increased as a result of higher prices, partially offset by production declines. The average royalty rate in the second quarter was 5.2 percent (2016 – 4.1 percent) and 5.0 percent (2016 – 4.3 percent) on a year-to-date basis.

Expenses

Transportation

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, transportation costs declined slightly compared with 2016 primarily due to the decline in sales volumes.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 38

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Operating

Primary drivers of our operating expenses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were property taxes and lease costs, and workforce. Operating expenses increased slightly in the second quarter of 2017 primarily due to an increase in repairs and maintenance. On a year-to-date basis, operating costs remained consistent compared with 2016.

Risk Management

Risk management activities resulted in an impact of $nil in the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis (2016 – $nil in the second quarter and realized losses of $1 million on a year-to-date basis), consistent with average benchmark prices being relatively similar to our contract prices.

Conventional – Capital Investment

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
($ millions)   2017          2016          2017          2016  

Heavy Oil

  8       13       16       23  

Light and Medium Oil

  39       19       116       46  

Natural Gas

  3       2       6       4  

Capital Investment (1)

  50       34       138       73  

 

(1)      Includes expenditures on PP&E, E&E assets, and assets classified as discontinued operations.

 

Capital investment in the first half of 2017 was primarily related to sustaining capital and tight oil development opportunities in southern Alberta. Capital investment increased compared with 2016 as a result of limited crude oil capital investment activities in 2016 in response to the low commodity price environment.

 

Drilling Activity

 

                    Six Months Ended June 30,
(net wells, unless otherwise stated)                       2017          2016  

Crude Oil

          23       1  

Recompletions

          -       65  

Gross Stratigraphic Test Wells

                  26         4  

Drilling activity in the first six months of 2017 focused on drilling stratigraphic test wells and horizontal production wells for tight oil in southern Alberta.

Future Capital Investment

Our updated 2017 crude oil capital investment forecast is between $225 million and $275 million with spending plans mainly focused on sustaining capital. Guidance has decreased from June 20, 2017 by approximately 23 percent.

DD&A and Exploration Expense

We deplete crude oil and natural gas properties on a unit-of-production basis over proved reserves. The unit-of-production rate takes into account expenditures incurred to date, together with future development expenditures required to develop those proved reserves. This rate, calculated at an area level, is then applied to our sales volume to determine DD&A in a given period. We believe that this method of calculating DD&A charges each barrel of crude oil equivalent sold with its proportionate share of the cost of capital invested over the total estimated life of the related asset as represented by proved reserves.

Conventional DD&A decreased $74 million in the second quarter of 2017 due to a decline in sales volumes and lower DD&A rates. We stopped recording DD&A on our Pelican Lake and Suffield assets at the end of the first quarter of 2017 due to their held for sale status, as required by IFRS. We stopped recording DD&A on our remaining conventional assets at the end of the second quarter due to our divestiture plans.

DD&A decreased $275 million on a year-to-date basis due to impairment charges of $170 million recorded in the first quarter of 2016 associated with our Northern Alberta cash-generating unit (“CGU”), a decline in sales volumes and the plans to divest of our conventional assets.

REFINING AND MARKETING

Cenovus is a 50 percent partner in the Wood River and Borger refineries, which are located in the U.S. and operated by our partner, Phillips 66. Our Refining and Marketing segment positions us to capture the value from crude oil production through to refined products such as diesel, gasoline and jet fuel. Our integrated approach provides a natural economic hedge against widening crude oil price differentials by providing lower feedstock prices to the Refineries. This segment captures our marketing and transportation initiatives as well as our crude-by-rail terminal operations located in Bruderheim, Alberta. In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we loaded an average of 11,079 and 11,482 gross barrels per day, respectively (2016 – 15,531 and 11,122 gross barrels per day, respectively).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 39

Management’s Discussion and Analysis


Table of Contents

Refinery Operations  (1)

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,    
     2017      2016           2017      2016   

 

Crude Oil Capacity (Mbbls/d)

 

 

460  

  

 

460   

   

 

460  

  

 

460   

Crude Oil Runs (Mbbls/d)

  449      458        428      446   

Heavy Crude Oil

  201      228        201      235   

Light/Medium

  248      230        227      211   

Refined Products (Mbbls/d)

  476      483        455      472   

Gasoline

  225      240        226      235   

Distillate

  154      150        143      146   

Other

  97      93        86      91   

Crude Utilization (percent)

  98      100          93      97   

 

(1)

Represents 100 percent of the Wood River and Borger refinery operations.

On a 100-percent basis, the Refineries have a total processing capacity of approximately 460,000 gross barrels per day of crude oil, including processing capability of up to 255,000 gross barrels per day of blended heavy crude oil and 45,000 gross barrels per day of NGLs. The ability to process a wide slate of crude oils allows the Refineries to economically integrate heavy crude oil production. Processing less expensive crude oil relative to WTI creates a feedstock cost advantage, illustrated by the discount of WCS relative to WTI. The amount of heavy crude oil processed, such as WCS and CDB, is dependent on the quality and quantity of available crude oil with the total input slate optimized at each refinery to maximize economic benefit. Crude utilization represents the percentage of total crude oil processed in the Refineries relative to the total capacity.

In the second quarter, crude oil runs and refined product output declined slightly compared to 2016 primarily due to unplanned maintenance at both Refineries. Lower heavy crude oil volumes were processed due to optimization of the total crude input slate as a result of narrowing heavy crude oil differentials.

On a year-to-date basis, crude oil runs and refined product output decreased compared with 2016 primarily due to the larger scope of the planned turnarounds at both Refineries in the first quarter of 2017. Consistent performance of the Refineries in the second quarter of 2016 was offset by planned and unplanned maintenance at both Refineries in the first quarter of 2016. Lower heavy crude oil volumes were processed due to the planned turnarounds in the first quarter of 2017 and optimization of the total crude input slate.

Financial Results

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,
($ millions)   2017           2016           2017           2016   

 

Revenues

 

 

2,397  

    

 

2,129   

    5,001        3,717   

Purchased Product

  2,183        1,712        4,513        3,140   

Gross Margin

  214        417        488        577   

Expenses

               

Operating

  192        182        411        385   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  2        42        4        22   

Operating Margin

  20        193        73        170   

Capital Investment

  40        53        86        105   

Operating Margin Net of Related Capital Investment

  (20)       140        (13)       65   

Gross Margin

The refining realized crack spread, which is the gross margin on a per barrel basis, is affected by many factors, such as the variety of feedstock crude oil processed; refinery configuration and the proportion of gasoline, distillate and secondary product output; the time lag between the purchase of crude oil feedstock and the processing of that crude oil through the Refineries; and the cost of feedstock. Feedstock costs are valued on a FIFO accounting basis.

In the three months ended June 30, 2017, our gross margin declined primarily due to narrowing heavy crude oil differentials, lower average market crack spreads, a decrease in crude utilization rates and a decline in the gross margin from third-party crude oil and natural gas sales undertaken by the marketing group. This was partially offset by the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar in the second quarter compared with 2016, which had a positive impact of approximately $8 million on our refining and marketing gross margin.

In the six months ended June 30, 2017, our gross margin declined primarily due to narrowing heavy crude oil differentials, lower crude utilization rates, decreased margins on the sale of our secondary products due to higher overall feedstock costs, and a decline in the gross margin from third-party crude oil and natural gas sales undertaken by the marketing group.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the costs associated with Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) were $66 million and $127 million, respectively (2016 – $67 million and $129 million, respectively). The costs of RINs remained relatively consistent as the decrease in RINs benchmark prices was offset by an increase in the required RINs volume obligation.

 

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Operating Expense

Primary drivers of operating expenses in the second quarter of 2017 were labour, maintenance, utilities and supplies. On a year-to-date basis, the primary drivers were maintenance, labour, utilities and supplies. Reported operating expenses increased in the second quarter compared with 2016 primarily due to an increase in utility costs resulting from higher natural gas prices and a weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. On a year-to-date basis, operating expenses increased due to higher utility costs resulting from higher natural gas prices, and an increase in maintenance costs associated with the plant turnarounds in the first quarter of 2017.

Refining and Marketing – Capital Investment

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,       Six Months Ended June 30,    
($ millions)   2017           2016           2017           2016   

Wood River Refinery

  22        38        56        75   

Borger Refinery

  17        13        29        26   

Marketing

  1        2        1        4   
  40        53        86        105   

 

Capital expenditures in the first half of 2017 focused on capital maintenance and reliability work. Capital investment declined in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. In the first half of 2016, work continued on the debottlenecking project at the Wood River refinery that was successfully completed in the third quarter of 2016.

 

In 2017, we expect to invest between $185 million and $215 million mainly related to capital maintenance and reliability work.

 

DD&A

 

Refining and the crude-by-rail terminal assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated service life of each component of the facilities, which range from three to 40 years. The service lives of these assets are reviewed on an annual basis. Refining and Marketing DD&A increased by $5 million in the second quarter and $4 million on a year-to-date basis, primarily due to the change in the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate.

 

CORPORATE AND ELIMINATIONS

 

The Corporate and Eliminations segment includes intersegment eliminations relating to transactions that have been recorded at transfer prices based on current market prices, as well as unrealized intersegment profits in inventory. The gains and losses on risk management represent the unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses related to derivative financial instruments used to mitigate fluctuations in commodity prices, power costs, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates, as well as realized risk management gains on interest rate swaps and foreign exchange contracts. In the second quarter of 2017, our risk management activities resulted in $132 million of unrealized gains (2016 – $284 million of unrealized losses). On a year-to-date basis, we had $411 million of unrealized risk management gains (2016 – $433 million of unrealized losses). As financial instruments are settled, the realized gains and losses are recorded in the reportable segment to which the derivative instrument relates. In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we realized $143 million of risk management gains on foreign exchange contracts due to hedging activity undertaken to support the Acquisition.

 

The Corporate and Eliminations segment also includes Cenovus-wide costs for general and administrative, financing costs, interest income, foreign exchange, revaluation gain, transaction costs, re-measurement of the contingent payment, research costs, and (gain) loss on divestiture of assets.

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,       Six Months Ended June 30,
($ millions)   2017           2016           2017           2016   

General and Administrative

  58        94        101        154   

Finance Costs

  168        96        267        195   

Interest Income

  (10)       (7)       (27)       (18)  

Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss, Net

  (410)       20        (486)       (383)  

Revaluation (Gain)

  (2,524)       -        (2,524)       -   

Transaction Costs

  26        -        55        -   

Re-measurement of the Contingent Payment

  (66)       -        (66)       -   

Research Costs

  5        7        9        25   

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

  -        1        1        1   

Other (Income) Loss, Net

  (2)       2        (2)       2   
  (2,755)       213        (2,672)       (24)  

 

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Expenses

General and Administrative

Primary drivers of our general and administrative expenses in 2017 were workforce and office rent. General and administrative expenses decreased by $36 million in the second quarter and by $53 million on a year-to-date basis. The declines resulted from:

·  

Lower long-term employee incentive costs related to a drop in our share price;

·  

A recovery of $3 million in the second quarter and a non-cash expense of $5 million on a year-to-date basis for certain Calgary office space in excess of Cenovus’s current and near-term requirements, compared with $17 million and $31 million, respectively, recorded in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016; and

·  

Lower workforce costs primarily related to $19 million of severance costs recorded in the second quarter of 2016.

These decreases were partially offset by costs related to transitional services provided by ConocoPhillips. Under the purchase and sales agreement, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips agreed to certain transitional services where ConocoPhillips will provide certain day-to-day services required by Cenovus for a period of approximately nine months. These transactions are in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amounts. Costs related to the transitional services were approximately $10 million to date.

Finance Costs

Finance costs include interest expense on our long-term debt and short-term borrowings as well as the unwinding of the discount on decommissioning liabilities. In both the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, finance costs increased $72 million primarily due to costs associated with additional debt incurred to finance the Acquisition, including US$2.9 billion of senior unsecured notes, $3.6 billion borrowed under a committed Bridge Facility and borrowings through our existing committed credit facility.

The weighted average interest rate on outstanding debt for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was 4.8 percent and 5.0 percent, respectively (2016 – 5.3 percent).

Foreign Exchange

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
($ millions)    2017           2016           2017           2016   

 

Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss

   (396)       18        (468)       (391)  

Realized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss

   (14)       2        (18)       8   
   (410)       20        (486)       (383)  

Unrealized foreign exchange gains resulted from the translation of our U.S. dollar denominated debt and translation of U.S. cash that was accumulated leading up to the acquisition. The Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar was stronger at June 30, 2017 compared with March 31, 2017, resulting in unrealized gains. The Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar strengthened by three percent at June 30, 2017 compared with December 31, 2016 resulting in year-to-date unrealized gains.

Transaction Costs

In the six months ended June 30, 2017, we expensed $55 million of transaction costs related to the Acquisition. See the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition section of this MD&A for more details.

Revaluation (Gain)

Prior to the Acquisition, our 50 percent interest in FCCL was jointly controlled with ConocoPhillips and met the definition of a joint operation under IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements” and as such Cenovus recognized its share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in its consolidated results. Subsequent to the Acquisition, we control FCCL, as defined under IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements” and accordingly, FCCL has been consolidated. As required by IFRS 3 when control is achieved in stages, the previously held interest in FCCL was re-measured to its fair value of $12.3 billion and a non-cash revaluation gain of $2.5 billion ($1.8 billion, after-tax) was recorded in net earnings.

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

Related to oil sands production, Cenovus has agreed to make quarterly payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to the closing date for quarters in which the average WCS crude oil price exceeds $52 per barrel during the quarter. The quarterly payment will be $6 million for each dollar that the WCS price exceeds $52 per barrel. There are no maximum payment terms. The calculation includes an adjustment mechanism related to certain significant production outages at Foster Creek and Christina Lake, which may reduce the amount of a contingent payment. As production capacity increases with future expansions, the percentage of upside available to Cenovus will increase further.

 

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The contingent payment is accounted for as a financial option. The fair value of $361 million on May 17, 2017 was estimated by calculating the present value of the future expected cash flows using an option pricing model. The contingent payment will subsequently be re-measured at fair value at each reporting date with changes in fair value recognized in net earnings. At June 30, 2017, the contingent payment was valued at $295 million and a re-measurement gain of $66 million was recorded. WCS in the second quarter averaged less than $52 per barrel, therefore no amount was payable.

Average WCS forward pricing for the remaining term of the contingent payment is US$32.25 or C$43.86 per barrel. Our estimated quarterly WCS forward prices for the remaining term of the agreement range between approximately C$43 per barrel and C$46 per barrel.

DD&A

Corporate and Eliminations DD&A includes provisions in respect of corporate assets, such as computer equipment, leasehold improvements and office furniture. Costs associated with corporate assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated service life of the assets, which range from three to 25 years. The service lives of these assets are reviewed on an annual basis. DD&A in the second quarter was $14 million (2016 – $19 million) and $32 million on a year-to-date basis (2016 – $36 million).

Income Tax

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,   
($ millions)   2017           2016           2017           2016   

 

Current Tax

             

Canada

  (183)       (59)       (209)       (116)  

United States

  -         1        (1)       1   

Total Current Tax Expense (Recovery)

  (183)       (58)       (210)       (115)  

Deferred Tax Expense (Recovery)

  865        (7)       941        (96)  

Tax Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations

  682        (65)       731        (211)  

The following table reconciles income taxes calculated at the Canadian statutory rate with the recorded income taxes:

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,   
($ millions)   2017           2016   

 

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax

 

 

3,523   

    (406)  

Canadian Statutory Rate

  27.0%        27.0%   

Expected Income Tax (Recovery)

  951        (110)  

Effect of Taxes Resulting From:

     

Foreign Tax Rate Differential

  (35)       (23)  

Non-Taxable Capital (Gains) Losses

  (88)       (53)  

Non-Recognition of Capital (Gains) Losses

  (63)       (53)  

Recognition of Previously Unrecognized Capital Losses

  (63)       -    

Non-Deductible Expenses

  10        5    

Other

  19        23    

 

Total Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations

  731        (211)   

 

Effective Tax Rate

  20.7%        52.0%    

Tax interpretations, regulations and legislation in the various jurisdictions in which Cenovus and its subsidiaries operate are subject to change. We believe that our provision for income taxes is adequate. There are usually a number of tax matters under review and as a result, income taxes are subject to measurement uncertainty. The timing of the recognition of income and deductions for the purpose of current tax expense is determined by relevant tax legislation.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, a current tax recovery was recorded due to the carry back of current and prior year losses. A deferred tax expense was recorded in the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis in 2017 compared with a recovery in 2016 due to the revaluation gain of our pre-existing partnership interest in connection with the Acquisition and an increase in unrealized gains on risk management activities.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we recorded income tax of $20 million related to discontinued operations (three and six months ended June 30, 2016 – $16 million and $87 million income tax recovery, respectively).

Our effective tax rate is a function of the relationship between total tax expense (recovery) and the amount of earnings (loss) before income taxes. The effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate as it reflects higher U.S. tax rates, non-taxable unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses, adjustments for changes in tax rates and other tax legislation, adjustments to the tax basis of the refining assets, variations in the estimate of reserves, differences between the provision and the actual amounts subsequently reported on the tax returns, and other permanent differences.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,         Six Months Ended June 30,
($ millions)    2017            2016            2017           2016   

Cash From (Used In)

                

Operating Activities

   1,239         205         1,567        387   

Investing Activities

   (14,706)        (270)            (15,165)       (639)  

Net Cash Provided (Used) Before Financing Activities

   (13,467)        (65)        (13,598)       (252)  

Financing Activities

   10,288         (43)        10,236        (84)  

Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss) on Cash and Cash Equivalents Held in Foreign Currency

   120         5         131        11   

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

           (3,059)                    (103)        (3,231)       (325)  
                           

June 30,   

2017   

       December 31,   
2016   

Cash and Cash Equivalents

             489        3,720   

Committed and Undrawn Credit Facilities

                     4,500          4,000   

Cash From (Used In) Operating Activities

Cash From Operating Activities increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 mainly due to higher Operating Margin, as discussed in the Financial Results section of this MD&A. Excluding risk management assets and liabilities, assets and liabilities held for sale, and the contingent payment we had a working capital of $15 million at June 30, 2017 compared with a surplus of $4,423 million at December 31, 2016. The change in working capital was primarily due to the Acquisition.

We anticipate that we will continue to meet our payment obligations as they come due.

Cash From (Used In) Investing Activities

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the change in Cash Used In Investing Activities was primarily due to the Acquisition. Capital investment increased in the current quarter and on a year-to-date basis. In 2016, capital investment was limited due to spending reductions in response to the low commodity price environment.

Cash From (Used In) Financing Activities

Cash From Financing Activities increased in the second quarter of 2017 and on a year-to-date basis primarily related to the issuance of debt and common shares to help finance the Acquisition.

Total debt, including the current portion as at June 30, 2017 was $13,413 million (December 31, 2016 –$6,332 million), which includes $9,927 million of U.S. denominated senior unsecured notes with no principal payments due until October 15, 2019 (US$1.3 billion) and $3.6 billion under a committed Bridge Facility, both amounts are partially offset by debt discount and transaction costs. The $7,081 million increase in total debt is primarily due to Acquisition financing through the offering for US$2.9 billion of senior unsecured notes and the committed Bridge Facility. The current portion of the committed Bridge Facility is $893 million and it matures May 17, 2018.

As at June 30, 2017, we were in compliance with all of the terms of our debt agreements.

Senior Unsecured Notes

In connection with the Acquisition, on April 7, 2017, Cenovus completed an offering in the United States for US$2.9 billion of senior unsecured notes issued in three tranches, US$1.2 billion 4.25 percent senior unsecured notes due April 2027, US$700 million 5.25 percent senior unsecured notes due June 2037, and US$1.0 billion 5.40 percent senior unsecured notes due June 2047.

Committed Bridge Facility

On May 17, 2017, concurrent with the close of the Acquisition, we borrowed $3.6 billion under a committed Bridge Facility. The Bridge Facility consists of a $0.9 billion tranche maturing on May 17, 2018, a $1.8 billion tranche maturing on November 17, 2018, and a $0.9 billion tranche maturing on May 17, 2019. As at June 30, 2017, $3.6 billion remained outstanding on our committed Bridge Facility. We expect to repay the committed Bridge Facility through the sale of assets. See the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition section of this MD&A for more details.

Dividends

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we paid dividends of $0.05 per share or $61 million and $0.10 per share or $102 million, respectively (2016 – $0.05 per share or $42 million and $0.10 per share or $83 million, respectively). The declaration of dividends is at the sole discretion of the Board and is considered quarterly.

 

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Available Sources of Liquidity

We expect cash flows from our liquids, natural gas and refining operations to fund a portion of our cash requirements. Any potential shortfalls may be required to be funded through prudent use of our balance sheet capacity, management of our asset portfolio and other corporate and financial opportunities that may be available to us. We remain committed to maintaining our investment grade credit ratings at S&P Global Ratings, DBRS Limited, and Fitch Ratings.

