Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements	On February 8, 2021, the Board of Directors established and authorized the publication of the Consolidated Financial Statements of TOTAL SE for the year ended December 31, 2020, which will be submitted for approval to the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held on May 28, 2021. Basis of preparation of the consolidated financial statements The Consolidated Financial Statements of TOTAL SE and its subsidiaries (the Group) are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared on the basis of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted by the European Union and IFRS as issued by the IASB (International Accounting Standard Board) as of December 31, 2020. The accounting principles applied for the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2020, were the same as those that were used for the financial statements at December 31, 2019, with the exception of the IFRS standard changes listed below which had not been early adopted by the Group. As of January 1st, 2020, the Group early adopted the amendments to IFRS 7 and IFRS 9 relating to the interest rate benchmark reform phase II. In particular, these amendments allow to maintain the hedge accounting qualification of interest rate derivatives. As part of this transition, the Group set up a working group in order to cover all aspects relating to the IBOR reform and is currently assessing the future impacts of these index changes. As of December 31, 2020, except for the index change on the remuneration of cash collateral with the clearing houses, whose impact is not material, no modification of the IBOR indexes was applied on the financial instruments used by the Group. Major judgments and accounting estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS for the closing as of December 31, 2020 requires the executive management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the information reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on historical experience and other factors believed to be reasonable at the date of preparation of the financial statements. They are reviewed on an on-going basis by management and therefore could be revised as circumstances change or as a result of new information. Different estimates, assumptions and judgments could significantly affect the information reported, and actual results may differ from the amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto. The following summary provides further information about the key estimates, assumptions and judgments that are involved in preparing, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto. It should be read in conjunction with the sections of the Notes mentioned in the summary. The consolidated financial statements are impacted by the health and oil crises. The Group has taken into account the impact of this environment, particularly on the depreciation and impairment of oil and gas assets (see Note 3.D “Asset impairment” and Note 7.2 “Tangible assets”). Estimation of hydrocarbon reserves The estimation of oil and gas reserves is a key factor in the Successful Efforts method used by the Group to account for its oil and gas activities. The Group’s oil and gas reserves are estimated by the Group’s petroleum engineers in accordance with industry standards and SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) regulations. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geosciences and engineering data, can be determined with reasonable certainty to be recoverable (from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations), prior to the time at which contracts providing the rights to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. Proved oil and gas reserves are calculated using a 12-month average price determined as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month of the relevant year unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions. The Group reassesses its oil and gas reserves at least once a year on all its properties. The Successful Efforts method and the mineral interests and property, plant and equipment of exploration and production are presented in Note 7 “Intangible and tangible assets”. Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill As part of the determination of the recoverable value of assets for impairment (IAS36), the estimates, assumptions and judgments mainly concern hydrocarbon prices scenarios, operating costs, production volumes and oil and gas proved and probable reserves, refining margins and product marketing conditions (mainly petroleum, petrochemical and chemical products as well as renewable industry products). The estimates and assumptions used by the executive management are determined in specialized internal departments in light of economic conditions and external expert analysis. The discount rate is reviewed annually. In 2020, the Group decided to revise the price assumptions used for its assets impairment tests. Based on these new assumptions, asset impairments were recorded during the period. In line with its new Climate Ambition announced on May 5, 2020, which aims at carbon neutrality, the Group has reviewed its oil assets that can be qualified as “stranded”, and therefore has decided to impair its oil sands assets in Canada. These impairments and revised assumptions are presented in Note 3.D “Asset impairment”. Impairment of assets and the method applied are described in Note 3 "Business segment information". Employee benefits The benefit obligations and plan assets can be subject to significant volatility due in part to changes in market values and actuarial assumptions. These assumptions vary between different pension plans and thus take into account local conditions. They are determined following a formal process involving expertise and Group internal judgments, in financial and actuarial terms, and also in consultation with actuaries and independent experts. The assumptions for each plan are reviewed annually and adjusted if necessary to reflect changes from the experience and actuarial advice. The discount rate is reviewed quarterly. Payroll, staff and employee benefits obligations and the method applied are described in Note 10 “Payroll, staff and employee benefits obligations”. Asset retirement obligations Asset retirement obligations, which result from a legal or constructive obligation, are recognized based on a reasonable estimate in the period in which the obligation arises. This estimate is based on information available in terms of costs and work program. It is regularly reviewed to take into account the changes in laws and regulations, the estimates of reserves and production, the analysis of site conditions and technologies. The discount rate is reviewed annually. Asset retirement obligations and the method used are described in Note 12 “Provisions and other non-current liabilities”. Income Taxes A tax liability is recognized when in application of a tax regulation, a future payment is considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. The exercise of judgment is required to assess the impact of new events on the amount of the liability. Deferred tax assets are recognized in the accounts to the extent that their recovery is considered probable. The amount of these assets is determined after taking into account deferred tax liabilities with comparable maturity, arising from the same entities and tax regimes. It takes into account existing taxable profits and future taxable profits which estimation is inherently uncertain and subject to change over time. The exercise of judgment is required to assess the impact of new events on the value of these assets and including changes in estimates of future taxable profits and the deadlines for their use. In addition, these tax positions may depend on interpretations of tax laws and regulations in the countries where the Group operates. These interpretations may have uncertain nature. Depending on the circumstances, they are final only after negotiations or resolution of disputes with authorities that can last several years. Incomes taxes and the accounting methods are described in Note 11 “Income taxes”. Judgments in case of transactions not addressed by any accounting standard or interpretation Furthermore, when the accounting treatment of a specific transaction is not addressed by any accounting standard or interpretation, the management applies its judgment to define and apply accounting policies that provide information consistent with the general IFRS concepts: faithful representation, relevance and materiality.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

On February 8, 2021, the Board of Directors established and authorized the publication of the Consolidated Financial Statements of TOTAL SE for the year ended December 31, 2020, which will be submitted for approval to the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held on May 28, 2021.

Basis of preparation of the consolidated financial statements

The Consolidated Financial Statements of TOTAL SE and its subsidiaries (the Group) are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared on the basis of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted by the European Union and IFRS as issued by the IASB (International Accounting Standard Board) as of December 31, 2020.

The accounting principles applied for the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2020, were the same as those that were used for the financial statements at December 31, 2019, with the exception of the IFRS standard changes listed below which had not been early adopted by the Group.

As of January 1st, 2020, the Group early adopted the amendments to IFRS 7 and IFRS 9 relating to the interest rate benchmark reform phase II. In particular, these amendments allow to maintain the hedge accounting qualification of interest rate derivatives.

As part of this transition, the Group set up a working group in order to cover all aspects relating to the IBOR reform and is currently assessing the future impacts of these index changes.

As of December 31, 2020, except for the index change on the remuneration of cash collateral with the clearing houses, whose impact is not material, no modification of the IBOR indexes was applied on the financial instruments used by the Group.

Major judgments and accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS for the closing as of December 31, 2020 requires the executive management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the information reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto.

These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on historical experience and other factors believed to be reasonable at the date of preparation of the financial statements. They are reviewed on an on-going basis by management and therefore could be revised as circumstances change or as a result of new information.

Different estimates, assumptions and judgments could significantly affect the information reported, and actual results may differ from the amounts included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto.

The following summary provides further information about the key estimates, assumptions and judgments that are involved in preparing, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto. It should be read in conjunction with the sections of the Notes mentioned in the summary.

The consolidated financial statements are impacted by the health and oil crises. The Group has taken into account the impact of this environment, particularly on the depreciation and impairment of oil and gas assets (see Note 3.D “Asset impairment” and Note 7.2 “Tangible assets”).

Estimation of hydrocarbon reserves

The estimation of oil and gas reserves is a key factor in the Successful Efforts method used by the Group to account for its oil and gas activities.

The Group’s oil and gas reserves are estimated by the Group’s petroleum engineers in accordance with industry standards and SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) regulations.

Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geosciences and engineering data, can be determined with reasonable certainty to be recoverable (from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations), prior to the time at which contracts providing the rights to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.

Proved oil and gas reserves are calculated using a 12-month average price determined as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month of the relevant year unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions. The Group reassesses its oil and gas reserves at least once a year on all its properties.

The Successful Efforts method and the mineral interests and property, plant and equipment of exploration and production are presented in Note 7 “Intangible and tangible assets”.

Impairment of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill

As part of the determination of the recoverable value of assets for impairment (IAS36), the estimates, assumptions and judgments mainly concern hydrocarbon prices scenarios, operating costs, production volumes and oil and gas proved and probable reserves, refining margins and product marketing conditions (mainly petroleum, petrochemical and chemical products as well as renewable industry products). The estimates and assumptions used by the executive management are determined in specialized internal departments in light of economic conditions and external expert analysis. The discount rate is reviewed annually.

In 2020, the Group decided to revise the price assumptions used for its assets impairment tests. Based on these new assumptions, asset impairments were recorded during the period. In line with its new Climate Ambition announced on May 5, 2020, which aims at carbon neutrality, the Group has reviewed its oil assets that can be qualified as “stranded”, and therefore has decided to impair its oil sands assets in Canada. These impairments and revised assumptions are presented in Note 3.D “Asset impairment”.

Impairment of assets and the method applied are described in Note 3 "Business segment information".

Employee benefits

The benefit obligations and plan assets can be subject to significant volatility due in part to changes in market values and actuarial assumptions. These assumptions vary between different pension plans and thus take into account local conditions. They are determined following a formal process involving expertise and Group internal judgments, in financial and actuarial terms, and also in consultation with actuaries and independent experts.

The assumptions for each plan are reviewed annually and adjusted if necessary to reflect changes from the experience and actuarial advice. The discount rate is reviewed quarterly.

Payroll, staff and employee benefits obligations and the method applied are described in Note 10 “Payroll, staff and employee benefits obligations”.

Asset retirement obligations

Asset retirement obligations, which result from a legal or constructive obligation, are recognized based on a reasonable estimate in the period in which the obligation arises.

This estimate is based on information available in terms of costs and work program. It is regularly reviewed to take into account the changes in laws and regulations, the estimates of reserves and production, the analysis of site conditions and technologies.

The discount rate is reviewed annually.

Asset retirement obligations and the method used are described in Note 12 “Provisions and other non-current liabilities”.

Income Taxes

A tax liability is recognized when in application of a tax regulation, a future payment is considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. The exercise of judgment is required to assess the impact of new events on the amount of the liability.

Deferred tax assets are recognized in the accounts to the extent that their recovery is considered probable. The amount of these assets is determined after taking into account deferred tax liabilities with comparable maturity, arising from the same entities and tax regimes. It takes into account existing taxable profits and future taxable profits which estimation is inherently uncertain and subject to change over time. The exercise of judgment is required to assess the impact of new events on the value of these assets and including changes in estimates of future taxable profits and the deadlines for their use.

In addition, these tax positions may depend on interpretations of tax laws and regulations in the countries where the Group operates. These interpretations may have uncertain nature. Depending on the circumstances, they are final only after negotiations or resolution of disputes with authorities that can last several years.

Incomes taxes and the accounting methods are described in Note 11 “Income taxes”.

Judgments in case of transactions not addressed by any accounting standard or interpretation

Furthermore, when the accounting treatment of a specific transaction is not addressed by any accounting standard or interpretation, the management applies its judgment to define and apply accounting policies that provide information consistent with the general IFRS concepts: faithful representation, relevance and materiality.