The following sources of liquidity are available at June 30, 2017:

 

($ billions)    Term                           Amount  

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   Not applicable        0.5  

Committed Credit Facility – Tranche A

   November 2021        3.3  

Committed Credit Facility – Tranche B

   November 2020        1.2  

Base Shelf Prospectus (1)

   March 2018          US$2.8  

 

(1)

Availability is subject to market conditions. See below and the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition section of this MD&A for details related to the Acquisition.

Committed Credit Facility

On April 28, 2017, we amended our existing committed credit facility to increase the capacity of the facility by $0.5 billion to $4.5 billion and to extend the maturity dates. The committed credit facility consists of a $1.2 billion tranche maturing on November 30, 2020 and $3.3 billion tranche maturing on November 30, 2021. As of June 30, 2017, we had $4.5 billion available under our committed credit facility.

Under the committed credit facility, Cenovus is required to maintain a debt to capitalization ratio not to exceed 65 percent; we are well below this limit.

See below for the Debt to Capitalization ratio used by Cenovus to monitor our capital structure.

Base Shelf Prospectus

In 2016, Cenovus filed a base shelf prospectus. The base shelf prospectus allows us to offer, from time to time, up to US$5.0 billion, or the equivalent in other currencies, of debt securities, common shares, preferred shares, subscription receipts, warrants, share purchase contracts and units in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere, where permitted by law. The base shelf prospectus will expire in March 2018.

In connection with the Acquisition, on April 6, 2017, Cenovus closed a Bought-Deal Common Share Offering for 187.5 million common shares under the base shelf prospectus for gross proceeds of $3.0 billion. As at June 30, 2017, US$2.8 billion remains available under the base shelf prospectus. See the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition section of this MD&A for more details.

Financial Metrics

We monitor our capital structure and financing requirements using, among other things, non-GAAP financial measures consisting of Debt to Capitalization and Debt to Adjusted EBITDA. We define our non-GAAP measure of Debt as short-term borrowings and the current and long-term portions of long-term debt. We define Capitalization as Debt plus Shareholders’ Equity. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings before finance costs, interest income, income tax expense, DD&A, goodwill impairments, asset impairments and reversals, unrealized gains (losses) on risk management, foreign exchange gains (losses), revaluation gain, re-measurement of contingent payment, gains (losses) on divestiture of assets and other income (loss), net, calculated on a trailing 12-month basis. These measures are used to steward our overall debt position and as measures of our overall financial strength.

Over the long-term, we target a Debt to Capitalization ratio of between 30 percent to 40 percent and a Debt to Adjusted EBITDA of between 1.0 times to 2.0 times. At different points within the economic cycle, we expect these ratios may periodically be outside of the target range.

 

                June 30,         December 31,  
As at   2017          2016  

Net Debt to Capitalization (1) (2)

  40%       18%  

Debt to Capitalization

  41%       35%  

Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (1)

  6.1x       1.9x  

Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

  6.4x         4.5x  

 

(1)

Net Debt is defined as Debt net of cash and cash equivalents.

(2)

Net Debt to Capitalization is defined as Net Debt divided by Net Debt plus Shareholders’ Equity.

Debt to Capitalization increased as the higher long-term debt balance, related to the Acquisition and the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by the increase in Shareholders’ Equity. Debt to Adjusted EBITDA increased as a result of a higher long-term debt balance, partially offset by a higher Adjusted EBITDA from an increase in commodity prices and the rise in sales volumes as a result of the Acquisition. We are intently focused on completing divestitures of our legacy Conventional assets in order to deleverage our balance sheet.

 

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As at June 30, 2017, Cenovus’s Debt to Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA are 6.4x and 6.1x, respectively. These ratios are well outside our target range. However, it is important to note that Adjusted EBITDA is calculated on a rolling twelve month basis and as such, only includes the financial results from the Deep Basin Assets and the additional 50 percent of FCCL for the period May 17, 2017 to June 30, 2017. Debt and Net Debt are as at June 30, 2017; therefore, the ratios are fully burdened by the debt issued to finance the Acquisition. If Adjusted EBITDA reflected a full twelve months of earnings from the acquired assets, Cenovus’s Debt and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratios would be substantially lower.

Additional information regarding our financial measures and capital structure can be found in the notes to the December 31, 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements and the June 30, 2017 interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Share Capital and Stock-Based Compensation Plans

As part of our long-term incentive program, Cenovus has an employee Stock Option Plan as well as Performance Share Unit (“PSU”) Plan, a Restricted Share Unit (“RSU”) Plan and two Deferred Share Unit (“DSU”) Plans. Certain directors, officers or employees chose prior to December 31, 2016 to convert a portion of their remuneration, paid in the first quarter of 2017, into DSUs. The election for any particular year is irrevocable. DSUs may not be redeemed until departure. Directors also received an annual grant of DSUs.

Refer to Note 21 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements for more details on our Stock Option Plan and our PSU, RSU and DSU Plans.

 

As at June 30, 2017  

Units   

Outstanding   

(thousands)   

      

Units   

  Exercisable   

(thousands)   

Common Shares

  1,228,790        N/A   

Stock Options

  44,164        37,096   

Other Stock-Based Compensation Plans

  14,581          1,613   

In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus closed a Bought-Deal Common Share financing on April 6, 2017 for 187.5 million common shares, raising gross proceeds of $3.0 billion ($2.9 billion net of $101 million of share issuance costs).

In addition, we issued 208 million common shares to ConocoPhillips on May 17, 2017 as partial consideration for the Acquisition. In relation to the share consideration, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips entered into an investor agreement, and a registration rights agreement which, among other things, restricts ConocoPhillips from selling or hedging its Cenovus common shares until November 17, 2017. ConocoPhillips is also restricted from nominating new members to Cenovus’s Board of Directors and must vote its Cenovus common shares in accordance with management recommendations or abstain from voting until such time ConocoPhillips owns 3.5 percent or less of the outstanding common shares of Cenovus.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Cenovus has obligations for goods and services that were entered into in the normal course of business. Obligations are primarily related to demand charges on firm transportation agreements, operating leases on buildings, our risk management program and an obligation to fund our defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefit plans. Obligations that have original maturities of less than one year are excluded. For further information, see the notes to the December 31, 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements.

As at June 30, 2017, total commitments were $29.9 billion, of which $26.4 billion were for various transportation commitments. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, in relation to the Acquisition, Cenovus assumed commitments of $3.7 billion, primarily consisting of transportation commitments on various pipelines primarily related to FCCL. This increase in commitments was offset by our withdrawal from certain transportation initiatives and use of contracts. Transportation commitments include $16 billion that are subject to regulatory approval or have been approved but are not yet in service (December 31, 2016 – $19 billion). Terms are up to 20 years subsequent to the date of commencement and should help align our future transportation requirements with our anticipated production growth.

As at June 30, 2017, there were outstanding letters of credit aggregating $246 million issued as security for performance under certain contracts (December 31, 2016 – $258 million).

Legal Proceedings

We are involved in a limited number of legal claims associated with the normal course of operations. We believe that any liabilities that might arise from such matters, to the extent not provided for, are not likely to have a material effect on our interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Contingent Payment

In connection with the Acquisition and related to oil sands production, we agreed to make quarterly payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to May 17, 2017 for quarters in which the average WCS crude oil price exceeds $52 per barrel during the quarter. As at June 30, 2017, the estimated fair value of the contingent payment was $295 million. WCS in the second quarter averaged less than $52 per barrel, therefore no amount was payable. The calculation includes an adjustment mechanism related to certain significant production outages at Foster Creek and Christina Lake, which may reduce the amount of a contingent payment. As production capacity increases with future expansions, the percentage of upside available to Cenovus will increase further.

See the Oil Sands and Deep Basin Acquisition and Corporate and Eliminations section of this MD&A for more details.

RISK MANAGEMENT

 

For a full understanding of the risks that impact Cenovus, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Risk Management section of our 2016 annual MD&A and the first quarter 2017 MD&A. A description of the risk factors and uncertainties can be found in the Advisory and a full discussion of the material risk factors affecting Cenovus can be found in our AIF for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Cenovus is exposed to a number of risks through the pursuit of our strategic objectives. Some of these risks impact the oil and gas industry as a whole and others are unique to our operations. Actively managing these risks improves our ability to effectively execute our business strategy. We continue to be exposed to the risks identified in our 2016 annual MD&A and AIF.

The following provides an update on our risks related to commodity prices and risks related to the Acquisition.

Commodity Price Risk

Fluctuations in commodity prices and refined product prices impacts our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, growth, access to capital and cost of borrowing.

We partially mitigate our exposure to commodity price risk through the integration of our business, financial instruments, physical contracts and market access commitments. Financial instruments undertaken within our refining business by the operator, Phillips 66, are primarily for purchased product. For details of our financial instruments, including classification, assumptions made in the calculation of fair value and additional discussion on exposure of risks and the management of those risks, see Notes 23 and 24 to the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Risks Associated with Derivative Financial Instruments

Financial instruments expose Cenovus to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations. This risk is partially mitigated through credit exposure limits, frequent assessment of counterparty credit ratings and netting arrangements, as outlined in our Credit Policy.

Financial instruments also expose Cenovus to the risk of a loss from adverse changes in the market value of financial instruments or if we are unable to fulfill our delivery obligations related to the underlying physical transaction. Financial instruments may limit the benefit to Cenovus if commodity prices increase. These risks are minimized through hedging limits that are reviewed annually by the Board, as required by our Market Risk Mitigation Policy.

Impact of Financial Risk Management Activities

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,
     2017       2016    
($ millions)    Realized    Unrealized            Total          Realized    Unrealized            Total  

Crude Oil (1)

   (14)   (166)   (180)      19    246    265  

Refining

     (3)   (1)      (1)     -  

Interest Rate

     13    13         37    37  

Foreign Exchange

   (143)   24    (119)          -  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   (155)   (132)   (287)      18    284    302  

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

   39    37    76       (6)   (77)   (83) 

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management, After Tax

   (116)   (95)   (211)      12    207    219  

 

(1)

Excludes $3 million of realized risk management losses on crude oil contracts from our Conventional segment (2016 – $11 million realized risk management gains), which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

 

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Impact of Financial Risk Management Activities

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,
     2017        2016    
($ millions)    Realized     Unrealized             Total           Realized     Unrealized             Total  

Crude Oil (1)

   63     (417)    (354)       (106)    364     258  

Refining

      (3)    1        (5)       (1) 

Power

         -           (14)    (11) 

Interest Rate

         9           79     79  

Foreign Exchange

   (143)       (143)             -  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   (76)    (411)    (487)       (108)    433     325  

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

   18     112     130        28     (118)    (90) 

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management, After Tax

   (58)    (299)    (357)       (80)    315     235  

 

(1)

Excludes $16 million of realized risk management losses on crude oil contracts from our Conventional segment (2016 – $50 million realized risk management gains), which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

In the second quarter of 2017 and on a year-to-date basis, we incurred realized gains on foreign exchange contracts due to hedging activity undertaken to support the Acquisition. In the second quarter of 2017, we incurred realized gains on crude oil risk management activities, consistent with our contract prices exceeding the average benchmark prices. In the first half of 2017, we recorded realized losses on crude oil risk management activities as average benchmark prices exceeded our contract prices. Unrealized gains were recorded on our crude oil financial instruments in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to the realization of settled positions and changes in market prices.

Risks Related to the Acquisition

Unexpected Costs or Liabilities Related to the Acquisition

Acquisitions of crude oil and natural gas properties are based largely on engineering, environmental and economic assessments made by the acquiror, independent engineers and consultants. These assessments include a series of assumptions regarding such factors as recoverability and marketability of crude oil and natural gas, environmental restrictions and prohibitions regarding releases and emissions of various substances, future prices of crude oil and natural 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, engineering, environmental and regulatory uncertainty that could result in lower production and reserves or higher operating or capital expenditures than anticipated.

Although we conducted title and environmental reviews in respect of the Deep Basin Assets, such reviews cannot guarantee that any unforeseen defects in the chain of title will not arise to defeat our title to certain assets or that environmental defects or deficiencies do not exist.

In connection with the Acquisition, there may be liabilities that we failed to discover or were unable to quantify in our due diligence conducted prior to the execution of the Acquisition Agreement and we may not be indemnified for some or all of these liabilities. The discovery or quantification of any material liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or future prospects. In addition, the Acquisition Agreement limits the amount for which we are indemnified, such that liabilities in respect of the Acquisition may be greater than the amounts for which we are indemnified under the Acquisition Agreement.

Realization of Acquisition Benefits

We believe that the Acquisition will provide a number of benefits to Cenovus. However, there is a risk that some or all of the expected benefits of the Acquisition may fail to materialize, may cost more to achieve or may not occur within the time periods that we anticipate. The realization of such benefits may be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Amount of Contingent Payments

In connection with the Acquisition, we have agreed to make contingent payments under certain circumstances. The amount of contingent payments will vary depending on the Canadian dollar WCS price from time to time during the five year period following the closing of the Acquisition, and such payments may be significant. In addition, in the event that such payments are made, this could have an adverse impact on our reported results and other metrics.

Significant Transaction and Related Costs

We expect to incur a number of costs associated with completing the Acquisition, integrating the Deep Basin Assets and completing the targeted asset sales. The majority of such costs will consist of Acquisition, facilities and systems consolidation and employment-related costs. Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the assets to be acquired under the Acquisition (collectively, the “Acquired Assets”) into our business and completing the targeted asset sales.

 

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Operational and Reserves and Resources Risks Relating to the Acquired Assets

The risk factors set forth in our AIF relating to the crude oil and natural gas business, environmental matters and the operations and reserves and resources of Cenovus apply equally in respect of the Acquired Assets. In particular, the reserves, resources and recovery information contained in the reserves and resources reports in respect of the Acquired Assets is only an estimate and the actual production from and ultimate reserves of those properties may be greater or less than the estimates contained in such reports.

Risk of Default in the Repayment of Borrowings under the Credit Facilities

We have incurred material indebtedness under our existing committed credit facility and a committed Bridge Facility. We intend to repay borrowings under the committed Bridge Facility through the sale of certain of our assets. We may not be able to sell such assets in the time period we estimate, or for prices we expect to realize from such sales. If we are unable to sell such assets on the terms that we expect to receive, or at all, our ability to repay borrowings under the committed Bridge Facility as anticipated could be adversely affected. In the event we are unable to refinance borrowings we incur under our existing committed credit facility or committed Bridge Facility in the manner intended, we may be required to utilize other sources of liquidity including cash on hand, cash from operating activities or borrowings under our existing committed credit facility to the extent of any availability thereunder. We may also be required to seek extensions to or modifications of the terms of our existing committed credit facility or committed Bridge Facility in order to defer the maturity dates of borrowings incurred thereunder. In recent years, depressed prices for crude oil and natural gas have materially affected the operating and financial performance of borrowers in the energy sector which has at times resulted in the curtailment of the availability of credit from lenders, and an unwillingness to provide borrowers with desired extensions to, or other modifications of, repayment terms. As a result, depending on crude oil and natural gas and credit market conditions at the time when borrowings under our existing committed credit facility or committed Bridge Facility are due for repayment, and our own financial performance at that time, we may be unable to obtain extensions or modifications of the terms of our existing committed credit facility or committed Bridge Facility on terms satisfactory to us, or at all, which could result in us defaulting on our repayment obligations under our existing committed credit facility or committed Bridge Facility and being subject to various remedies available to the lenders thereunder including remedies available under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency legislation.

Increased Indebtedness

In order to finance the Acquisition, we borrowed $3.6 billion on a committed Bridge Facility and issued US$2.9 billion in senior unsecured notes. Such borrowings will represent a significant increase in Cenovus’s consolidated indebtedness. Such additional indebtedness will increase Cenovus’s interest expense and debt service obligations and may have a negative effect on Cenovus’s results of operations.

Cenovus’s ability to service its increased debt will depend upon, among other things, its future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions, interest rate fluctuations and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond Cenovus’s control. If Cenovus’s operating results are not sufficient to service its current or future indebtedness, Cenovus may be forced to take actions such as reducing dividends, reducing or delaying business activities, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing its debt, or seeking additional equity capital.

Our credit ratings could be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in its judgment, the circumstances warrant. The increased indebtedness of Cenovus arising from the Acquisition could be a factor considered by the ratings agencies in downgrading Cenovus’s credit rating. If a rating agency were to downgrade Cenovus’s credit rating, Cenovus’s borrowing costs could increase and its funding sources could decrease. In addition, a failure by Cenovus to maintain its current credit ratings could affect its business relationships with suppliers and operating partners. A credit downgrade could also adversely affect the availability and cost of capital needed to fund the growth investments that are a central element to Cenovus’s long-term business strategy.

British Columbia Exposure

Pursuant to the Acquisition, we acquired approximately 0.9 million gross acres (0.7 million net acres) of land holdings in British Columbia, which exposes us to the following additional risks.

Aboriginal Claims

Aboriginal groups have claimed aboriginal title and rights to portions of Western Canada, including British Columbia, and such claims, if successful, could have a material negative impact on Cenovus. The Governments of Canada and British Columbia have a duty to consult with Aboriginal people in relation to actions and decisions which may impact those rights and claims and, in certain cases, have a duty to accommodate their concerns. These duties have the potential to adversely affect Cenovus’s ability to obtain and renew permits, leases, licenses and other approvals, or to meet the terms and conditions of those approvals. The scope of the duty to consult by the federal Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia is subject to ongoing litigation which may result in uncertainty with respect to the process to obtain permits, leases, licenses and other approvals. Opposition by Aboriginal groups may also negatively impact Cenovus in terms of public perception, diversion of management’s time and resources, legal and other advisory expenses, potential blockades or other interference by third parties in Cenovus’s operations, or court-ordered relief impacting Cenovus’s operations. Challenges by Aboriginal groups could adversely impact Cenovus’s progress and ability to explore and develop its properties.

 

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Climate Change Regulation

On August 19, 2016, the Government of British Columbia unveiled its Climate Leadership Plan with a goal to reduce net annual GHG emissions by up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050, and reaffirmed that it will achieve its 2050 target of an 80 percent reduction in emissions from 2007 levels. In addition to various measures across the economy that are designed to incentivize the growth of the renewable energy sector, the use of low GHG emitting technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency, among other goals, the Government of British Columbia has committed to implementing a formal policy to regulate carbon capture and storage projects.

Further, the Climate Leadership Plan sets out a strategy to reduce methane emissions in the upstream natural gas sector, beginning with a Legacy phase that targets a 45 percent reduction in fugitive and vented emissions by 2025 for facilities built before January 1, 2015, followed by a Transition phase for facilities built between 2015 and 2018 that will involve a new offset protocol and a Clean Infrastructure Royalty Credit Program, and finally a Future phase that will include the development and implementation of new methane emissions reduction standards.

Environmental Regulation

In British Columbia, the Oil and Gas Activities Act (the “OGAA”) impacts conventional crude oil and natural gas producers, shale gas producers and other operators of crude oil and natural 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 natural gas activities. The Environmental Protection and Management Regulation establishes the government’s environmental objectives for Crown lands 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 exclusively an environmental statute, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, in conjunction with the OGAA, requires companies to obtain various approvals before undertaking exploration or production work, such as geophysical licences, 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 licences and project approvals can be suspended or cancelled for failure to comply with this legislation or its regulations.

Royalty Regime

Producers of crude 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 crude oil and natural gas produced. The amount payable as a royalty in respect of crude oil depends on the type and vintage of the crude oil, the quantity of crude oil produced in a month and the value of that crude oil. Generally, crude oil is classified as either light or heavy and the vintage of crude oil is classified as either: “old oil” that is produced from a pool with a completed well that first recovered crude oil before October 31, 1975; “new oil” that is produced from a pool with a completed well that first recovered oil between October 31, 1975 and June 1, 1998; or “third-tier oil” that is produced from a pool with a completed well that first recovered crude oil after June 1, 1998 or through an enhanced oil recovery scheme. The royalty calculation takes into account the production of crude oil on a well-by-well basis, the specified royalty rate for a given vintage of crude oil, the average unit-selling price of the crude 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 crude oil), the royalty rate depends on the date of acquisition of the crude 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 NGLs are levied at a flat rate of 20 percent of sales volume.

Producers of crude oil and natural gas from freehold lands in British Columbia are required to pay monthly freehold production taxes. For crude oil, the applicable freehold production tax is based on the volume of monthly production, and 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 applicable freehold production tax is 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 NGLs is a flat rate of 12.25 percent. Additionally, owners of mineral rights in British Columbia must pay an annual mineral land tax that is equivalent to $4.94 per hectare of producing lands. Non-producing lands are taxed on a sliding scale between $1.25 – $4.94 per hectare, depending on the total number of hectares owned by the entity.

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.

 

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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 crude oil and natural gas exploration and production in under-developed areas and to extend the drilling season.

Any future changes by the Government of British Columbia to the royalty programs or regimes could have a significant impact on Cenovus’s financial condition, results of operations and future capital expenditures.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGMENTS, ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTIES AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Management is required to make estimates and assumptions, and use judgment in the application of accounting policies that could have a significant impact on our financial results. Actual results may differ from estimates and those differences may be material. The estimates and assumptions used are subject to updates based on experience and the application of new information. Our critical accounting policies and estimates are reviewed annually by the Audit Committee of the Board. Further details on the basis of preparation and our significant accounting policies can be found in the notes to the annual December 31, 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements and the interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2017.

Critical Judgments in Applying Accounting Policies

Critical judgments are those judgments made by Management in the process of applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recorded in our annual and interim Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no changes to our critical judgments used in applying accounting policies during the first six months of 2017. Further information can be found in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and annual MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty

Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that require Management to make particularly subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis and any revisions to accounting estimates are recorded in the period in which the estimates are revised. Further to those areas discussed in the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the annual MD&A, the estimation of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, including the contingent payment and goodwill, is a key area involving significant estimates or judgments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

There were no new or amended accounting standards or interpretations adopted during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

New Accounting Standards and Interpretations not yet Adopted

A number of new accounting standards, amendments to accounting standards and interpretations are effective for annual periods beginning after January 1, 2017 and have not been applied in preparing the interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2017. The following provides an update to the disclosure in the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Revenue Recognition

On May 28, 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers” (“IFRS 15”) replacing IAS 11, “Construction Contracts”, IAS 18, “Revenue” and several revenue-related interpretations. IFRS 15 establishes a single revenue recognition framework that applies to contracts with customers. The standard requires an entity to recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services for the amount it expects to receive, when control is transferred to the purchaser. Disclosure requirements have also been expanded.

IFRS 15 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The standard may be applied retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting IFRS 15 on the Consolidated Financial Statements and plan to adopt the standard for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Leases

On January 13, 2016, the IASB issued IFRS 16, “Leases” (“IFRS 16”), which requires entities to recognize lease assets and lease obligations on the balance sheet. For lessees, IFRS 16 removes the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases, effectively treating all leases as finance leases. Certain short-term leases (less than 12 months) and leases of low-value assets are exempt from the requirements, and may continue to be treated as operating leases.

Lessors will continue with a dual lease classification model. Classification will determine how and when a lessor will recognize lease revenue, and what assets would be recorded.

 

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IFRS 16 is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted if IFRS 15 has been adopted. The standard may be applied retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach does not require restatement of prior period financial information as it recognizes the cumulative effect as an adjustment to opening retained earnings and applies the standard prospectively.

We plan to apply IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019. A transition team is assessing the impacts of adopting IFRS 16 and will oversee changes to accounting systems, processes and internal controls. The estimated time and effort necessary to develop and implement required changes (including the impact to information technology systems) extends into 2018. Although the transition approach on adoption has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the adoption of IFRS 16 will have a material impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

CONTROL ENVIRONMENT

 

Management has assessed changes to its control environment related to the Acquisition. There have been no changes to internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect internal control over financial reporting.

Internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

OUTLOOK

 

We expect 2017 to be a transformational year for Cenovus. The close of the Acquisition in the second quarter of 2017 has increased our interest in FCCL to 100 percent and provided us with a second growth platform of Deep Basin Assets in Alberta and British Columbia. We are also currently marketing for sale our legacy Conventional oil and natural gas assets.

We believe we are well-positioned for continued market and commodity price volatility. We will continue to look for ways to increase our margins through strong operating performance and cost leadership, while delivering safe and reliable operations. Proactively managing our market access commitments and opportunities should assist with our goal of reaching a broader customer base to secure a higher sales price for our liquids production.

We have reduced the amount of capital needed to sustain our base business and expand our projects, which we expect will allow us to reactivate growth in a disciplined manner. We believe these efforts will help to ensure our financial resilience.

The following outlook commentary is focused on the next 12 months.

Commodity Prices Underlying our Financial Results

Our crude oil pricing outlook is influenced by the following:

·  

We expect the general outlook for crude oil prices will be tied primarily to the supply response to the current price environment, the impact of supply disruptions and the pace of growth in global demand as influenced by macro-economic events. Overall, we expect crude oil price volatility to continue and a modest price improvement in the second half of 2017. OPEC’s ability to adhere to its production cuts combined with annual increases in demand growth should support prices in the remainder of the year, constrained by the need to draw down surplus crude oil inventories and U.S. production growth;

·  

We anticipate the Brent-WTI differential to remain narrow now that the U.S. is exporting crude oil to overseas markets. Overall, the differential will likely be set by transportation costs; and

·  

We expect that the WTI-WCS differential will widen due to Canadian supply returning from production outages, oil sands supply growth, and potential transportation constraints.

 

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LOGO

 

Natural gas pricing is anticipated to improve throughout the second half of 2017 as we expect strong structural demand growth and only a slight increase in natural gas production. However, higher prices will likely be limited by the ability of the power sector to use coal as a substitute for natural gas.

U.S. refining crack spreads are expected to weaken in the second half of the year as high global refined product inventories continue to weigh on product prices while seasonal U.S. demand weakens during fall and winter periods. The impact of weaker refining crack spreads will be partially offset by the widening of the WTI-WCS differential, creating a feedstock cost advantage.

We expect the Canadian dollar to continue to be tied with a modest improvement in crude oil prices and the pace at which the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and the Bank of Canada raise interest rates. The Bank of Canada has recently raised its benchmark rate for the first time in nearly seven years marking a notable shift for Canada towards tighter monetary policy.

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Our exposure to the light/heavy price differentials is composed of both a global light/heavy component as well as Canadian transportation constraints. While we expect to see volatility in crude oil prices, we have the ability to partially mitigate our exposure to light/heavy price differentials through the following:

 

Integration – having heavy oil refining capacity capable of processing Canadian heavy oil. From a value perspective, our refining business positions us to capture value from both the WTI-WCS differential for Canadian crude oil and the Brent-WTI differential from the sale of refined products;

 

Financial hedge transactions – limiting the impact of fluctuations in upstream crude oil prices by entering into financial transactions that fix the WTI-WCS differential;

 

Marketing arrangements – limiting the impact of fluctuations in upstream crude oil prices by entering into physical supply transactions with fixed price components directly with refiners; and

 

Transportation commitments and arrangements – supporting transportation projects that move crude oil from our production areas to consuming markets and also to tidewater markets.

Additional natural gas and NGLs production associated with the Acquisition will provide improved upstream integration for the fuel, solvent and blending requirements at our oil sands operations.

 

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Key Priorities for the Remainder of 2017

Maintain Financial Resilience and Executional Excellence

We remain focused on maintaining our financial resilience and flexibility while continuing to deliver safe operations, which remains a top priority. Reducing our debt position is our number one priority. Our plans to divest our legacy conventional assets are progressing and on track. We are targeting between $4.0 billion and $5.0 billion in announced asset sale agreements by the end of 2017, the proceeds of which will be used to retire the committed Bridge Facility and deleverage our balance sheet.

At June 30, 2017, through a combination of cash and $4.5 billion available under our committed credit facility, we have approximately $5.0 billion dollars of liquidity. We believe our liquidity position and the downside protection from our commodity hedging program should provide us the financial flexibility and resilience to maximize the value we realize on our asset sales and execute on our near-term deleveraging plan.

Disciplined and Value-added Growth

We updated our 2017 capital investment guidance and anticipate capital investment to be between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion. Guidance has decreased from June 20, 2017 by approximately 11 percent.

We intend to focus on optimizing our capital investment and development plans in the oil sands and Deep Basin for a variety of commodity price environments. We will remain disciplined with a moderate pace of growth in the oil sands that continues to focus on controlling costs and capital efficiencies. We also anticipate a disciplined development approach to the Deep Basin assets in 2017 and anticipate ramping up our activity levels through 2020. With integration remaining an important part of our overall strategy, capital investment is also allocated for scheduled maintenance and reliability work at the Refineries.

Cost Leadership

We remain committed to cost and margin leadership. We plan to continue to focus on reducing costs by leveraging our increased size and scale as well as through the advancement of technologies and enhancing our base business. We believe there is an opportunity for operating cost reductions in the Deep Basin as we fully integrate these assets. Our ability to drive structural and sustainable cost and margin improvements will further support our business plan and financial resilience.

Market Access

Market access constraints for Canadian crude oil continue to be a challenge. Our strategy is to maintain firm transportation commitments through a combination of pipelines, rail and marine access to support our growth plans, but leave capacity for optimization. We expect to supplement firm capacity with active blending, storage, sourcing and destination optimization to ensure we are maximizing the margin on every barrel we produce.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) (unaudited)

For the periods ended June 30,

($ millions, except per share amounts)

 

          Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
     Notes                 2017                        2016                        2017                        2016  
                      (Restated) (1)                       (Restated) (1)  

Revenues

    1                

Gross Sales

      4,081         2,749         7,649         4,740  

Less: Royalties

      44         3         71         3  
      4,037         2,746         7,578         4,737  

Expenses

    1                

Purchased Product

      2,080         1,624         4,314         2,986  

Transportation and Blending

      887         393         1,451         796  

Operating

      462         285         820         614  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

    23       (287       302         (487       325  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

    7,13       387         225         629         445  

Exploration Expense

    7,12       -         -         -         1  

General and Administrative

      58         94         101         154  

Finance Costs

    5       168         96         267         195  

Interest Income

      (10       (7       (27       (18

Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss, Net

    6       (410       20         (486       (383

Revaluation (Gain)

    4       (2,524       -         (2,524       -  

Transaction Costs

    4       26         -         55         -  

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

    4,15       (66       -         (66       -  

Research Costs

      5         7         9         25  

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

      -         1         1         1  

Other (Income) Loss, Net

      (2       2         (2       2  

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax

      3,263         (296       3,523         (406

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

    9       682         (65       731         (211

Net Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations

      2,581         (231       2,792         (195

Net Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations

    8       59         (36       59         (190

Net Earnings (Loss)

      2,640         (267       2,851         (385

Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share ($)

    10                

Continuing Operations

      2.32         (0.28       2.87         (0.23

Discontinued Operations

      0.05         (0.04       0.06         (0.23

Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share

      2.37         (0.32       2.93         (0.46

 

 

(1) The comparative periods have been restated to reflect discontinued operations as discussed in Note 8.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (unaudited)

For the periods ended June 30,

($ millions)

 

          Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
     Notes                 2017                        2016                        2017                        2016  

Net Earnings (Loss)

      2,640         (267       2,851         (385

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

    20                

Items That Will Not be Reclassified to Profit or Loss:

               

Actuarial Gain (Loss) Relating to Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits

      (6       (8       (9       (12

Items That May be Reclassified to Profit or Loss:

               

Available for Sale Financial Assets – Change in Fair Value

      -         (1       -         (4

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment

      (99       16         (142       (240

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

      (105       7         (151       (256

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

      2,535         (260       2,700         (641

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

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Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

As at

($ millions)

 

     Notes                   June 30, 
2017 
           December 31,
2016
 

Assets

         

Current Assets

         

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        489          3,720   

Accounts Receivable and Accrued Revenues

        1,572          1,838   

Income Tax Receivable

        37           

Inventories

    11         1,136          1,237   

Risk Management

    23,24         182          21   

Assets Held for Sale

    8         3,378           

Total Current Assets

        6,794          6,822   

Exploration and Evaluation Assets

    1,12         5,338          1,585   

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

    1,13         29,619          16,426   

Income Tax Receivable

        294          124   

Risk Management

    23,24                  

Other Assets

        63          56   

Goodwill

    14         2,349          242   

Total Assets

        44,459          25,258   

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

         

Current Liabilities

         

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

        2,188          2,266   

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

    16         893           

Income Tax Payable

        138          112   

Contingent Payment

    15         60           

Risk Management

    23,24                 293   

Liabilities Related to Assets Held for Sale

    8         1,434           

Total Current Liabilities

        4,714          2,671   

Long-Term Debt

    16         12,520          6,332   

Contingent Payment

    15         235           

Risk Management

    23,24         17          22   

Decommissioning Liabilities

    17         1,122          1,847   

Other Liabilities

    18         182          211   

Deferred Income Taxes

        5,968          2,585   

Total Liabilities

        24,758          13,668   

Shareholders’ Equity

        19,701          11,590   

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

        44,459          25,258   

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (unaudited)

($ millions)

 

    

Share

         Capital

        

Paid in 

       Surplus 

        

      Retained

Earnings

                AOCI (1)                      Total  
    (Note 19               (Note 20    

As at December 31, 2015

    5,534         4,330          1,507         1,020         12,391  

Net Earnings (Loss)

    -                 (385       -         (385

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    -                 -         (256       (256

Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    -                 (385       (256       (641

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

    -         10          -         -         10  

Dividends on Common Shares

    -                 (83       -         (83

As at June 30, 2016

    5,534         4,340          1,039         764         11,677  
                 

As at December 31, 2016

    5,534         4,350          796         910         11,590  

Net Earnings (Loss)

    -                 2,851         -         2,851  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    -                 -         (151       (151

Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    -                 2,851         (151       2,700  

Common Shares Issued

    5,506                 -         -         5,506  

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

    -                 -         -         7  

Dividends on Common Shares

    -                 (102       -         (102

As at June 30, 2017

    11,040         4,357          3,545         759         19,701  

 

 

(1) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

For the periods ended June 30,

($ millions)

 

            Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended  
      Notes      2017            2016            2017            2016   

Operating Activities

                    

Net Earnings (Loss)

        2,640           (267)          2,851           (385)  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     7,13        456           368           819           910   

Exploration Expense

        (1)                             

Deferred Income Taxes

     9        868           (52)          939           (242)  

Unrealized (Gain) Loss on Risk Management

     23        (132)          284           (411)          433   

Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss

     6        (396)          18           (468)          (391)  

Revaluation (Gain)

     4        (2,524)                   (2,524)           

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

     15        (66)                   (66)           

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

                                    

Unwinding of Discount on Decommissioning Liabilities

     17        23           32           49           64   

Onerous Contract Provisions, Net of Cash Paid

        (8)          16           (5)          30   

Other

        (68)          40           (72)          45   

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities

        (25)          (17)          (56)          (46)  

Net Change in Non-Cash Working Capital

        472           (218)          508           (33)  

Cash From Operating Activities

                 1,239           205                    1,567           387   

Investing Activities

                    

Acquisition, Net of Cash Acquired

     4        (14,326)                   (14,499)           

Capital Expenditures – Exploration and Evaluation Assets

     12        (33)          (19)          (76)          (53)  

Capital Expenditures – Property, Plant and Equipment

     13        (294)          (225)          (564)          (514)  

Net Change in Investments and Other

                 (1)                    

Net Change in Non-Cash Working Capital

        (54)          (25)          (27)          (72)  

Cash From (Used in) Investing Activities

        (14,706)          (270)          (15,165)          (639)  
                                            

Net Cash Provided (Used) Before Financing Activities

        (13,467)          (65)          (13,598)          (252)  

Financing Activities

     25                    

Issuance of Long-Term Debt

     16        3,842                    3,842            

Net Issuance (Repayment) of Revolving Long-Term Debt

     16        30                    30            

Issuance of Debt Under Asset Sale Bridge Facility

     16        3,579                    3,569            

Common Shares Issued, Net of Issuance Costs

     4,19        2,899                    2,899            

Dividends Paid on Common Shares

     10        (61)          (42)          (102)          (83)  

Other

        (1)          (1)          (2)          (1)  

Cash From (Used in) Financing Activities

        10,288           (43)          10,236           (84)  

Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss) on Cash and Cash Equivalents Held in Foreign Currency

        120                    131           11   

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

        (3,059)          (103)          (3,231)          (325)  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

        3,548           3,883           3,720           4,105   

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

        489                    3,780           489                     3,780   

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 59

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SEGMENTED DISCLOSURES

 

Cenovus Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries, (together “Cenovus” or the “Company”) are in the business of developing, producing and marketing crude oil, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and natural gas in Canada with marketing activities and refining operations in the United States (“U.S.”).

Cenovus is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and its shares are listed on the Toronto (“TSX”) and New York (“NYSE”) stock exchanges. The executive and registered office is located at 2600, 500 Centre Street S.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2G 1A6. Information on the Company’s basis of preparation for these interim Consolidated Financial Statements is found in Note 2.

On May 17, 2017, Cenovus acquired from ConocoPhillips Company and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, “ConocoPhillips”) a 50 percent interest in FCCL Partnership (“FCCL”) and the majority of ConocoPhillips’ western Canadian conventional crude oil and natural gas assets (the “Deep Basin Assets”). This acquisition increased Cenovus’s interest in FCCL to 100 percent and expanded Cenovus’s operating areas to include more than three million net acres of land, exploration and production assets and related infrastructure and agreements in Alberta and British Columbia. The acquisition had an effective date of January 1, 2017 (see Note 4).

Management has determined the operating segments based on information regularly reviewed for the purposes of decision making, allocating resources and assessing operational performance by Cenovus’s chief operating decision makers. The Company evaluates the financial performance of its operating segments primarily based on operating margin. The Company’s reportable segments are:

 

   

Oil Sands, which includes the development and production of bitumen and natural gas in northeast Alberta. Cenovus’s bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake as well as projects in the early stages of development, such as Telephone Lake. The Company’s interest in certain of its operated oil sands properties, notably Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake, increased from 50 percent to 100 percent on May 17, 2017.

 

   

Deep Basin, which includes approximately three million net acres of land primarily in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas, rich in natural gas and NGLs. The assets reside in Alberta and British Columbia and include interests in numerous natural gas processing facilities. The Deep Basin Assets were acquired on May 17, 2017.

 

   

Conventional, which has been classified as a discontinued operation as the Company has commenced marketing for sale its Conventional assets. This segment includes the development and production of conventional crude oil, NGLs and natural gas in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including the heavy oil assets at Pelican Lake, the carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery project at Weyburn and emerging tight oil opportunities.

 

   

Refining and Marketing, which is responsible for transporting, selling and refining crude oil into petroleum and chemical products. Cenovus jointly owns two refineries in the U.S. with the operator Phillips 66, an unrelated U.S. public company. In addition, Cenovus owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. This segment coordinates Cenovus’s marketing and transportation initiatives to optimize product mix, delivery points, transportation commitments and customer diversification. The marketing of crude oil and natural gas sourced from Canada, including physical product sales that settle in the U.S., is considered to be undertaken by a Canadian business. U.S. sourced crude oil and natural gas purchases and sales are attributed to the U.S.

 

   

Corporate and Eliminations, which primarily includes unrealized gains and losses recorded on derivative financial instruments, gains and losses on divestiture of assets, as well as other Cenovus-wide costs for general and administrative, financing activities and research costs. As financial instruments are settled, the realized gains and losses are recorded in the reportable segment to which the derivative instrument relates. Eliminations relate to sales and operating revenues, and purchased product between segments, recorded at transfer prices based on current market prices, and to unrealized intersegment profits in inventory. The Corporate and Eliminations segment is attributed to Canada, with the exception of unrealized risk management gains and losses, which have been attributed to the country in which the transacting entity resides.

The following tabular financial information presents the segmented information first by segment, then by product and geographic location.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 60

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

A) Results of Operations

 

    Oil Sands       Deep Basin       Refining and Marketing
For the three months ended June 30,   2017           2016           2017           2016           2017           2016   

Revenues

                     

Gross Sales

  1,666        709        124        -        2,397        2,129   

Less: Royalties

  36        3        8        -        -        -   
  1,630        706        116        -        2,397        2,129   

Expenses

                     

Purchased Product

  -        -        -        -        2,183        1,712   

Transportation and Blending

  879        395        10        -        -        -   

Operating

  221        104        51        -        192        182   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (14)       (24)       -        -        2        42   

Operating Margin

  544        231        55        -        20        193   

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

  273        156        45        -        55        50   

Exploration Expense

  -        -        -        -        -        -   

Segment Income (Loss)

  271        75        10        -        (35)       143   
                   

Corporate and

Eliminations

      Consolidated
For the three months ended June 30,                       2017           2016           2017           2016   
                            (Restated)(1)               (Restated)(1)

Revenues

                     

Gross Sales

          (106)       (89)       4,081        2,749   

Less: Royalties

          -        -        44        3   
          (106)       (89)       4,037        2,746   

Expenses

                     

Purchased Product

          (103)       (88)       2,080        1,624   

Transportation and Blending

          (2)       (2)       887        393   

Operating

          (2)       (1)       462        285   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

          (275)       284        (287)       302   

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

          14        19        387        225   

Exploration Expense

          -        -        -        -   

Segment Income (Loss)

          262        (301)       508        (83)  

General and Administrative

          58        94        58        94   

Finance Costs

          168        96        168        96   

Interest Income

          (10)       (7)       (10)       (7)  

Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss, Net

          (410)       20        (410)       20   

Revaluation (Gain)

          (2,524)       -        (2,524)       -   

Transaction Costs

          26        -        26        -   

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

          (66)       -        (66)       -   

Research Costs

          5        7        5        7   

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

          -        1        -        1   

Other (Income) Loss, Net

          (2)       2        (2)       2   
          (2,755)       213        (2,755)       213   

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax

            3,263        (296)  

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

                  682        (65)  

Net Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations

                  2,581        (231)  

 

(1) The comparative periods have been restated to reflect discontinued operations as discussed in Note 8.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 61

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

 

     Oil Sands        Deep Basin        Refining and Marketing
For the six months ended June 30,    2017           2016           2017           2016           2017           2016  

Revenues

                           

Gross Sales

   2,728        1,179        124        -        5,001        3,717  

Less: Royalties

   63        3        8        -        -        -  
   2,665        1,176        116        -        5,001        3,717  

Expenses

                           

Purchased Product

   -        -        -        -        4,513        3,140  

Transportation and Blending

   1,445        799        10        -        -        -  

Operating

   361        231        51        -        411        385  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   63        (130)       -        -        4        22  

Operating Margin

   796        276        55        -        73        170  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

   443        304        45        -        109        105  

Exploration Expense

   -        1        -        -        -        -  

Segment Income (Loss)

   353        (29)       10        -        (36)       65  
                       Corporate and
Eliminations
       Consolidated
For the six months ended June 30,                          2017           2016           2017           2016  
                                (Restated)(1)                 (Restated)(1)

Revenues

                           

Gross Sales

             (204)       (156)       7,649        4,740  

Less: Royalties

             -        -        71        3  
             (204)       (156)       7,578        4,737  

Expenses

                           

Purchased Product

             (199)       (154)       4,314        2,986  

Transportation and Blending

             (4)       (3)       1,451        796  

Operating

             (3)       (2)       820        614  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

             (554)       433        (487)       325  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

             32        36        629        445  

Exploration Expense

             -        -        -        1  

Segment Income (Loss)

             524        (466)       851        (430) 

General and Administrative

             101        154        101        154  

Finance Costs

             267        195        267        195  

Interest Income

             (27)       (18)       (27)       (18) 

Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss, Net

             (486)       (383)       (486)       (383) 

Revaluation (Gain)

             (2,524)       -        (2,524)       -  

Transaction Costs

             55        -        55        -  

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

             (66)       -        (66)       -  

Research Costs

             9        25        9        25  

(Gain) Loss on Divestiture of Assets

             1        1        1        1  

Other (Income) Loss, Net

             (2)       2        (2)       2  
             (2,672)       (24)       (2,672)       (24) 

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax

                       3,523        (406) 

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

                       731        (211) 

Net Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations

                       2,792        (195) 

 

(1) The comparative periods have been restated to reflect discontinued operations as discussed in Note 8.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 62

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

B) Revenues by Product

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,    2017            2016            2017            2016   

Upstream

                 

Crude Oil

   1,639         704         2,667         1,169   

Natural Gas (1)

   68         2         72         6   

NGLs

   32         -         32         -   

Other

   7         -         10         1   

Refining and Marketing

   2,397         2,129         5,001         3,717   

Corporate and Eliminations

   (106)        (89)        (204)        (156)  

Revenues From Continuing Operations

   4,037         2,746         7,578         4,737   

 

(1) Approximately 89 percent of the natural gas produced by Cenovus’s Deep Basin Assets has been sold to ConocoPhillips resulting in gross sales of $59 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.

C) Geographical Information

 

     Revenues
     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,    2017            2016            2017            2016   

Canada

   2,317         1,142         4,176         2,002   

United States

   1,720         1,604         3,402         2,735   

Revenues From Continuing Operations

   4,037         2,746         7,578         4,737   
                       Non-Current Assets (1)
                       June 30,           December 31,   
As at                          2017            2016   

Canada (2)

             33,353         14,130   

United States

             4,016         4,179   

Consolidated

             37,369         18,309   

 

(1) Includes exploration and evaluation (“E&E”) assets, property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), goodwill and other assets.
(2) The Conventional segment, which resides in Canada, has been reclassified as held for sale in 2017 in current assets. 2016 includes $3.2 million related to the Conventional segment.

D) Exploration and Evaluation Assets, Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Total Assets

 

     E&E        PP&E
     June 30,           December 31,           June 30,           December 31,   
As at    2017            2016            2017            2016   

Oil Sands

   1,698         1,564         22,351         8,798   

Deep Basin

   3,640         -         2,898         -   

Conventional

   -         21         -         3,080   

Refining and Marketing

   -         -         4,111         4,273   

Corporate and Eliminations

   -         -         259         275   

Consolidated

   5,338         1,585         29,619         16,426   
     Goodwill        Total Assets
     June 30,           December 31,           June 30,           December 31,   
As at    2017            2016            2017            2016   

Oil Sands

   2,349         242         28,091         11,112   

Deep Basin

   -         -         6,649         -   

Conventional

   -         -         3,231         3,196   

Refining and Marketing

   -         -         5,159         6,613   

Corporate and Eliminations

   -         -         1,329         4,337   

Consolidated

   2,349         242         44,459         25,258   

 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

E) Capital Expenditures (1)

 

     Three Months Ended            Six Months Ended        
For the periods ended June 30,    2017             2016             2017             2016  

Capital

                 

Oil Sands

   215        139        387        366  

Deep Basin

   13        -        13        -  

Conventional

   50        34        138        73  

Refining and Marketing

   40        53        86        105  

Corporate

   9        10        16        15  

Capital Investment

   327        236        640        559  

Acquisition Capital

                 

Oil Sands (2)

   23,208        11        23,208        11  

Deep Basin

   6,627        -        6,627        -  

Total Capital Expenditures

   30,162        247        30,475        570  

 

(1) Includes expenditures on PP&E, E&E assets and assets held for sale.
(2) In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus was deemed to have disposed of its pre-existing interest in FCCL and re-acquired it at fair value as required by IFRS 3.

2. BASIS OF PREPARATION AND STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

 

In these interim Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise indicated, all dollars are expressed in Canadian dollars. All references to C$ or $ are to Canadian dollars and references to US$ are to U.S. dollars.

These interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements, including International Accounting Standard 34, “Interim Financial Reporting” (“IAS 34”).

Certain information provided for the prior year has been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted for the period ended June 30, 2017.

These interim Consolidated Financial Statements were approved by the Audit Committee effective July 26, 2017.

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

A) Accounting Policies

Certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to the annual Consolidated Financial Statements have been condensed or have been disclosed on an annual basis only. Accordingly, these interim Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. These interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared following the same accounting policies and methods of computation as the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, except for income taxes. Clarification on our business combinations and goodwill accounting policy has been added below.

Income Taxes

Income taxes on earnings or loss in interim periods are accrued using the income tax rate that would be applicable to the expected total annual earnings or loss.

Business Combinations and Goodwill

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in which the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and non-controlling interest, if any, are recognized and measured at their fair value at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price plus any non-controlling interest over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. Any deficiency of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is credited to net earnings.

At acquisition, goodwill is allocated to each of the cash-generating units (“CGUs”) to which it relates. Subsequent measurement of goodwill is at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.

A contingent payment transferred in a business combination is measured at fair value on the date of acquisition and classified as a financial liability or equity. A contingent payment classified as a liability is re-measured at fair value at each reporting date, with changes in fair value recognized in net earnings. Payments are classified as cash

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

used in investing activities until the cumulative payments exceed the acquisition date fair value of the liability. Cumulative payments in excess of the acquisition date fair value are classified as cash used in operating activities. Contingent payments classified as equity are not re-measured and settlements are accounted for within equity.

When a business combination is achieved in stages, the Company re-measures its pre-existing interest at the acquisition date fair value and recognizes the resulting gain or loss, if any, in net earnings.

B) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Standards and Interpretations not yet Adopted

A number of new accounting standards, amendments to accounting standards and interpretations are effective for annual periods beginning after January 1, 2017 and have not been applied in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2017. The following provides an update to the disclosure in the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Revenue Recognition

On May 28, 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers” (“IFRS 15”) replacing IAS 11, “Construction Contracts”, IAS 18, “Revenue” and several revenue-related interpretations. IFRS 15 establishes a single revenue recognition framework that applies to contracts with customers. The standard requires an entity to recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services for the amount it expects to receive, when control is transferred to the purchaser. Disclosure requirements have also been expanded.

IFRS 15 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The standard may be applied retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting IFRS 15 on the Consolidated Financial Statements and plans to adopt the standard for its year ended December 31, 2018.

Leases

On January 13, 2016, the IASB issued IFRS 16, “Leases” (“IFRS 16”), which requires entities to recognize lease assets and lease obligations on the balance sheet. For lessees, IFRS 16 removes the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases, effectively treating all leases as finance leases. Certain short-term leases (less than 12 months) and leases of low-value assets are exempt from the requirements, and may continue to be treated as operating leases.

Lessors will continue with a dual lease classification model. Classification will determine how and when a lessor will recognize lease revenue, and what assets would be recorded.

IFRS 16 is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted if IFRS 15 has been adopted. The standard may be applied retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach does not require restatement of prior period financial information as it recognizes the cumulative effect as an adjustment to opening retained earnings and applies the standard prospectively.

The Company plans to apply IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019. A transition team is assessing the impacts of adopting IFRS 16 and will oversee changes to accounting systems, processes and internal controls. The estimated time and effort necessary to develop and implement required changes (including the impact to information technology systems) extends into 2018. Although the transition approach on adoption has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the adoption of IFRS 16 will have a material impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

C) Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty

Critical accounting estimates are those estimates that require Management to make particularly subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis and any revisions to accounting estimates are recorded in the period in which the estimates are revised. Further to those areas discussed in the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, the estimation of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, including contingent payment and goodwill, is a key area involving significant estimates or judgments.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

4. ACQUISITION

 

A) Summary of the Acquisition

On March 29, 2017, Cenovus entered into a purchase and sale agreement with ConocoPhillips to acquire ConocoPhillips’ 50 percent interest in FCCL and the majority of ConocoPhillips’ Deep Basin Assets in Alberta and British Columbia (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition was completed on May 17, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2017.

The Acquisition provides Cenovus with control over the Company’s oil sands operations, doubles the Company’s oil sands production, and almost doubles the Company’s proved bitumen reserves. The Deep Basin Assets provide a second growth platform with more than three million net acres of land, exploration and production assets, and related infrastructure in Alberta and British Columbia.

The Acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method pursuant to IFRS 3, “Business Combinations” (“IFRS 3”). Under the acquisition method, assets and liabilities are recorded at their fair values on the date of acquisition and the total consideration is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The excess of consideration given over the fair value of the net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill.

B) Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed

The preliminary purchase price allocation is based on management’s best estimate of fair value. Upon finalizing the fair value of net assets acquired, adjustments to initial estimates, including goodwill, may be required.

The following table summarizes the recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the Acquisition.

 

            May 17,    
As at    Notes      2017    

100 Percent of the Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed for FCCL

     

Cash

        880    

Accounts Receivable and Accrued Revenues

        964    

Inventories

        303    

E&E Assets

     12        791    

PP&E

     13        22,417    

Other Assets

        6    

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

        (445)   

Decommissioning Liabilities

     17        (277)   

Other Liabilities

        (8)   

Deferred Income Taxes

        (2,497)   
        22,134    

Recognized Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed for Deep Basin

     

E&E Assets

     12        3,639    

PP&E

     13        2,988    

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

        (6)   

Decommissioning Liabilities

     17        (667)   
        5,954    

Total Identifiable Net Assets

                  28,088    

The fair value of acquired accounts receivables and accrued revenues is $964 million, all of which was expected to be collectible at the date of acquisition.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

C) Total Consideration

Total consideration for the Acquisition consisted of US$10.6 billion in cash and 208 million Cenovus common shares plus closing adjustments. At the same time, Cenovus agreed to make certain quarterly contingent payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to May 17, 2017 if crude oil prices exceed a specific threshold. The following table summarizes the fair value of the consideration:

 

As at    May 17,  
2017  
 

Common Shares

     2,579    

Cash

     14,939    
     17,518    

Estimated Contingent Payment (Note 15)

     361    

Total Consideration

     17,879    

At the date of closing, the Company issued 208 million common shares to ConocoPhillips that were accounted for at $12.40 per share, the estimated fair value for accounting purposes.

Consideration paid in cash was US$10.6 billion, before closing adjustments, and was financed through a bought-deal common share offering (see Note 19) and an offering in the United States for senior unsecured notes (see Note 16). In addition, Cenovus borrowed $3.6 billion under a committed asset sale bridge credit facility. The remainder of the cash purchase price was funded with cash on hand and a draw on Cenovus’s existing committed credit facility.

The estimated contingent payment related to oil sands production reflects that Cenovus agreed to make quarterly payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to the closing date for quarters in which the average Western Canadian Select (“WCS”) crude oil price exceeds $52.00 per barrel during the quarter. The quarterly payment will be $6 million for each dollar that the WCS price exceeds $52.00 per barrel. There are no maximum payment terms.

The calculation of any contingent payment includes an adjustment mechanism related to certain significant production outages at Foster Creek and Christina Lake, which may reduce the amount of a contingent payment. The terms of the contingent payment agreement allow Cenovus to retain 80 percent to 85 percent of the WCS prices above $52.00 per barrel, based on current gross production capacity at Foster Creek and Christina Lake. As production capacity increases with future expansions, the percentage of upside available to Cenovus will increase further.

The contingent payment is accounted for as a financial option. The fair value of $361 million on May 17, 2017 was estimated by calculating the present value of the future expected cash flows using an option pricing model, which assumes the probability distribution for WCS is based on the volatility of West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) options, volatility of Canadian-U.S. foreign exchange rate options and WCS futures pricing, and discounted at a credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 2.9 percent. Subsequent to the closing date, the contingent payment will be re-measured at fair value at each reporting date with changes in fair value recognized in net earnings (see Note 15).

D) Goodwill

Goodwill arising from the Acquisition has been recognized as follows:

 

As at    Notes      May 17,  
2017  
 

Total Purchase Consideration

     4C        17,879    

Fair Value of Pre-Existing 50 Percent Ownership Interest in FCCL

        12,316    

Fair Value of Identifiable Net Assets

     4B        (28,088)   

Goodwill

        2,107    

Fair Value of Pre-Existing 50 Percent Ownership Interest in FCCL

Prior to the Acquisition, Cenovus’s 50 percent interest in FCCL was jointly controlled with ConocoPhillips and met the definition of a joint operation under IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements” and as such Cenovus recognized its share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in its consolidated results. Subsequent to Acquisition, Cenovus controls FCCL, as defined under IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements” and accordingly, FCCL has been consolidated. As required by IFRS 3, when an acquirer achieves control in stages, the previously held interest is re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date with any gain or loss recognized in net earnings. The acquisition-date fair value of the previously held interest was $12.3 billion and has been included in the measurement of the total consideration transferred. Cenovus recognized a non-cash revaluation gain of $2.5 billion ($1.8 billion, after-tax) on the re-measurement to fair value of its existing interest in FCCL.

 

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Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

Goodwill was recorded in connection with deferred tax liabilities arising from the difference between the purchase price allocated to the FCCL assets and liabilities based on fair value and the tax basis of these assets and liabilities. In addition, the consideration paid for FCCL included a control premium, which resulted in a higher value compared to the fair value of the net assets acquired.

E) Acquisition-Related Costs

The Company incurred $55 million of Acquisition-related costs, excluding common share and debt issuance costs. These costs have been included in transaction costs in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

F) Transitional Services

Under the purchase and sales agreement, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips agreed to certain transitional services where ConocoPhillips will provide certain day-to-day services required by Cenovus for a period of approximately nine months. These transactions are in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amounts.

In the three months ended June 30, 2017, costs related to the transitional services of approximately $10 million were recorded in general and administrative expenses.

G) Revenue and Profit Contribution

The acquired business contributed revenues of $663 million and net earnings of $49 million for the period from May 17, 2017 to June 30, 2017.

If the closing of the Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2017, Cenovus’s consolidated pro forma revenue and net earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 would have been $9.6 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively. These amounts have been calculated using results from the acquired business and adjusting them for:

  ·  

Differences in accounting policies,

  ·  

Additional finance costs that would have been incurred if the amounts drawn on the Company’s committed asset sale bridge credit facility and the senior unsecured notes issued to fund the Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2017,

  ·  

Additional depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to PP&E and E&E assets had applied from January 1, 2017,

  ·  

Accretion on the decommissioning liability if it had been assumed on January 1, 2017, and

  ·  

The consequential tax effects.

This pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have been obtained if the Acquisition had actually occurred on January 1, 2017.

5. FINANCE COSTS

 

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,    2017            2016            2017            2016   

Interest Expense – Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt

   152         83         237         171   

Unwinding of Discount on Decommissioning Liabilities (Note 17)

   11         6         16         13   

Other

   5         7         14         11   
   168         96         267         195   

 

6. FOREIGN EXCHANGE (GAIN) LOSS, NET

     Three Months Ended       

 

Six Months Ended

For the periods ended June 30,    2017            2016            2017            2016   

Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss on Translation of:

                 

U.S. Dollar Debt Issued From Canada

   (279)        18         (335)        (395)  

Other

   (117)        -         (133)        4   

Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss

   (396)        18         (468)        (391)  

Realized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss

   (14)        2         (18)        8   
   (410)        20         (486)        (383)  

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

7. IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

 

A) Cash-Generating Unit Impairments

2017 Impairments

As at June 30, 2017, there were no CGU impairments.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the CGU to which it relates. There were no goodwill impairments for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

2016 Upstream Impairments

Due to a decline in forward commodity prices as at March 31, 2016, the Company tested its upstream CGUs for impairment. The Company determined that the carrying amount of the Northern Alberta CGU exceeded its recoverable amount, resulting in an impairment loss of $170 million. The impairment was recorded as additional DD&A in the Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation.

As at March 31, 2016, the recoverable amount of the Northern Alberta CGU was estimated to be approximately $1.3 billion based on the fair value less costs of disposal. The fair value of producing properties was calculated based on discounted after-tax cash flows of proved and probable reserves using forward prices and cost estimates, prepared by Cenovus’s independent qualified reserves evaluators (Level 3). Future cash flows were estimated using a two percent inflation rate and discounted using a rate of 10 percent. Forward prices as at March 31, 2016 used to determine future cash flows from crude oil and natural gas reserves were:

 

        Remainder  
of 2016  
                 2017                    2018                    2019                    2020       

Average  

Annual %  

    Change to  

2026  

 

WTI (US$/barrel)

  

 

45.00  

    

 

51.00  

    

 

59.80  

    

 

66.30  

    

 

70.40  

    

 

3.9%  

WCS (C$/barrel)

   43.40        50.10        57.00        63.60        65.50        4.0%  

AECO (C$/Mcf) (1) (2)

   2.10        3.00        3.35        3.65        3.75        3.7%  
  

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

(1)

Alberta Energy Company (“AECO”) natural gas.

(2)

Assumes gas heating value of one million British Thermal Units per thousand cubic feet.

There were no impairments of goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

B) Asset Impairment

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, $2 million of previously capitalized E&E costs were deemed not to be technically feasible and commercially viable. This impairment loss was recorded as exploration expense in the Conventional segment, which has been classified as a discontinued operation (2016 – nil).

8. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

Concurrent with the announcement of the Acquisition on March 29, 2017, Cenovus commenced marketing for sale certain non-core properties comprising its Pelican Lake heavy oil assets, including the adjacent Grand Rapids project in the Greater Pelican Lake region, and its Suffield crude oil and natural gas assets. On June 20, 2017, the Company announced its intent to divest the remainder of its Conventional segment assets, including its Palliser asset in southern Alberta and its Weyburn oil operation in southern Saskatchewan. As a result, the Conventional segment has been classified as held for sale and a discontinued operation. The assets have been recorded at the lesser of their carrying amount and their fair value less costs to sell. No impairment was recorded.

 

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Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

A) Results of Discontinued Operations

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,          2017                2016                  2017                  2016  

Revenues

                 

Gross Sales

   386        294        760        568  

Less: Royalties

   50        33        100        53  
   336        261        660        515  

Expenses

                 

Transportation and Blending

   54        45        105        92  

Operating

   115        107        225        229  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   5        3        10        5  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   3        (11)       16        (50) 

Operating Margin

   159        117        304        239  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

   69        143        190        465  

Exploration Expense

   (1)       -        2        -  

Finance Costs

   12        26        33        51  

Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Before Income Tax

   79        (52)       79        (277) 

Current Tax Expense (Recovery)

   17        29        22        60  

Deferred Tax Expense (Recovery)

   3        (45)       (2)       (147) 

Net Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations

   59        (36)       59        (190) 

B) Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale

As at June 30, 2017, assets and liabilities held for sale consist of the following:

 

     E&E Assets          PP&E        

Decommissioning 

Liabilities 

Description    (Note 12)          (Note 13)         (Note 17)

Conventional

   11        3,039       1,418 

Oil Sands

   259        69       16 
   270        3,108       1,434 

The Conventional assets and liabilities relate to the Suffield, Pelican Lake and Palliser areas in Alberta, and the Weyburn area in Saskatchewan. The Oil Sands assets and liabilities relate to the Grand Rapids project in Alberta.

C) Cash Flows From Discontinued Operations

Cash flows from discontinued operations reported in the consolidated statement of cash flows are:

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Cash From Operating Activities

   137        84        270        172  

Cash Used in Investing Activities

   (50)       (31)       (138)       (70) 

Net Cash Flow

   87        53        132        102  

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

9. INCOME TAXES

 

The provision for income taxes is:

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,                2017                        2016                        2017                        2016   

Current Tax

                 

Canada

   (183)        (59)        (209)        (116)   

United States

   -         1         (1)        1   

Total Current Tax Expense (Recovery)

   (183)        (58)        (210)        (115)   

Deferred Tax Expense (Recovery)

   865         (7)        941         (96)   

Tax Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations

   682         (65)        731         (211)   

The following table reconciles income taxes calculated at the Canadian statutory rate with recorded income taxes:

 

     Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,                2017                        2016   

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax

   3,523         (406)  

Canadian Statutory Rate

   27.0%         27.0%   

Expected Income Tax (Recovery)

   951         (110)  

Effect of Taxes Resulting From:

       

Foreign Tax Rate Differential

   (35)        (23)  

Non-Taxable Capital (Gains) Losses

   (88)        (53)  

Non-Recognition of Capital (Gains) Losses

   (63)        (53)  

Recognition of Previously Unrecognized Capital Losses

   (63)        -   

Non-Deductible Expenses

   10         5   

Other

   19         23   

Tax Expense (Recovery) From Continuing Operations

   731         (211)  

Effective Tax Rate

   20.7%         52.0%   

10. PER SHARE AMOUNTS

 

A) Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Basic and Diluted

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,                2017                        2016                        2017                        2016   

Earnings (Loss) From:

                 

Continuing Operations

   2,581         (231)         2,792         (195)   

Discontinued Operations

   59         (36)         59         (190)   

Net Earnings (Loss)

   2,640         (267)         2,851         (385)   

Weighted Average Number of Shares (millions)

   1,113.3         833.3          974.1         833.3   

Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share From: ($)

                 

Continuing Operations

   2.32         (0.28)         2.87         (0.23)   

Discontinued Operations

   0.05         (0.04)         0.06         (0.23)   

Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share

   2.37         (0.32)         2.93         (0.46)   

B) Dividends Per Share

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company paid dividends of $102 million or $0.10 per share (six months ended June 30, 2016 – $83 million or $0.10 per share).

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

11. INVENTORIES

 

Cenovus recorded a $2 million write-down of product inventories to net realizable value as at June 30, 2017. As at December 31, 2016, Cenovus recorded a $4 million write-down of its product inventory.

12. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS

 

      Total   

As at December 31, 2016

   1,585   

Additions

   76   

Acquisition (Note 4) (1)

   4,430   

Transfers to Assets Held for Sale (Note 8)

   (270)  

Exploration Expense (Note 7)

   (2)  

Change in Decommissioning Liabilities

   (2)  

Divestitures (1)

   (479)  

As at June 30, 2017

   5,338   
(1) In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus was deemed to have disposed of its pre-existing interest in FCCL and re-acquired it at fair value as required by IFRS 3.

13. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

    

Upstream Assets

                      
      Development   
& Production   
        Other   
Upstream   
        Refining   
Equipment   
        Other (1)            Total   

COST

                      

As at December 31, 2016

   31,941         333         5,259         1,074         38,607   

Additions

   462         -         85         17         564   

Acquisition (Note 4) (2)

   25,405         -         -         -         25,405   

Transfers to Assets Held for Sale (Note 8)

   (19,049)        -         -         -         (19,049)  

Change in Decommissioning Liabilities

   (105)        -         1         (1)        (105)  

Exchange Rate Movements and Other

   1         -         (189)        -         (188)  

Divestitures (2)

   (12,213)        -         -         -         (12,213)  

As at June 30, 2017

   26,442         333         5,156         1,090         33,021   

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION

As at December 31, 2016

   20,088         308         1,076         709         22,181   

DD&A

   663         15         105         36         819   

Transfers to Assets Held for Sale (Note 8)

   (15,941)        -         -         -         (15,941)  

Exchange Rate Movements and Other

   4         -         (50)        -         (46)  

Divestitures (2)

   (3,611)        -         -         -         (3,611)  

As at June 30, 2017

   1,203         323         1,131         745         3,402   

CARRYING VALUE

                      

As at December 31, 2016

   11,853         25         4,183         365         16,426   

As at June 30, 2017

   25,239         10         4,025         345         29,619   

 

(1) Includes crude-by-rail terminal, office furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements, information technology and aircraft.
(2) In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus was deemed to have disposed of its pre-existing interest in FCCL and re-acquired it at fair value as required by IFRS 3.

14. GOODWILL

 

 

     June 30,           December 31,   
As at    2017            2016   

Carrying Value, Beginning of Period

   242         242   

Goodwill Recognized on Acquisition (Note 4)

   2,107         -   

Carrying Value, End of Period

   2,349         242   

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

The carrying amount of goodwill allocated to the Company’s exploration and production CGUs is:

 

As at   

June 30,  

2017  

        December 31,  
2016  

Primrose (Foster Creek)

   1,110        242  

Christina Lake

   1,037        -  

Narrows Lake

   202        -  
   2,349        242  

15. CONTINGENT PAYMENT

 

 

As at January 1, 2017

     -  

Initial Recognition on May 17, 2017 (Note 4)

     361  

Re-measurement (1)

     (66) 

Payments

     -  

As at June 30, 2017

     295  

Less: Current Portion

     60  

Long-Term Portion

     235  

 

(1) Contingent payment is carried at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded in net earnings.

In connection with the Acquisition (see Note 4), Cenovus agreed to make quarterly payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to May 17, 2017 for quarters in which the average WCS crude oil price exceeds $52.00 per barrel during the quarter. The quarterly payment will be $6 million for each dollar that the WCS price exceeds $52.00 per barrel. There are no maximum payment terms. In the three months ended June 30, 2017, WCS averaged less than $52 per barrel; therefore, no amount was payable. The estimated quarterly WCS forward prices in the next 12 months range between approximately $44 per barrel and $46 per barrel.

The calculation includes an adjustment mechanism related to certain significant production outages at Foster Creek and Christina Lake which may reduce the amount of a contingent payment.

16. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

 

As at            US$ Principal  
Amount  
June 30, 2017  
       

June 30,  

2017  

        December 31,  
2016  

Revolving Term Debt (1)

     A        -        -        -  

Asset Sale Bridge Credit Facility

     B        -        3,600        -  

U.S. Dollar Denominated Unsecured Notes

     C        7,650        9,927        6,378  

Total Debt Principal

           13,527        6,378  

Debt Discounts and Transaction Costs

           (114)       (46) 
           13,413        6,332  

Less: Current Portion, Net of Transaction Costs

           893        -  

Long-Term Debt

           12,520        6,332  

 

(1) Revolving term debt may include Bankers’ Acceptances, London Interbank Offered Rate based loans, prime rate loans and U.S. base rate loans.

Consideration for the Acquisition (see Note 4) was partially financed through borrowings under the Company’s committed asset sale bridge credit facility and an offering in the United States for senior unsecured notes, as well as its existing committed credit facility. Debt issuance costs related to the Acquisition financing were $71 million. These costs will be included with the current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt and amortized using the effective interest method.

A) Revolving Term Debt

On April 28, 2017, Cenovus amended its existing committed credit facility to increase the capacity of the facility by $0.5 billion to $4.5 billion and to extend the maturity dates. The committed credit facility consists of a $1.2 billion tranche maturing on November 30, 2020 and a $3.3 billion tranche maturing on November 30, 2021. As at June 30, 2017, Cenovus had $4.5 billion available on its committed credit facility.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

B) Asset Sale Bridge Credit Facility

In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus borrowed $3.6 billion under a committed asset sale bridge credit facility. The committed asset sale bridge credit facility consists of a $0.9 billion tranche maturing on May 17, 2018, a $1.8 billion tranche maturing on November 17, 2018, and a $0.9 billion tranche maturing on May 17, 2019. Cenovus expects to repay the committed asset sale bridge credit facility through the sale of certain assets (see Note 8).

C) Unsecured Notes

On February 24, 2016, Cenovus filed a base shelf prospectus. The base shelf prospectus allows the Company to offer, from time to time, up to US$5.0 billion, or the equivalent in other currencies, of debt securities, common shares, preferred shares, subscription receipts, warrants, share purchase contracts and units in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere where permitted by law. The base shelf prospectus will expire in March 2018. As at June 30, 2017, US$2.8 billion was available under the base shelf prospectus.

On April 7, 2017, Cenovus completed an offering in the United States for US$2.9 billion in senior unsecured notes in three series, as follows:

 

As at   

US$ Principal   

Amount   

        June 30,   
2017   

4.25% due 2027

   1,200         1,557   

5.25% due 2037

   700         908   

5.40% due 2047

   1,000         1,298   
   2,900         3,763   

As at June 30, 2017, the Company is in compliance with all of the terms of its debt agreements.

17. DECOMMISSIONING LIABILITIES

 

The decommissioning provision represents the present value of the expected future costs associated with the retirement of upstream crude oil and natural gas assets, refining facilities and the crude-by-rail terminal. The aggregate carrying amount of the obligation is:

 

                 Total   

As at December 31, 2016

        1,847   

Liabilities Incurred

        6   

Liabilities Acquired (Note 4) (1)

        944   

Liabilities Settled

        (38)  

Liabilities Divested (1)

        (138)  

Transfers to Liabilities Related to Assets Held for Sale (Note 8)

        (1,434)  

Change in Estimated Future Cash Flows

        (14)  

Change in Discount Rate

        (99)  

Unwinding of Discount on Decommissioning Liabilities

        49   

Foreign Currency Translation

        (1)  

As at June 30, 2017

        1,122   

 

(1) In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus was deemed to have disposed of its pre-existing interest in FCCL and reacquired it at fair value as required by IFRS.

The undiscounted amount of estimated future cash flows required to settle the obligation has been discounted using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 6.0 percent as at June 30, 2017 (December 31, 2016 – 5.9 percent).

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

18. OTHER LIABILITIES

 

 

     June 30,           December 31,   
As at    2017            2016   

Employee Long-Term Incentives

   23         72   

Pension and Other Post-Employment Benefit Plan

   88         71   

Onerous Contract Provisions

   37         35   

Other

   34         33   
   182         211   

19. SHARE CAPITAL

 

A) Authorized

Cenovus is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares, and first and second preferred shares not exceeding, in aggregate, 20 percent of the number of issued and outstanding common shares. The first and second preferred shares may be issued in one or more series with rights and conditions to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors prior to issuance and subject to the Company’s articles.

B) Issued and Outstanding

 

     June 30, 2017        December 31, 2016
As at   

Number of   
Common   
Shares   

(thousands)   

        Amount           

Number of   
Common   
Shares   

(thousands)   

        Amount   

Outstanding, Beginning of Period

   833,290         5,534         833,290         5,534   

Common Shares Issued, Net of Issuance Costs and Tax

   187,500         2,927         -         -   

Common Shares Issued to ConocoPhillips

   208,000         2,579         -         -   

Outstanding, End of Period

   1,228,790         11,040         833,290         5,534   

In connection with the Acquisition (see Note 4), Cenovus closed a bought-deal common share financing on April 6, 2017 for 187.5 million common shares, raising gross proceeds of $3.0 billion ($2.9 billion net of $101 million of share issuance costs).

In addition, the Company issued 208 million common shares to ConocoPhillips on May 17, 2017 as partial consideration for the Acquisition. In relation to the share consideration, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips entered into an investor agreement, and a registration rights agreement which, among other things, restricts ConocoPhillips from selling or hedging its Cenovus common shares until November 17, 2017. ConocoPhillips is also restricted from nominating new members to Cenovus’s Board of Directors and must vote its Cenovus common shares in accordance with management recommendations or abstain from voting until such time ConocoPhillips owns 3.5 percent or less of the then outstanding common shares of Cenovus.

There were no preferred shares outstanding as at June 30, 2017 (December 31, 2016 – nil).

As at June 30, 2017, there were 13 million (December 31, 2016 – 12 million) common shares available for future issuance under the stock option plan.

 

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Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

20. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

     

Defined  

Benefit  
Pension  
Plan  

        Foreign  
Currency  
Translation  
Adjustment  
       

Available  

for Sale  

Financial  

Assets  

        Total  

As at December 31, 2015

   (10)       1,014        16        1,020  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Tax

   (17)       (240)       (5)       (262) 

Income Tax

   5        -        1        6  

As at June 30, 2016

   (22)       774        12        764  
                 

As at December 31, 2016

   (13)       908        15        910  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Tax

   (12)       (142)       -        (154) 

Income Tax

   3        -        -        3  

As at June 30, 2017

   (22)       766        15        759  

21. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

 

Cenovus has a number of stock-based compensation plans which include stock options with associated net settlement rights (“NSRs”), stock options with associated tandem stock appreciation rights (“TSARs”), performance share units (“PSUs”), restricted share units (“RSUs”) and deferred share units (“DSUs”). The following table summarizes information related to Cenovus’s stock-based compensation plans:

 

As at June 30, 2017    Units  
Outstanding  
(thousands)  
       

Units  

Exercisable  

(thousands)  

NSRs

   43,930        36,862  

TSARs

   234        234  

PSUs

   7,005        -  

RSUs

   5,963        -  

DSUs

   1,613        1,613  
For the six months ended June 30, 2017    Units  
Granted  
(thousands)  
       

Units  

Vested and  
Paid Out  

(thousands)  

NSRs

   2,822        -  

PSUs

   2,199        451  

RSUs

   2,338        101  

DSUs

   111        110  

Certain directors, officers or employees chose prior to December 31, 2016 to convert a portion of their remuneration, paid in the first quarter of 2017, into DSUs. The election for any particular year is irrevocable. DSUs may not be redeemed until departure from the Company. Directors also received an annual grant of DSUs.

The weighted average exercise price of NSRs and TSARs as at June 30, 2017 was $29.58 and $30.68, respectively.

The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense (recovery) recorded for all plans:

 

     Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
For the periods ended June 30,    2017           2016           2017           2016  

NSRs

   4        4        6        8  

PSUs

   (6)       8        (12)       -  

RSUs

   (3)       2        (6)       5  

DSUs

   (10)       3        (17)       2  

Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Recovery)

   (15)       17        (29)       15  

Stock-Based Compensation Costs Capitalized

   (3)       5        (4)       4  

Total Stock-Based Compensation

   (18)       22        (33)       19  

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

22. CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

Cenovus’s capital structure objectives and targets have remained unchanged from previous periods. Cenovus’s capital structure consists of Shareholders’ Equity plus Debt. Debt is defined as short-term borrowings, and the current and long-term portions of long-term debt. Net debt includes the Company’s short-term borrowings, and the current and long-term portions of long-term debt, net of cash and cash equivalents. Cenovus’s objectives when managing its capital structure are to maintain financial flexibility, preserve access to capital markets, ensure its ability to finance internally generated growth and to fund potential acquisitions while maintaining the ability to meet the Company’s financial obligations as they come due.

Cenovus monitors its capital structure and financing requirements using, among other things, non-GAAP financial measures consisting of Debt to Capitalization and Debt to Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and DD&A (“Adjusted EBITDA”). These measures are used to steward Cenovus’s overall debt position as measures of Cenovus’s overall financial strength.

Over the long term, Cenovus targets a Debt to Capitalization ratio of between 30 and 40 percent and a Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of between 1.0 and 2.0 times. At different points within the economic cycle, Cenovus expects these ratios may periodically be outside of the target range.

A) Debt to Capitalization and Net Debt to Capitalization

 

As at              June 30,   
2017   
                December 31,   
2016   

Current Portion Long-Term Debt

   893         -   

Long-Term Debt

   12,520         6,332   

Debt

   13,413         6,332   

Shareholders’ Equity

   19,701         11,590   
   33,114         17,922   

Debt to Capitalization

   41%         35%   

Debt

   13,413         6,332   

Add (Deduct):

       

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   (489)        (3,720)  

Net Debt

   12,924         2,612   

Shareholders’ Equity

   19,701         11,590   
   32,625         14,202   

Net Debt to Capitalization

   40%         18%   

 

B) Debt to Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

 

As at          June 30,   
2017   
              December 31,   
2016   

Debt

   13,413         6,332   

Net Debt

   12,924         2,612   

Net Earnings (Loss)

   2,691         (545)  

Add (Deduct):

       

Finance Costs

   546         492   

Interest Income

   (61)        (52)  

Income Tax Expense (Recovery)

   667         (382)  

DD&A

   1,407         1,498   

E&E Impairment

   3         2   

Unrealized (Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   (290)        554   

Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss, Net

   (301)        (198)  

Revaluation (Gain)

   (2,524)        -   

Re-measurement of Contingent Payment

   (66)        -   

(Gain) Loss on Divestitures of Assets

   6         6   

Other (Income) Loss, Net

   30         34   

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

   2,108         1,409   

Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

   6.4x         4.5x   

Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

   6.1x         1.9x   

 

(1) Calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis. Includes discontinued operations.

 

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Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

As at June 30, 2017, Cenovus’s debt to adjusted EBITDA and net debt to adjusted EBITDA are 6.4x and 6.1x, respectively. These ratios are well outside our target range. However, it is important to note that adjusted EBITDA is calculated on a rolling twelve month basis and as such, only includes the financial results from the Deep Basin Assets and the additional 50 percent of FCCL for the period May 17, 2017 to June 30, 2017. Debt and net debt are presented as at June 30, 2017; therefore, the ratios are fully burdened by the debt issued to finance the Acquisition. If adjusted EBITDA reflected a full twelve months of earnings from the acquired assets, Cenovus’s debt and net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratios would be substantially lower.

Cenovus will maintain a high level of capital discipline and manage its capital structure to help ensure sufficient liquidity through all stages of the economic cycle. To manage its capital structure, Cenovus may, among other actions, adjust capital and operating spending, adjust dividends paid to shareholders, purchase shares for cancellation pursuant to normal course issuer bids, issue new shares, issue new debt, draw down on its credit facility or repay existing debt.

Cenovus has in place a committed credit facility that consists of a $1.2 billion tranche maturing on November 30, 2020 and a $3.3 billion tranche maturing on November 30, 2021. As at June 30, 2017, Cenovus had $4.5 billion available on its committed credit facility. Under the committed credit facility, the Company is required to maintain a debt to capitalization ratio, as defined in the agreement, not to exceed 65 percent. The Company is well below this limit.

In addition, the Company has in place a base shelf prospectus, the availability of which is dependent on market conditions. As at June 30, 2017, US$2.8 billion remains available under the base shelf prospectus.

As at June 30, 2017, Cenovus is in compliance with all of the terms of its debt agreements.

23. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Cenovus’s financial assets and financial liabilities consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accrued revenues, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, risk management assets and liabilities, available for sale financial assets, long-term receivables, contingent payment, short-term borrowings and long-term debt. Risk management assets and liabilities arise from the use of derivative financial instruments.

A) Fair Value of Non-Derivative Financial Instruments

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accrued revenues, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and short-term borrowings approximate their carrying amount due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

The fair values of long-term receivables approximate their carrying amount due to the specific non-tradeable nature of these instruments.

Long-term debt is carried at amortized cost. The estimated fair values of long-term borrowings have been determined based on period-end trading prices of long-term borrowings on the secondary market (Level 2). As at June 30, 2017, the carrying value of Cenovus’s debt was $13,413 million and the fair value was $13,220 million (December 31, 2016 carrying value – $6,332 million, fair value – $6,539 million).

Available for sale financial assets comprise private equity investments. These assets are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets. Fair value is determined based on recent private placement transactions (Level 3) when available. There were no changes to the fair value of available for sale financial assets in the six months ended June 30, 2017.

B) Fair Value of Risk Management Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s risk management assets and liabilities consist of crude oil swaps and options, as well as condensate, natural gas and interest rate swaps. Crude oil, condensate and natural gas contracts are recorded at their estimated fair value based on the difference between the contracted price and the period-end forward price for the same commodity, using quoted market prices or the period-end forward price for the same commodity extrapolated to the end of the term of the contract (Level 2). The fair value of interest rate swaps are calculated using external valuation models which incorporate observable market data, including interest rate yield curves (Level 2).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 78

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

Summary of Unrealized Risk Management Positions

 

     June 30, 2017        December 31, 2016
     Risk Management    Risk Management
As at    Asset            Liability            Net            Asset            Liability            Net   

Crude Oil

   182         1         181         21         307         (286)  

Interest Rate

   2         17         (15)        3         8         (5)  

Total Fair Value

   184         18         166         24         315         (291)  

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for risk management assets and liabilities carried at fair value:

 

As at    June 30,   
2017   
        December 31,   
2016   

Level 2 – Prices Sourced From Observable Data or Market Corroboration

   166         (291)  

Prices sourced from observable data or market corroboration refers to the fair value of contracts valued in part using active quotes and in part using observable, market-corroborated data.

The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of Cenovus’s risk management assets and liabilities from January 1 to June 30:

 

      2017            2016   

Fair Value of Contracts, Beginning of Year

   (291)        271   

Fair Value of Contracts Realized During the Period (1)

   (60)        (158)  

Change in Fair Value of Contracts in Place at Beginning of Year and Contracts Entered Into During the Period

   471         (275)  

Unamortized Premium on Put Options

   37         -   

Unrealized Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss) on U.S. Dollar Contracts

   9         (13)  

Fair Value of Contracts, End of Period

   166         (175)  

 

(1) Includes realized loss of $16 million related to the Conventional segment which is included in Discontinued Operations.

C) Fair Value of Contingent Payment

The contingent payment is carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Fair value is estimated by calculating the present value of the future expected cash flows using an option pricing model (Level 3), which assumes the probability distribution for WCS is based on the volatility of WTI options, volatility of Canadian-U.S. foreign exchange rate options and WCS futures pricing, and discounted at a credit-adjusted risk-free rate of 2.9 percent. Fair value of the contingent payment has been calculated by Cenovus’s internal valuation team which consists of individuals who are knowledgeable and have experience in fair value techniques. As at June 30, 2017, the fair value of contingent payment was estimated to be $295 million.

As at June 30, 2017, average WCS forward pricing for the remaining term of the contingent payment is US$32.25 per barrel or C$43.86 per barrel. The volatility of WTI options and the Canadian-U.S. foreign exchange rates was 27 percent and nine percent, respectively. Changes in the following inputs to the option pricing model, with fluctuations in all other variables held constant, could have resulted in unrealized gains (losses) impacting earnings before income tax as follows:

 

      Sensitivity Range    Increase            Decrease   

WCS Forward Prices

   ± $5.00 per bbl    (206)        153   

WTI Option Volatility

   ± five percent    (205)        160   

U.S. to Canadian Dollar Foreign Exchange Rate Volatility

   ± five percent    18           (39)  

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 79

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

D) Earnings Impact of (Gains) Losses From Risk Management Positions

 

     Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended  
For the periods ended June 30,    2017            2016           2017            2016  

Realized (Gain) Loss (1)

   (155)        18        (76)          (108

Unrealized (Gain) Loss (2)

   (132)        284        (411)          433  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

                   (287)                        302                        (487)                          325  

 

(1)

Realized gains and losses on risk management are recorded in the reportable segment to which the derivative instrument relates. Excludes realized risk management losses of $16 million in the six months ended June 30, 2017 (six months ended June 30, 2016 – $50 million gain) that were classified as discontinued operations.

(2)

Unrealized gains and losses on risk management are recorded in the Corporate and Eliminations segment.

24. RISK MANAGEMENT

 

Cenovus is exposed to financial risks, including market risk related to commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, interest rates as well as credit risk and liquidity risk. A description of the nature and extent of risks arising from the Company’s financial assets and liabilities can be found in the notes to the annual Consolidated Financial Statements as at December 31, 2016. Exposure to these risks has not changed significantly since December 31, 2016. To manage exposure to interest rate volatility, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts related to expected future debt issuances. As at June 30, 2017, Cenovus had a notional amount of US$400 million in interest rate swaps. To mitigate the Company’s exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the Company periodically enters into foreign exchange contracts.

Net Fair Value of Risk Management Positions

 

As at June 30, 2017    Notional Volumes            Terms            Average Price            Fair Value  

Crude Oil Contracts

                 

Fixed Price Contracts

                 

Brent Fixed Price

     78,000 bbls/d          July – December 2017          US$52.41/bbl          55  

Brent Fixed Price

     10,000 bbls/d          January – June 2018          US$54.06/bbl          8  

WTI Fixed Price

     25,000 bbls/d          January – June 2018          US$46.72/bbl          (7

WTI Fixed Price

     3,000 bbls/d          July – December 2018          US$48.09/bbl          -  

Brent-WTI Differential

     50,000 bbls/d          July – December 2017          US$(1.88)/bbl          (10

Brent Put Options

     55,000 bbls/d          July – December 2017          US$53.00/bbl          66  

Brent Collars

     30,000 bbls/d          January – June 2018         

 

US$49.78 –
US$62.08/bbl

 

 
 

 

      

 

23

 

 

 

WTI Collars

     50,000 bbls/d          July – December 2017         
US$44.84 –
US$56.47/bbl
 
 
       16  

WTI Collars

     10,000 bbls/d          January – June 2018         
US$45.30 –
US$62.77/bbl
 
 
       7  

Other Financial Positions (1)

                    23  

Crude Oil Fair Value Position

                    181  

Natural Gas Contracts

                 

Fixed Price Contracts

                 

NYMEX Fixed Price

     30 MMcf/d          July – December 2017          US$3.16/Mcf          -  

Interest Rate Swaps

                    (15

Total Fair Value

                    166  

 

(1) Other financial positions are part of ongoing operations to market the Company’s production.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 80

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

Sensitivities – Risk Management Positions

The following table summarizes the sensitivity of the fair value of Cenovus’s risk management positions to fluctuations in commodity prices and interest rates, with all other variables held constant. Management believes the fluctuations identified in the table below are a reasonable measure of volatility. The impact of fluctuating commodity prices and interest rates on the Company’s open risk management positions could have resulted in unrealized gains (losses) impacting earnings before income tax as follows:

Risk Management Positions in Place as at June 30, 2017

 

      Sensitivity Range    Increase            Decrease   

Crude Oil Commodity Price

   ± US$5.00 per bbl Applied to Brent, WTI and Condensate Hedges    (249)        277   

Crude Oil Differential Price

   ± US$2.50 per bbl Applied to Differential Hedges Tied to Production    (2)        2   

Crude Oil Differential Price

   ± US$1.00 per bbl Applied to Brent-WTI Differential    12         (12)  

Natural Gas Commodity Price

   ± US$1.00 per Mcf Applied to NYMEX and AECO Gas Hedges    (7)        7   

Interest Rate Swaps

   ± 50 Basis Points    45           (51)  

25. SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of liabilities to cash flows arising from financing activities:

 

     

Dividends   

Payable   

       

Current   

Portion of   

Long-Term   

Debt   

       

Long-Term   

Debt   

       

Share   

Capital   

As at December 31, 2015

   -         -         6,525         5,534   

Changes From Financing Cash Flows:

                 

Dividends Paid

   (83)        -         -         -   

Non-Cash Changes:

                 

Dividends Declared

   83         -         -         -   

Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss (Note 6)

   -         -         (395)        -   

Other

   -         -         2         -   

As at June 30, 2016

   -         -         6,132         5,534   
                 

As at December 31, 2016

   -         -         6,332         5,534   

Changes From Financing Cash Flows:

                 

Issuance of Long-Term Debt

   -         -         3,842         -   

Net Issuance (Repayment) of Revolving Long-Term Debt

   -         -         30         -   

Issuance of Debt Under Asset Sale Bridge Facility

   -         892         2,677         -   

Common Shares Issued, Net of Issuance Costs

   -         -         -         2,899   

Dividends Paid on Common Shares

   (102)        -         -         -   

Non-Cash Changes:

                 

Common Shares Issued to ConocoPhillips

   -         -         -         2,579   

Deferred Taxes on Share Issuance Costs

   -         -         -         28   

Dividends Declared

   102         -         -         -   

Unrealized Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss

   -         -         (365)        -   

Other

   -         1         4         -   

As at June 30, 2017

   -         893         12,520         11,040   

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 81

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

All amounts in $ millions, unless otherwise indicated

For the period ended June 30, 2017

 

26. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

A) Commitments

Cenovus has entered into various commitments in the normal course of operations primarily related to demand charges on firm transportation agreements. In addition, the Company has commitments related to its risk management program and an obligation to fund its defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefit plans. Additional information related to the Company’s commitments can be found in the notes to the annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

As at June 30, 2017, total commitments were $29.9 billion, of which $26.4 billion were for various transportation commitments. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, in relation to the Acquisition, Cenovus assumed commitments of $3.7 billion, primarily consisting of transportation commitments on various pipelines. This increase in commitments was offset by our withdrawal from certain transportation initiatives and use of contracts. Transportation commitments include $16 billion that are subject to regulatory approval or have been approved but are not yet in service (December 31, 2016 – $19 billion). Terms are up to 20 years subsequent to the date of commencement and should help align our future transportation requirements with our anticipated production growth.

As at June 30, 2017, there were outstanding letters of credit aggregating $246 million issued as security for performance under certain contracts (December 31, 2016 – $258 million).

B) Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

Cenovus is involved in a limited number of legal claims associated with the normal course of operations. Cenovus believes that any liabilities that might arise from such matters, to the extent not provided for, are not likely to have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Contingent Payment

In connection with the Acquisition, Cenovus agreed to make quarterly payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to May 17, 2017 for quarters in which the average WCS crude oil price exceeds $52.00 per barrel during the quarter. As at June 30, 2017, the estimated fair value of the contingent payment was $295 million (see Note 15).

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 82

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (unaudited)

Financial Statistics

($ millions, except per share amounts)

     2017    2016
Revenues   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year

 

   

Q4

 

   

Q3

 

   

Q2 YTD

 

   

Q2

 

   

Q1  

 

 

Gross Sales

                                                                                      

Oil Sands

   2,728      1,666      1,062        2,929       957       793       1,179       709     470  

Deep Basin

   124      124      -        -           -       -       -       -     -  

Refining and Marketing

   5,001      2,397      2,604        8,439       2,477       2,245       3,717       2,129     1,588  

Corporate and Eliminations

   (204)     (106)     (98)       (353     (108     (89     (156     (89   (67) 

Less: Royalties

   71      44      27        9       2       4       3       3     -  

Revenues from Continuing Operations

   7,578      4,037      3,541           11,006          3,324          2,945          4,737          2,746        1,991  

Conventional (Net of Royalties) - Discontinued Operations

   660      336      324        1,128       318       295       515       261     254  

Total Revenues

   8,238      4,373      3,865        12,134       3,642       3,240       5,252       3,007     2,245  
     2017    2016
Operating Margin (1)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year

 

   

Q4

 

   

Q3

 

   

Q2 YTD

 

   

Q2

 

   

Q1  

 

 

Oil Sands

   796      544      252        877       334       267       276       231     45  

Deep Basin

   55      55      -        -       -       -       -       -     -  
   851      599      252        877       334       267       276       231     45  

Refining and Marketing

   73      20      53        346       108       68       170       193     (23) 

Operating Margin from Continuing Operations

   924      619      305        1,223       442       335       446       424     22  

Conventional - Discontinued Operations

   304      159      145        544       153       152       239       117     122  

Total Operating Margin

   1,228      778      450        1,767       595       487       685       541     144  
     2017    2016
Adjusted Funds Flow (2)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year

 

   

Q4

 

   

Q3

 

   

Q2 YTD

 

   

Q2

 

   

Q1  

 

 

Total Cash From Operating Activities

   1,567      1,239      328        861       164       310       387       205     182  

Deduct (Add Back):

                                                                                      

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities

   (56)     (25)     (31)       (91     (32     (13     (46     (17   (29) 

Net Change in Non-Cash Working Capital

   508      472      36        (471     (339     (99     (33     (218   185  

Total Adjusted Funds Flow

   1,115      792      323        1,423       535       422       466       440     26  

Total Per Share - Basic and Diluted

   1.14      0.71      0.39        1.71       0.64       0.51       0.56       0.53     0.03  
     2017    2016
Earnings   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year

 

   

Q4

 

   

Q3

 

   

Q2 YTD

 

   

Q2

 

   

Q1  

 

 

Operating Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations (3)

   305      344      (39)       (291     21       (40     (272     (3   (269) 

Per Share from Continuing Operations - Diluted

   0.31      0.31      (0.05)       (0.35     0.03       (0.05     (0.33     -     (0.32) 

Total Operating Earnings (Loss) (3)

   359      398      (39)       (377     321       (236     (462     (39   (423) 

Total Per Share - Diluted

   0.37      0.36      (0.05)       (0.45     0.39       (0.28     (0.55     (0.05   (0.51) 
     

Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations

   2,792      2,581      211        (459     (209     (55     (195     (231   36  

Per Share from Continuing Operations - Basic and Diluted

   2.87      2.32      0.25        (0.55     (0.25     (0.07     (0.23     (0.28   0.04  

Total Net Earnings (Loss)

   2,851      2,640      211        (545     91       (251     (385     (267   (118) 

Total Per Share - Basic and Diluted

   2.93      2.37      0.25        (0.65     0.11       (0.30     (0.46     (0.32   (0.14) 
     2017    2016
Net Capital Investment ($ millions)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year

 

   

Q4

 

   

Q3

 

   

Q2 YTD

 

   

Q2

 

   

Q1  

 

 

Oil Sands

                                                                                      

Foster Creek

   190      120      70        263       52       54       157       68     89  

Christina Lake

   140      77      63        282       60       47       175       61     114  

Other Oil Sands

   57      18      39        59       16       9       34       10     24  

Total Oil Sands

   387      215      172        604       128       110       366       139     227  

Deep Basin

   13      13      -        -       -       -       -       -     -  

Conventional

   138      50      88        171       57       41       73       34     39  

Refining and Marketing

   86      40      46        220       64       51       105       53     52  

Corporate

   16      9      7        31       10       6       15       10     5  

Capital Investment

   640      327      313        1,026       259       208       559       236     323  

Acquisitions

   29,835      29,835      -        11       -       -       11       11     -  

Divestitures

   (9,081)     (9,081)     -        (8     -       (8     -       -     -  

Net Acquisition and Divestiture Activity

   20,754      20,754      -        3       -       (8     11       11     -  

Net Capital Investment

   21,394      21,081      313        1,029       259       200       570       247     323  

 

LOGO

 

(1) 

Operating Margin is an additional subtotal found in Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and is used to provide a consistent measure of the cash generating performance of our assets for comparability of our underlying financial performance between periods. Operating Margin is defined as revenues less purchased product, transportation and blending, operating expenses, production and mineral taxes plus realized gains less realized losses on risk management activities. Items within the Corporate and Eliminations segment are excluded from the calculation of Operating Margin.

 

(2) 

Adjusted Funds Flow is a non-GAAP measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring a company’s ability to finance its capital programs and meet its financial obligations. Adjusted Funds Flow is defined as Cash From Operating Activities excluding net change in other assets and liabilities and net change in non-cash working capital. Net change in other assets and liabilities is composed of site restoration costs and pension funding. Non-cash working capital is composed of current assets and current liabilities, excluding cash and cash equivalents and risk management.

 

(3) 

Operating Earnings (Loss) is a non-GAAP measure used to provide a consistent measure of the comparability of our underlying financial performance between periods by removing non-operating items. Operating Earnings (Loss) is defined as Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax excluding gain (loss) on discontinuance, revaluation gain, gain on bargain purchase, unrealized risk management gains (losses) on derivative instruments, unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on translation of U.S. dollar denominated notes issued from Canada, foreign exchange gains (losses) on settlement of intercompany transactions, gains (losses) on divestiture of assets, less income taxes on Operating Earnings (Loss) before tax, excluding the effect of changes in statutory income tax rates and the recognition of an increase in U.S. tax basis.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 83

Supplemental Information


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (unaudited)

Financial Statistics (continued)

 

     2017    2016
Financial Metrics (Non-GAAP Measures)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year 

 

    

Q4 

 

    

Q3 

 

    

Q2 YTD 

 

    

Q2 

 

    

Q1  

 

 

Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (1) (3)

   6.1x      6.1x      1.6x       1.9x        1.9x        2.0x        1.9x        1.9x      1.3x

Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (2) (3)

   6.4x      6.4x      3.7x       4.5x        4.5x        5.3x        4.8x        4.8x      3.6x

Return on Capital Employed (4)

   12%     12%     0%       (2)%        (2)%        (6)%        6%        6%      8%

Return on Common Equity (5)

   17%     17%     (2%)       (5)%        (5)%        (10)%        7%        7%      10%
     2017    2016
Income Tax & Exchange Rates   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year 

 

    

Q4 

 

    

Q3 

 

    

Q2 YTD 

 

    

Q2 

 

    

Q1  

 

 

Effective Tax Rates Using:

                                                                                           

Net Earnings

   20.8%                       41.2%                                                          

Operating Earnings, Excluding Divestitures

   (7.8)%                    33.0%                   
     

Foreign Exchange Rates (US$ per C$1)

                                                                                           

Average

   0.750      0.744      0.756        0.755         0.750         0.766         0.752         0.776       0.728  

Period End

   0.771      0.771      0.751        0.745         0.745         0.762         0.769         0.769       0.771  
     2017    2016
Common Share Information   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year 

 

    

Q4 

 

    

Q3 

 

    

Q2 YTD 

 

    

Q2 

 

    

Q1  

 

 

Common Shares Outstanding (millions)

                                                                                           

Period End

   1,228.8      1,228.8      833.3        833.3         833.3         833.3         833.3         833.3       833.3  

Average - Basic and Diluted

   974.1      1,113.3      833.3        833.3         833.3         833.3         833.3         833.3       833.3  

Dividends ($ per share)

   0.10      0.05      0.05        0.20         0.05         0.05         0.10         0.05       0.05  
     

Closing Price - TSX (C$ per share)

   9.56      9.56      15.05        20.30         20.30         18.83         17.87         17.87       16.90  

                      - NYSE (US$ per share)

   7.37      7.37      11.30        15.13         15.13         14.37         13.82         13.82       13.00  

Share Volume Traded (millions)

   1,400.9      907.7      493.2        1,491.7         322.6         313.0         856.1         373.3       482.8  

Operating Statistics - Before Royalties

                          
     2017    2016
Upstream Production Volumes   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year 

 

    

Q4 

 

    

Q3 

 

    

Q2 YTD 

 

    

Q2 

 

    

Q1  

 

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids (bbls/d)

                                                                                           

Oil Sands

                                                                                           

 Foster Creek

   94,437      107,859      80,866        70,244         81,588         73,798         62,713         64,544       60,882  

 Christina Lake

   127,442      153,953      100,635        79,449         82,808         79,793         77,577         78,060       77,093  
   221,879      261,812      181,501        149,693         164,396         153,591         140,290         142,604       137,975  

Deep Basin

                                

 Light and Medium Oil

   1,538      3,059      -                                         -  

 Natural Gas Liquids (6)

   6,956      13,835      -                                         -  
   8,494      16,894      -                                         -  

Conventional

                                

 Heavy Oil

   26,933      26,593      27,277        29,185         28,913         28,096         29,873         28,500       31,247  

 Light and Medium Oil

   26,167      27,233      25,089        25,915         25,065         25,311         26,649         26,177       27,121  

 Natural Gas Liquids (6)

   1,090      1,132      1,047        1,065         1,177         1,074         1,003         799       1,208  

    

   54,190      54,958      53,413        56,165         55,155         54,481         57,525         55,476       59,576  

Total Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids

   284,563      333,664      234,914        205,858         219,551         208,072         197,815         198,080       197,551  
     

Natural Gas (MMcf/d)

                                

Oil Sands

   13      12      15        17         17         18         17         18       17  

Deep Basin

   127      253      -                                         -  

Conventional

   352      355      348        377         362         374         386         381       391  

Total Natural Gas

   492      620      363        394         379         392         403         399       408  

 

Total Production (7) (BOE/d)

   366,556      436,929      295,414        271,525         282,718         273,405         264,982         264,580       265,551  

 

LOGO

 

(1) 

Net debt includes the Company’s short-term borrowings and the current and long-term portions of long-term debt, net of cash and cash equivalents.

 

(2) 

Debt includes the Company’s short-term borrowings and the current and long-term portions of long-term debt.

 

(3) 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before finance costs, interest income, income tax expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization, revaluation gain, remeasurement gains (losses) on contingent consideration, goodwill impairments, asset impairments and reversals, unrealized gains (losses) on risk management, foreign exchange gains (losses), gains (losses) on divestiture of assets and other income (loss), net, calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis.

 

(4) 

Return on capital employed is calculated, on a trailing twelve-month basis, as net earnings before after-tax interest divided by average shareholders’ equity plus average debt.

 

(5) 

Return on common equity is calculated, on a trailing twelve-month basis, as net earnings divided by average shareholders’ equity.

 

(6) 

Natural gas liquids include condensate volumes.

 

(7) 

Natural gas volumes have been converted to barrels of oil equivalent (“BOE”) on the basis of six thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”) to one barrel (“bbl”). BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of one bbl to six Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis is not an accurate reflection of value.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 84

Supplemental Information


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (unaudited)

Operating Statistics - Before Royalties (continued)

 

     2017    2016
Selected Average Benchmark Prices    YTD      Q2      Q1      Year      Q4      Q3      Q2 YTD      Q2      Q1  

 

Crude Oil Prices (US$/bbl)

                                                                       

Brent

   52.79      50.92      54.66      45.04      51.13      46.98      41.03      46.97      35.08  

West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”)

   50.10      48.29      51.91      43.32      49.29      44.94      39.52      45.59      33.45  

Differential Brent - WTI

   2.69      2.63      2.75      1.72      1.84      2.04      1.51      1.38      1.63  

Western Canadian Select (“WCS”)

   37.25      37.16      37.33      29.48      34.97      31.44      25.75      32.29      19.21  

WCS (C$)

   49.69      49.95      49.38      39.05      46.63      41.04      34.24      41.61      26.39  

Mixed Sweet Blend (C$)

   62.97      61.87      64.37      53.14      61.60      54.81      48.05      54.78      40.88  

Differential WTI - WCS

   12.85      11.13      14.58      13.84      14.32      13.50      13.77      13.30      14.24  

Condensate (C5 @ Edmonton)

   50.35      48.44      52.26      42.47      48.33      43.07      39.23      44.07      34.39  

Differential WTI - Condensate (Premium)/Discount

   (0.25)     (0.15)     (0.35)     0.85      0.96      1.87      0.29      1.52      (0.94) 
     

Refining Margins 3-2-1 Crack Spreads (1) (US$/bbl)

                                

Chicago

   13.16      14.78      11.54      13.07      10.96      14.58      13.36      17.15      9.58  

Group 3

   13.73      14.27      13.18      12.27      10.95      14.56      11.78      13.03      10.52  
     

Natural Gas Prices

                                

AECO (C$/Mcf)

   2.86      2.77      2.94      2.09      2.81      2.20      1.68      1.25      2.11  

NYMEX (US$/Mcf)

   3.25      3.18      3.32      2.46      2.98      2.81      2.02      1.95      2.09  

Differential NYMEX - AECO (US$/Mcf)

   1.12      1.13      1.10      0.89      0.86      1.13      0.78      0.99      0.56  
     2017    2016
Average Royalty Rates (Excluding Realized Gain (Loss) on Risk Management)    YTD      Q2      Q1      Year      Q4      Q3      Q2 YTD      Q2      Q1  

 

Oil Sands

                                                                       

Foster Creek

   7.8%     7.3%    8.5%     0.0%    (0.9)%    0.8%    0.3%    1.0%    (4.9)%

Christina Lake

   2.6%     2.6%    2.7%     1.6%    1.8%    1.6%    1.2%    1.2%    1.2%
     

Deep Basin

                                

Crude Oil

   17.4%     17.4%    -         -        -        -        -        -        -    

Natural Gas Liquids

   9.2%     9.2%    -         -        -        -        -        -        -    

Natural Gas

   4.1%     4.1%    -         -        -        -        -        -        -    
     

Conventional Oil

                                

Pelican Lake

   18.6%     17.4%    19.8%         12.5%        11.9%        14.1%        12.1%        14.3%    8.3%

Weyburn

   27.0%     25.8%    28.3%     23.6%    28.3%    23.0%    20.8%    23.9%        16.6%

Other

   12.5%     12.7%    12.4%     12.8%    19.3%    10.4%    10.0%    8.6%    12.0%

Natural Gas Liquids

   13.1%     13.0%    13.3%     13.5%    12.2%    12.0%    15.6%    15.0%    16.1%

Natural Gas

   5.0%     5.2%    4.8%     4.6%    5.3%    4.5%    4.1%    3.7%    4.3%
     2017    2016
Oil Sands Netbacks (2) (Excluding Realized Gain (Loss) on Risk Management)    YTD      Q2      Q1      Year      Q4      Q3      Q2 YTD      Q2      Q1  

 

Heavy Oil - Foster Creek ($/bbl)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   42.79      44.38      40.62      30.32      38.59      33.61      22.78      33.40      11.82  

Royalties

   2.64      2.49      2.83      (0.01)     (0.27)     0.19      0.04      0.23      (0.16) 

Transportation and Blending

   9.29      10.44      7.72      8.84      7.37      8.38      10.09      11.44      8.70  

Operating

   11.33      12.31      9.99      10.55      10.60      9.63      11.09      10.15      12.05  

Netback

   19.53      19.14      20.08      10.94      20.89      15.41      1.56      11.58      (8.77) 

 

Heavy Oil - Christina Lake ($/bbl)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   36.29      36.54      35.86      25.30      34.78      29.11      18.33      28.31      8.85  

Royalties

   0.85      0.85      0.86      0.33      0.56      0.41      0.16      0.28      0.05  

Transportation and Blending

   4.11      4.10      4.13      4.68      4.08      4.49      5.10      4.90      5.28  

Operating

   7.42      7.04      8.08      7.48      8.15      7.72      7.00      6.35      7.61  

Netback

   23.91      24.55      22.79      12.81      21.99      16.49      6.07      16.78      (4.09) 

 

Total Heavy Oil - Oil Sands ($/bbl)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   39.09      39.73      38.08      27.64      36.67      31.30      20.28      30.59      10.13  

Royalties

   1.62      1.52      1.78      0.17      0.14      0.30      0.11      0.26      (0.04) 

Transportation and Blending

   6.34      6.68      5.81      6.62      5.71      6.39      7.29      7.84      6.75  

Operating

   9.10      9.19      8.97      8.91      9.37      8.65      8.79      8.06      9.52  

Netback

   22.03      22.34      21.52      11.94      21.45      15.96      4.09      14.43      (6.10) 
     2017    2016
Deep Basin Netbacks (2) (Excluding Realized Gain (Loss) on Risk Management)    YTD      Q2      Q1      Year      Q4      Q3      Q2 YTD      Q2      Q1  

 

Total Deep Basin (3) ($/BOE)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   21.94      21.94      -      -      -      -      -      -      -  

Royalties

   1.45      1.45      -      -      -      -      -      -      -  

Transportation and Blending

   1.96      1.96      -      -      -      -      -      -      -  

Operating

   8.84      8.84      -      -      -      -      -      -      -  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.03      0.03      -      -      -      -      -      -      -  

Netback

   9.66      9.66      -      -      -      -      -      -      -  

 

(1) 

The 3-2-1 crack spread is an indicator of the refining margin generated by converting three barrels of crude oil into two barrels of regular unleaded gasoline and one barrel of ultra-low sulphur diesel using current month WTI based crude oil feedstock prices and on a last in, first out accounting basis (“LIFO”).

 

(2) 

Netback is a non-GAAP measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring operating performance on a per-unit basis. Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended crude oil. Netback is defined as gross sales less royalties, transportation and blending, operating expenses and production and mineral taxes divided by sales volumes. Netbacks do not reflect the non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the product is sold. The crude oil sales price, transportation and blending costs, and sales volumes exclude the impact of purchased condensate. Condensate is blended with the heavy oil to reduce its thickness in order to transport it to market. Our Netback calculation is aligned with the definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook. The reconciliation of the financial components of each Netback to Operating Margin can be found in our quarterly and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis and our Annual Information Form.

 

(3) 

Natural gas volumes have been converted to BOE on the basis of six Mcf to one bbl. BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of one bbl to six Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis is not an accurate reflection of value.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 85

Supplemental Information


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (unaudited)

Operating Statistics - Before Royalties (continued)

 

     2017    2016
Conventional Netbacks (1) (Excluding Realized Gain (Loss) on Risk Management)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year  

 

  

Q4  

 

  

Q3  

 

  

Q2 YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

 

Heavy Oil - Conventional ($/bbl)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   47.20      46.67      47.77      35.82      40.72      40.50      31.15      36.77      25.99  

Royalties

   6.57      6.15      7.03      3.31      4.08      3.97      2.62      3.95      1.40  

Transportation and Blending

   3.96      4.48      3.40      4.60      4.90      4.86      4.33      3.85      4.77  

Operating

   13.74      14.56      12.86      13.38      14.69      12.43      13.19      12.34      13.98  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.02      0.01      0.02      0.01      0.01      0.01      -      0.01      -  

Netback

   22.91      21.47      24.46      14.52      17.04      19.23      11.01      16.62      5.84  

 

Light and Medium Oil ($/bbl)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   56.61      56.40      56.84      46.48      55.35      48.97      41.12      48.09      34.36  

Royalties

   12.14      11.58      12.75      9.28      14.87      8.91      6.82      8.52      5.18  

Transportation and Blending

   2.76      2.82      2.70      2.73      2.69      2.71      2.75      2.77      2.73  

Operating

   16.41      16.08      16.77      15.65      16.05      13.94      16.28      16.21      16.34  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   1.90      1.85      1.95      1.24      1.50      1.48      1.00      1.18      0.82  

Netback

   23.40      24.07      22.67      17.58      20.24      21.93      14.27      19.41      9.29  

 

Natural Gas Liquids ($/bbl)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   44.54      41.06      48.35      31.16      40.79      29.71      26.23      28.11      24.99  

Royalties

   5.84      5.32      6.42      4.21      4.97      3.58      4.10      4.20      4.03  

Netback

   38.70      35.74      41.93      26.95      35.82      26.13      22.13      23.91      20.96  

 

Natural Gas ($/Mcf)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   2.90      2.80      3.00      2.33      3.00      2.49      1.92      1.52      2.31  

Royalties

   0.14      0.14      0.14      0.10      0.15      0.10      0.07      0.05      0.09  

Transportation and Blending

   0.10      0.08      0.13      0.11      0.12      0.10      0.12      0.14      0.10  

Operating

   1.23      1.15      1.31      1.12      1.20      1.03      1.12      1.05      1.20  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.02      0.01      0.02      -      -      0.01      -      -      -  

Netback

   1.41      1.42      1.40      1.00      1.53      1.25      0.61      0.28      0.92  

 

Total Conventional (2) ($/BOE)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   33.86      33.53      34.19      26.54      31.98      28.59      22.95      24.49      21.47  

Royalties

   4.87      4.69      5.07      3.18      4.77      3.24      2.40      3.01      1.81  

Transportation and Blending

   1.91      2.00      1.82      2.08      2.17      2.09      2.03      1.96      2.09  

Operating

   10.92      10.85      10.99      10.23      10.92      9.30      10.35      9.89      10.79  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.49      0.47      0.51      0.27      0.31      0.35      0.22      0.27      0.16  

Netback

   15.67      15.52      15.80      10.78      13.81      13.61      7.95      9.36      6.62  
     2017    2016
Consolidated Netbacks (1) (Excluding Realized Gain (Loss) on Risk Management)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year  

 

  

Q4  

 

  

Q3  

 

  

Q2 YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

 

Total Consolidated (2) ($/BOE)

                                                                       

Sales Price

   35.89      35.58          36.37          27.01          34.53          29.98          21.41          27.56          15.43  

Royalties

   2.62      2.34      3.06      1.49      2.06      1.55      1.16      1.51      0.82  

Transportation and Blending

   4.55      4.78      4.20      4.56      4.20      4.51      4.79      5.07      4.51  

Operating

   9.67      9.59      9.80      9.51      10.05      8.92      9.52      8.89      10.14  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   0.16      0.13      0.20      0.12      0.13      0.15      0.10      0.12      0.08  

Netback

   18.89      18.74      19.11      11.33      18.09      14.85      5.84      11.97      (0.12) 
     2017    2016
Realized Gain (Loss) on Risk Management   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year  

 

  

Q4  

 

  

Q3  

 

  

Q2 YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

Total Crude Oil ($/bbl)

   (1.62)     0.39      (4.55)     3.24      0.91      2.15      5.13      1.97      8.21  

Total Production (2) ($/BOE)

   (1.21)     0.28      (3.56)     2.44      0.70      1.63      3.81      1.46      6.08  
     2017    2016
Refinery Operations (3)   

 

YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

  

Year  

 

  

Q4  

 

  

Q3  

 

  

Q2 YTD  

 

  

Q2  

 

  

Q1  

 

 

Crude Oil Capacity (Mbbls/d)

   460      460      460      460      460      460      460      460      460  

Crude Oil Runs (Mbbls/d)

   428      449      406      444      421      463      446      458      435  

Heavy Oil

   201      201      200      233      223      241      235      228      241  

Light/Medium

   227      248      206      211      198      222      211      230      194  

Crude Utilization

   93%     98%     88%     97%     92%     101%     97%     100%     95% 

Refined Products (Mbbls/d)

   455      476      433      471      448      494      472      483      460  

 

(1) 

Netback is a non-GAAP measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring operating performance on a per-unit basis. Netbacks reflect our margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended crude oil. Netback is defined as gross sales less royalties, transportation and blending, operating expenses and production and mineral taxes divided by sales volumes. Netbacks do not reflect the non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the product is sold. The crude oil sales price, transportation and blending costs, and sales volumes exclude the impact of purchased condensate. Condensate is blended with the heavy oil to reduce its thickness in order to transport it to market. Our Netback calculation is aligned with the definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook. The reconciliation of the financial components of each Netback to Operating Margin can be found in our quarterly and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis and our Annual Information Form.

 

(2) 

Natural gas volumes have been converted to BOE on the basis of six Mcf to one bbl. BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of one bbl to six Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis is not an accurate reflection of value.

 

(3) 

Represents 100% of the Wood River and Borger refinery operations.

 

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ADVISORY

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Basis of Presentation

Cenovus reports financial results in Canadian dollars and presents production volumes on a net to Cenovus before royalties basis, unless otherwise stated. Cenovus prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

Barrels of Oil Equivalent

Natural gas volumes have been converted to barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) on the basis of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel (bbl). BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of one bbl to six Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil compared with natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis is not an accurate reflection of value.

Drilling Locations

This quarterly report discloses potential future drilling locations in two categories: (a) proved locations and (b) probable locations. This quarterly report also discloses additional unbooked future drilling opportunities. Proved locations and probable locations are proposed drilling locations identified in reserve reports prepared for assets acquired pursuant to the ConocoPhillips asset acquisition that have proved and/or probable reserves, as applicable, attributed to them in such reports. Unbooked future drilling opportunities are internal Cenovus estimates based on prospective acreage and an assumption as to the number of wells that can be drilled per section based on industry practice and internal Cenovus technical analysis and review. Unbooked future drilling opportunities have been identified by Cenovus management based on evaluation of applicable geologic, seismic, engineering, production and reserves information. Unbooked future drilling opportunities do not have proved or probable reserves attributed to them in the relevant reserves reports. Of the approximately 1,500 identified net drilling opportunities within the Deep Basin assets to be acquired, 212 are proved locations, 221 are probable locations and the remainder are unbooked future drilling opportunities.

Cenovus’s ability to drill and develop these locations and opportunities and the drilling locations on which Cenovus actually drills wells depend on a number of uncertainties and factors, including, but not limited to, the availability of capital, equipment and personnel, oil and natural gas prices, capital and operating costs, inclement weather, seasonal restrictions, drilling results, additional geological, geophysical and reservoir information that is obtained, production rate recovery, gathering system and transportation constraints, net price received for commodities produced, regulatory approvals and regulatory changes. As a result of these uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the potential future drilling locations and opportunities Cenovus has identified will ever be drilled or if Cenovus will be able to produce oil, NGL or natural gas from these or any other potential drilling locations or opportunities. As such, Cenovus’s actual drilling activities may differ materially from those presently identified, which could adversely affect Cenovus’s business. While certain of the identified unbooked drilling opportunities have been de-risked by drilling existing wells in relatively close proximity to such unbooked drilling opportunities, some of the other unbooked drilling opportunities are farther away from existing wells where Cenovus management has less information about the characteristics of the reservoir and therefore there is more uncertainty whether wells will be drilled and, if drilled, there is further uncertainty that such wells will result in additional proved or probable reserves or production.

NON-GAAP MEASURES AND ADDITIONAL SUBTOTAL

The following measures do not have a standardized meaning as prescribed by IFRS and therefore are considered non-GAAP measures. Readers should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of Cenovus’s results as reported under IFRS. These measures are defined differently by different companies in the oil and gas industry and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Adjusted Funds Flow is used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring a company’s ability to finance its capital programs and meet its financial obligations. Adjusted Funds Flow is defined as Cash from Operating

 

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Activities excluding net change in other assets and liabilities and net change in non-cash working capital. Net change in other assets and liabilities is composed of site restoration costs and pension funding. Non-cash working capital is composed of current assets and current liabilities, excluding cash and cash equivalents, risk management, the contingent payment and asset liabilities held for sale.

Free Funds Flow is defined as Adjusted Funds Flow less capital investment.

Operating Earnings (Loss) is a non-GAAP measure used to provide a consistent measure of the comparability of Cenovus’s underlying financial performance between periods by removing non-operating items. Operating Earnings (Loss) is defined as Earnings (Loss) Before Income Tax excluding gain (loss) on discontinuance, revaluation gain, gain on bargain purchase, unrealized risk management gains (losses) on derivative instruments, unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on translation of U.S. dollar denominated notes issued from Canada, foreign exchange gains (losses) on settlement of intercompany transactions, gains (losses) on divestiture of assets, less income taxes on Operating Earnings (Loss) before tax, excluding the effect of changes in statutory income tax rates and the recognition of an increase in U.S. tax basis.

Debt is defined as short-term borrowings and long-term debt, including the current portion. Net debt is defined as debt net of cash and cash equivalents.

Operating Margin is an additional subtotal found in Note 1 and Note 8 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and is used to provide a consistent measure of the cash generating performance of Cenovus’s assets for comparability of its underlying financial performance between periods. Operating Margin is defined as revenues less purchased product, transportation and blending, operating expenses, production and mineral taxes plus realized gains less realized losses on risk management activities. Items within the Corporate and Eliminations segment are excluded from the calculation of Operating Margin.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This quarterly report contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to as “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, about Cenovus’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the future, based on certain assumptions made by the company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends. Although Cenovus believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking information in this document is identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “plan”, “forecast”, “future”, “target”, “position”, “project”, “committed”, “can be”, “pursue”, “capacity”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “focus”, “outlook”, “potential”, “priority”, “may”, “strategy”, “forward”, or similar expressions and includes suggestions of future outcomes, including statements about: strategy and related milestones and schedules, including expected timing for oil sands expansion phases and associated expected production capacities; projections for 2017 and future years and the company’s plans and strategies to realize such projections; forecast exchange rates and trends; future opportunities for oil development; forecast operating and financial results, including forecast sales prices, costs and cash flows; Cenovus’s ability to satisfy payment obligations as they become due; priorities for capital investment decisions; planned capital expenditures, including the amount, timing and financing thereof; expected future production, including the timing, stability or growth thereof; capacities, including for projects, transportation and refining; Cenovus’s ability to preserve its financial resilience and various plans and strategies with respect thereto; forecast cost savings and sustainability thereof; expected impacts of the acquisition; planned and potential asset sales, including expected timelines, targeted sales values and anticipated use of sales proceeds; the strength of Cenovus’s positioning for the future, including with the recent acquisition and upcoming retirement of Brian Ferguson; and projected shareholder value. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Developing forward-looking information involves reliance on a number of assumptions and consideration of certain risks and uncertainties, some of which are specific to Cenovus and others that apply to the industry generally. The factors or assumptions on which the forward-looking information is based include: forecast oil and natural gas prices and other assumptions inherent in Cenovus’s 2017 guidance, available at cenovus.com under Investors; projected capital investment levels, the flexibility of Cenovus’s capital spending plans and the associated source of

 

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funding; the achievement of further cost reductions and sustainability thereof; expected condensate prices; estimates of quantities of oil, bitumen, natural gas and liquids from properties and other sources not currently classified as proved; future use and development of technology; Cenovus’s ability to obtain necessary regulatory and partner approvals; the successful and timely implementation of capital projects or stages thereof; Cenovus’s ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its current and future obligations; estimated abandonment and reclamation costs, including associated levies and regulations; achievement of expected impacts of the acquisition; successful integration of the Deep Basin assets; Cenovus’s ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; Cenovus’s ability to access sufficient capital to pursue its development plans; Cenovus’s ability to complete planned and potential asset sales, including with desired transaction metrics and within the timelines it expects; forecast crude oil and natural gas prices, forecast inflation and other assumptions inherent in current guidance set out below; expected impacts of the contingent payment to ConocoPhillips, including alignment of realized Western Canadian Select (WCS) prices and WCS prices used to calculate the contingent payment; Cenovus’s projected capital investment levels, the flexibility of capital spending plans and the associated sources of funding; sustainability of achieved cost reductions, achievement of further cost reductions and sustainability thereof; Cenovus’s ability to access and implement all technology necessary to achieve expected future results; Cenovus’s ability to implement capital projects or stages thereof in a successful and timely manner; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the filings we make with securities regulatory authorities.

2017 guidance, as updated July 26, 2017, assumes: Brent prices of US$51.00/bbl, WTI prices of US$48.50/bbl; WCS of US$36.25/bbl; NYMEX natural gas prices of US$3.15/MMBtu; AECO natural gas prices of $2.70/GJ; Chicago 3-2-1 crack spread of US$13.00/bbl; and an exchange rate of $0.76 US$/C$.

Unless otherwise specifically stated or the context dictates otherwise, the financial outlook and forward-looking metrics in this quarterly report, in addition to the generally applicable assumptions described above, do not include or account for the effects or impacts of planned asset sales.

The risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, include: possible failure by Cenovus to realize the anticipated benefits of and synergies from the acquisition; possible failure to access or implement some or all of the technology necessary to efficiently and effectively operate Cenovus’s assets and achieve expected future results; volatility of and other assumptions regarding commodity prices; the effectiveness of Cenovus’s risk management program, including the impact of derivative financial instruments, the success of hedging strategies and the sufficiency of Cenovus’s liquidity position; the accuracy of cost estimates; commodity prices, currency and interest rates; possible lack of alignment of realized WCS prices and WCS prices used to calculate the contingent payment to ConocoPhillips; product supply and demand; market competition, including from alternative energy sources; risks inherent in marketing operations, including credit risks; exposure to counterparties and partners, including ability and willingness of such parties to satisfy contractual obligations in a timely manner; risks inherent in the operation of Cenovus’s crude-by-rail terminal, including health, safety and environmental risks; maintaining desirable ratios of Debt (and Net Debt) to Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) as well as Debt (and Net Debt) to Capitalization; Cenovus’s ability to access various sources of debt and equity capital, generally, and on terms acceptable to Cenovus; ability to finance growth and sustaining capital expenditures; changes in credit ratings applicable to Cenovus or any of its securities; changes to Cenovus’s dividend plans or strategy, including the dividend reinvestment plan; accuracy of reserves, resources, future production and future net revenue estimates; Cenovus’s ability to replace and expand oil and gas reserves; Cenovus’s ability to maintain its relationship with its partners and to successfully manage and operate its integrated business; reliability of Cenovus’s assets including in order to meet production targets; potential disruption or unexpected technical difficulties in developing new products and manufacturing processes; the occurrence of unexpected events such as fires, severe weather conditions, explosions, blow-outs, equipment failures, transportation incidents and other accidents or similar events; refining and marketing margins; inflationary pressures on operating costs, including labour, natural gas and other energy sources used in oil sands processes; potential failure of products to achieve or maintain acceptance in the market; risks associated with fossil fuel industry reputation; unexpected cost increases or technical difficulties in constructing or modifying manufacturing or refining facilities; unexpected difficulties in producing, transporting or refining of crude oil into petroleum and chemical products; risks associated with technology and its application to Cenovus’s business; risks associated with climate change; the timing and the costs of well and pipeline construction; Cenovus’s ability to secure adequate and cost-effective product transportation including sufficient pipeline, crude-by-rail, marine or alternate transportation, including to address any gaps caused by constraints in the pipeline system; availability of, and Cenovus’s ability to attract and retain, critical talent; possible failure to obtain and retain qualified staff and

 

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equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; changes in labour relationships; changes in the regulatory framework in any of the locations in which Cenovus operates, including changes to the regulatory approval process and land-use designations, royalty, tax, environmental, greenhouse gas, carbon, climate change and other laws or regulations, or changes to the interpretation of such laws and regulations, as adopted or proposed, the impact thereof and the costs associated with compliance; the expected impact and timing of various accounting pronouncements, rule changes and standards on Cenovus’s business, financial results and consolidated financial statements; changes in general economic, market and business conditions; the political and economic conditions in the countries in which Cenovus operates or supplies; the occurrence of unexpected events such as war, terrorist threats and the instability resulting therefrom; and risks associated with existing and potential future lawsuits and regulatory actions against Cenovus.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists are not exhaustive and are made as at the date hereof. Events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward looking information. For a full discussion of material risk factors, see “Risk Factors” in Cenovus’s Annual Information Form (AIF) or Form 40-F for the period ended December 31, 2016, available on SEDAR at sedar.com, on EDGAR at sec.gov and on Cenovus’s website at cenovus.com, and the updates under “Risk Management” in Cenovus’s most recently filed Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A).

ABBREVIATIONS

The following is a summary of the abbreviations that have been used in this document:

 

Crude Oil

  Natural Gas

 

bbl

  barrel   Mcf   thousand cubic feet

bbls/d

  barrels per day   MMcf   million cubic feet

Mbbls/d

  thousand barrels per day   Bcf   billion cubic feet

MMbbls

  million barrels   MMBtu   million British thermal units

BOE

  barrel of oil equivalent   GJ   gigajoule

BOE/d

  Barrel of oil equivalent per day   AECO   Alberta Energy Company

MBOE

  thousand barrel of oil equivalent   NYMEX   New York Mercantile Exchange

MMBOE

  million barrel of oil equivalent    

WTI

  West Texas Intermediate    

WCS

  Western Canadian Select    

CDB

  Christina Dilbit Blend   TM   Trademark of Cenovus Energy Inc.

 

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NETBACK RECONCILIATIONS

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the items comprising Netbacks to Operating Margin found in our Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Total Production

Upstream Financial Results

 

            Per Interim Consolidated Financial Statements                 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 ($ millions)   Oil Sands (1)           Deep Basin (1)           Conventional (2)           Total Upstream   

 

Revenues

             

Gross Sales

  1,666        124        386        2,176   

Less: Royalties

  36        8        50        94   
  1,630        116        336        2,082   

Expenses

             

Transportation and Blending

  879        10        54        943   

Operating

  221        51        115        387   

Production and Mineral Taxes

  -        -        5        5   

Netback

  530        55        162        747   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (14)       -        3        (11)  

Operating Margin

  544        55        159        758   
    Per Interim Consolidated Financial Statements        
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 ($ millions)   Oil Sands (1)           Deep Basin (1)           Conventional (2)           Total Upstream   

 

Revenues

             

Gross Sales

  709        -        294        1,003   

Less: Royalties

  3        -        33        36   
  706        -        261        967   

Expenses

             

Transportation and Blending

  395        -        45        440   

Operating

  104        -        107        211   

Production and Mineral Taxes

  -        -        3        3   

Netback

  207        -        106        313   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (24)       -        (11)       (35)  

Operating Margin

  231        -        117        348   

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Found in Note 8 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Netback Reconciliations

 

    Basis of Netback
Calculation
      Adjustments       Per Above Table   
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 ($ millions)   Total           Condensate           Inventory           Other           Total Upstream   

 

Revenues

                 

Gross Sales

  1,416        751        -        9        2,176   

Less: Royalties

  93        -        -        1        94   
  1,323        751        -        8        2,082   

Expenses

                 

Transportation and Blending

  189        751        -        3        943   

Operating

  380        -        -        7        387   

Production and Mineral Taxes

  5        -        -        -        5   

Netback

  749        -        -        (2)       747   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (11)       -        -        -        (11)  

Operating Margin

  760        -        -        (2)       758   
    Basis of Netback
Calculation
      Adjustments       Per Above Table   
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 ($ millions)   Total           Condensate           Inventory           Other           Total Upstream   

 

Revenues

                 

Gross Sales

  652        349        -        2        1,003   

Less: Royalties

  36        -        -        -        36   
  616        349        -        2        967   

Expenses

                 

Transportation and Blending

  120        349        (29)       -        440   

Operating

  209        -        -        2        211   

Production and Mineral Taxes

  3        -        -        -        3   

Netback

  284        -        29        -        313   

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (35)       -        -        -        (35)  

Operating Margin

  319        -        29        -        348   

 

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Total Production

Upstream Financial Results

 

     Per Interim Consolidated Financial Statements         
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 ($ millions)    Oil Sands (1)           Deep Basin (1)           Conventional (2)           Total Upstream  

 

Revenues

                 

Gross Sales

   2,728        124        760        3,612  

Less: Royalties

   63        8        100        171  
   2,665        116        660        3,441  

Expenses

                 

Transportation and Blending

   1,445        10        105        1,560  

Operating

   361        51        225        637  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   -        -        10        10  

Netback

   859        55        320        1,234  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   63        -        16        79  

Operating Margin

   796        55        304        1,155  
     Per Interim Consolidated Financial Statements         
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 ($ millions)    Oil Sands (1)           Deep Basin (1)           Conventional (2)           Total Upstream  

 

Revenues

                 

Gross Sales

   1,179        -        568        1,747  

Less: Royalties

   3        -        53        56  
   1,176        -        515        1,691  

Expenses

                 

Transportation and Blending

   799        -        92        891  

Operating

   231        -        229        460  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   -        -        5        5  

Netback

   146        -        189        335  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   (130)       -        (50)       (180) 

Operating Margin

   276        -        239        515  

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Found in Note 8 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Netback Reconciliations

 

     Basis of Netback
Calculation
       Adjustments        Per Above Table   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 ($ millions)    Total             Condensate             Inventory             Other             Total Upstream   

 

Revenues

                      

Gross Sales

   2,336          1,262          -          14          3,612    

Less: Royalties

   170          -          -          1          171    
   2,166          1,262          -          13          3,441    

Expenses

                      

Transportation and Blending

   295          1,262          1          2          1,560    

Operating

   629          -          -          8          637    

Production and Mineral Taxes

   10          -          -          -          10    

Netback

   1,232          -          (1)         3          1,234    

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   79          -          -          -          79    

Operating Margin

   1,153          -          (1)         3          1,155    
    

Basis of Netback

Calculation

       Adjustments        Per Above Table   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 ($ millions)    Total             Condensate             Inventory             Other             Total Upstream   

 

Revenues

                      

Gross Sales

   1,028          712          -          7          1,747    

Less: Royalties

   56          -          -          -          56    
   972          712          -          7          1,691    

Expenses

                      

Transportation and Blending

   230          712          (51)         -          891    

Operating

   457          -          -          3          460    

Production and Mineral Taxes

   5          -          -          -          5    

Netback

   280          -          51          4          335    

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   (183)         -          -          3          (180)   

Operating Margin

   463          -          51          1          515    

 

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Oil Sands

 

    Basis of Netback Calculation                 Adjustments                  

Per Interim    

Consolidated    

Financial    

Statements (1)    

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

($ millions)

 

            Foster  

Creek  

      

            Christina  

Lake  

      

Total

        Crude Oil

           Natural Gas                 Condensate                      Inventory                          Other         

Total Oil    

Sands    

Revenues

                             

Gross Sales

  429       514       943       4       719       -       -       1,666    

Less: Royalties

  24       12       36       -       -       -       -       36    
  405       502       907       4       719       -       -       1,630    

Expenses

                             

Transportation and Blending

  100       58       158       -       719       -       2       879    

Operating

  119       99       218       2       -       -       1       221    

Netback

  186       345       531       2       -       -      

(3) 

    530    

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (9)      (5)      (14)      -       -       -       -       (14)   

Operating Margin

  195       350       545       2       -       -       (3)      544    
    Basis of Netback Calculation                 Adjustments                  

Per Interim  

Consolidated  

Financial  

Statements (1)  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016

($ millions)

 

Foster  

Creek  

      

Christina  

Lake  

      

Total  

Crude Oil  

       Natural Gas         Condensate          Inventory          Other         

Total Oil  

Sands  

Revenues

                             

Gross Sales

  189       196       385       2       322       -       -       709  

Less: Royalties

  1       2       3       -       -       -       -       3  
  188       194       382       2       322       -       -       706  

Expenses

                             

Transportation and Blending

  65       34       99       -       322       (26)       -       395  

Operating

  57       44       101       2       -       -       1       104  

Netback

  66       116       182       -       -       26       (1)      207  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (11)      (13)      (24)      -       -       -       -       (24) 

Operating Margin

  77       129       206       -       -       26       (1)      231  
    Basis of Netback Calculation                 Adjustments                  

Per Interim    

Consolidated    

Financial    

Statements (1)    

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

($ millions)

 

Foster  

Creek  

      

Christina  

Lake  

      

Total  

          Crude Oil  

       Natural Gas         Condensate          Inventory          Other         

Total Oil    

Sands    

Revenues

                             

Gross Sales

  716       804       1,520       6       1,197       -       5       2,728    

Less: Royalties

  44       19       63       -       -       -       -       63    
  672       785       1,457       6       1,197       -       5       2,665    

Expenses

                             

Transportation and Blending

  155       91       246       -       1,197       1       1       1,445    

Operating

  190       164       354       5       -       -       2       361    

Netback

  327       530       857       1       -       (1)     2       859    

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  31       32       63       -       -       -       -       63    

Operating Margin

  296       498       794       1       -       (1)     2       796    
    Basis of Netback Calculation                 Adjustments                  

Per Interim    

Consolidated    

Financial    

Statements (1)    

Six Months Ended June 30, 2016

($ millions)

 

Foster  

Creek  

      

Christina  

Lake  

      

Total

Crude Oil

       Natural Gas         Condensate          Inventory          Other         

Total Oil    

Sands    

Revenues

                             

Gross Sales

  254       261       515       6       657       -       1       1,179    

Less: Royalties

  1       2       3       -       -       -       -       3    
  253       259       512       6       657       -       1       1,176    

Expenses

                             

Transportation and Blending

  113       73       186       -       657       (44)      -       799    

Operating

  124       99       223       5       -       -       3       231    

Netback

  16       87       103       1       -       44       (2)      146    

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (63)      (67)      (130)      -       -       -       -       (130)   

Operating Margin

  79       154       233       1       -       44       (2)      276    

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 93

Netback Reconciliations


Table of Contents

Deep Basin

 

    

Basis of Netback
Calculation

       Adjustments         

Per Interim  

Consolidated  

Financial  

Statements (1)  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 ($ millions)    Total           Other           Total Deep Basin  

Revenues

            

Gross Sales

   118        6        124  

Less: Royalties

   8        -        8  
   110        6        116  

Expenses

            

Transportation and Blending

   10        -        10  

Operating

   47        4        51  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   -        -        -  

Netback

   53        2        55  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   -        -        -  

Operating Margin

   53        2        55  
     Basis of Netback
Calculation
       Adjustments         

Per Interim  

Consolidated  

Financial  

Statements (1)  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 ($ millions)    Total           Other           Total Deep Basin  

Revenues

            

Gross Sales

   118        6        124  

Less: Royalties

   8        -        8  
   110        6        116  

Expenses

            

Transportation and Blending

   10        -        10  

Operating

   47        4        51  

Production and Mineral Taxes

   -        -        -  

Netback

   53        2        55  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

   -        -        -  

Operating Margin

   53        2        55  

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Conventional

 

Three Months Ended  

Basis of Netback Calculation

           Adjustments       

Per Interim  

Consolidated  

Financial  

Statements(1)  

June 30, 2017

($ millions)

  Heavy Oil               

Light &  

Medium  

        NGLs          

Conventional  

Liquids  

       

Natural  

Gas  

        Conventional           Condensate           Inventory           Other          

Total  

Conventional  

Revenues

                                                

Gross Sales

  119          138        4        261        90        351        32        -        3        386  

Less: Royalties

  16          28        -        44        5        49        -        -        1        50  
  103          110        4        217        85        302        32        -        2        336  

Expenses

                                                

Transportation and Blending

  11          7        -        18        3        21        32        -        1        54  

Operating

  37          39        -        76        37        113        -        -        2        115  

Production and Mineral Taxes

  -          5        -        5        -        5        -        -        -        5  

Netback

  55          59        4        118        45        163        -        -        (1)       162  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  2          1        -        3        -        3        -        -        -        3  

Operating Margin

  53          58        4        115        45        160        -        -        (1)       159  
Three Months Ended   Basis of Netback Calculation            Adjustments       

Per Interim  

Consolidated  

Financial  

Statements(1)  

June 30, 2016

($ millions)

  Heavy
Oil  
            

Light &  

Medium  

        NGLs          

Conventional  

Liquids  

       

Natural  

Gas  

        Conventional           Condensate           Inventory           Other          

Total  

Conventional  

Revenues

                                                

Gross Sales

  95          116        1        212        53        265        27        -        2        294  

Less: Royalties

  10          20        1        31        2        33        -        -        -        33  
  85          96        -        181        51        232        27        -        2        261  

Expenses

                                                

Transportation and Blending

  10          6        -        16        5        21        27        (3)       -        45  

Operating

  31          39        -        70        36        106        -        -        1        107  

Production and Mineral Taxes

  -          3        -        3        -        3        -        -        -        3  

Netback

  44          48        -        92        10        102        -        3        1        106  

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (5)         (6)       -        (11)       -        (11)       -        -        -        (11) 

Operating Margin

  49          54        -        103        10        113        -        3        1        117  

 

(1)

Found in Note 8 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 94

Netback Reconciliations


Table of Contents

Conventional

 

Six Months Ended  

Basis of Netback Calculation

      Adjustments       Per Interim 
Consolidated 
Financial 
Statements(1) 

June 30, 2017

($ millions)

  Heavy Oil        

Light & 

Medium 

       NGLs        

Conventional 

Liquids 

      

Natural 

Gas 

       Conventional         Condensate         Inventory         Other        

Total 

Conventional 

Revenues

                                     

Gross Sales

  232      266          507      185      692      65              760 

Less: Royalties

  32      57          90          99                  100 
  200      209          417      176      593      65              660 

Expenses

                                     

Transportation and Blending

  19      13          32          39      65              105 

Operating

  68      77          145      78      223                  225 

Production and Mineral Taxes

                      10                  10 

Netback

  113      110          231      90      321              (1)     320 

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

              16          16                  16 

Operating Margin

  104      103          215      90      305              (1)     304 
Six Months Ended   Basis of Netback Calculation       Adjustments      

Per Interim 

Consolidated 

Financial 

Statements(1) 

June 30, 2016

($ millions)

  Heavy Oil        

Light & 

Medium 

       NGLs        

Conventional 

Liquids 

      

Natural 

Gas 

       Conventional         Condensate         Inventory         Other        

Total 

Conventional 

Revenues

                                     

Gross Sales

  168      201          373      135      508      55              568 

Less: Royalties

  14      33          48          53                  53 
  154      168          325      130      455      55              515 

Expenses

                                     

Transportation and Blending

  23      13          36          44      55      (7)         92 

Operating

  71      79          150      78      228                  229 

Production and Mineral Taxes

                                     

Netback

  60      71          134      44      178                  189 

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

  (27)     (26)         (53)         (52)                 (50)

Operating Margin

  87      97          187      43      230                  239 

 

(1)

Found in Note 8 of the interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table provides the sales volumes used to calculate Netback.

Sales Volumes

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,
(barrels per day, unless otherwise stated)    2017           2016           2017           2016  

Oil Sands

                 

Foster Creek

   106,115        62,089        92,415        61,129  

Christina Lake

   154,431        76,066        122,353        78,092  

Total Oil Sands Crude Oil

   260,546        138,155        214,768        139,221  

Natural Gas (MMcf per day)

   12        18        13        17  

Deep Basin

                 

Total Liquids

   16,894        -        8,494        -  

Natural Gas (MMcf per day)

   253        -        127        -  

Conventional

                 

Heavy Oil

   28,089        28,294        27,161        29,529  

Light and Medium Oil

   26,835        26,407        25,959        26,808  

Natural Gas Liquids (“NGLs”)

   1,132        799        1,090        1,003  

Total Conventional Liquids

   56,056        55,500        54,210        57,340  

Natural Gas (MMcf per day)

   355        381        352        386  

Total Liquids Sales

   333,496        193,655        277,472        196,561  

Total Sales (BOE per day)

   436,761        260,155        359,465        263,728  

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Second Quarter 2017 Report

 

Page 95

Netback Reconciliations


Table of Contents

LOGO

Cenovus Energy Inc.

500 Centre Street SE

PO Box 766

Calgary, AB T2P 0M5

Phone: 403-766-2000

Fax: 403-766-7600

 

CENOVUS CONTACTS

Investor Relations:

   Media:

Kam Sandhar

   General media line

Vice-President, Investor Relations &

Corporate Development

   403-766-7751

403-766-5883

   media.relations@cenovus.com

kam.sandhar@cenovus.com

  

Steven Murray

Manager, Investor Relations

403-766-3382

steven.murray@cenovus.com

Graham Ingram

Specialist, Investor Relations

403-766-2849

graham.ingram@cenovus.com

Michelle Cheyne

Analyst, Investor Relations

403-766-2584

michelle.cheyne@cenovus.com

 

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