EX-99.1 2 cve-ex991_185.htm EX-99.1 cve-ex991_185.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Annual Information Form

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

February 8, 2021

 

 


 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

CORPORATE STRUCTURE

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

Prior to the Husky Arrangement

Oil Sands

Conventional

Refining and Marketing

The Husky Arrangement

Integrated Corridor

Offshore

Description of the Business Following the Husky Arrangement

Competitive Conditions

Environmental Protection

Code of Business Conduct & Ethics

Employees

RISK FACTORS

RESERVES DATA AND OTHER OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

Disclosure of Reserves Data

Development of Proved and Probable Undeveloped Reserves

Significant Factors or Uncertainties Affecting Reserves Data

Expected Changes to Reserves – Husky Arrangement

Other Oil and Gas Information

DIVIDENDS

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE

MARKET FOR SECURITIES

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

AUDIT COMMITTEE

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY ACTIONS

INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS

TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

INTERESTS OF EXPERTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCOUNTING MATTERS

ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVERSIONS

 

1

4

4

8

8

8

9

10

11

12

14

16

16

16

16

17

17

17

18

23

24

24

28

31

32

36

37

42

44

44

44

44

46

46

47

47

 

APPENDIX A -Report on Reserves Data by Independent Qualified Reserves Evaluators

A1

APPENDIX B -Report of Management and Directors on Reserves Data and Other Information

B1

APPENDIX C -Audit Committee Mandate

C1

APPENDIX D -Netback Reconciliations

D1

 

 

 

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

 

In this Annual Information Form (“AIF”), unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, references to “the Corporation” or “Cenovus” mean Cenovus Energy Inc., the subsidiaries of, and partnership interests held by, Cenovus Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries as at December 31, 2020 and, for greater certainty, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, excludes Husky Energy Inc. (“Husky”) and the subsidiaries of, and partnership interests held by, Husky and its subsidiaries.

This AIF contains forward-looking statements and other information (collectively “forward-looking information”) about Cenovus’s current expectations, estimates and projections, made in light of the Corporation’s experience and perception of historical trends. Although we believe that the expectations represented by such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This forward-looking information is identified by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “capacity”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “focus”, “forecast”, “future”, “plan”, “potential”, “project”, “target”, “may”, “schedule” or similar expressions and includes suggestions of future outcomes, including, but not limited to, statements about: the impact of the Husky Arrangement (defined below) on certain reserves data and other oil and gas information, including any pro forma information relating to the Husky Arrangement; Cenovus’s ability to fund future development costs; insurance proceeds; production from Cenovus’s Conventional segment providing an economic hedge for the natural gas required as a fuel source at the Corporation’s oil sands and refining operations; strategy and related milestones; schedules and plans; determination of the operating and reporting segments for the combined company; the Corporation’s ability to realize the best margins and netbacks for Cenovus’s products; expected timing for oil sands expansion phases and associated expected production capacities; projections for 2021 and future years and plans and strategies to realize such projections; the anticipated timelines of the development and completion of projects; the anticipated relaunching of suspended projects; the focus of future development and exploration activities; future opportunities for oil and gas development; forecast operating and financial results, including forecast sales prices, costs and cash flows; priorities for and approach to capital investment decisions or capital allocation; planned capital expenditures, including the amount, timing and financing thereof; the planned amalgamation of Cenovus and Husky; techniques expected to be used to recover reserves and forecasts of the timing thereof; future abandonment and reclamation costs and the timing of payments in relation thereto; expected payment of taxes, royalties and other payments; potential impacts of various identified risk factors, including those related to commodity prices and climate change; expected future production, including the timing, stability or growth thereof; expected reserves and related information, including

reserves life index and any pro forma reserves information relating to the Husky Arrangement, future net revenue and future development costs; expected capacities, including for projects, processing, transportation and refining; improving cost structures, forecast cost savings and the sustainability thereof; anticipated timelines for future regulatory, partner or internal approvals; future impact of regulatory measures; forecast commodity prices and trends and expected impacts to Cenovus; potential impacts of various risks, including those related to commodity prices and climate change; and future use and development of technology, including expected effects on land footprint, steam to oil ratios and environmental performance and sustainability. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as the Corporation’s actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Statements relating to “reserves” are deemed to be forward looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and can be profitably produced in the future. Readers are cautioned that the term reserves life index may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. This measure is used for consistency with other oil and gas companies and does not reflect the actual life of the reserves.

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, but are not limited to: Cenovus’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Husky Arrangement; Cenovus’s ability to successfully integrate the business of Husky, including new business activities, assets, operating areas, regulatory jurisdictions, personnel and business partners for Cenovus; the accuracy of any assessments undertaken or information provided by Husky in connection with the Husky Arrangement and any resulting pro forma information, including related to reserves; forecast oil and natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), condensate and refined products prices, and light-heavy crude oil price differentials; the absence of significant adverse changes to legislation and regulations, Indigenous relations, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, competitive conditions and the supply and demand for crude oil and natural gas, NGLs, condensate and refined products; the political, economic and social stability of jurisdictions in which Cenovus operates; the absence of significant disruption of operations, including as a result of harsh weather, natural disaster, accident, civil unrest or other similar events; the prevailing climatic conditions in Cenovus’s operating locations; projected capital investment levels, the flexibility of capital spending plans and associated sources of funding; achievement of further cost reductions and sustainability thereof; applicable

1

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


royalty regimes, including expected royalty rates; future improvements in availability of product transportation capacity; increase to the Corporations share price and market capitalization over the long term; the sufficiency of existing cash balances, internally generated cash flows, existing credit facilities, management of the Corporations asset portfolio and access to capital markets to fund future development costs and dividends, including any increase thereto; production from the Corporations Conventional segment will provide an economic hedge for the natural gas required as a fuel source at both the Corporations oil sands and refining operations; future narrowing of crude oil differentials; the ability of Cenovuss refining capacity, dynamic storage, existing pipeline commitments, financial hedge transactions and plans to ramp up crude-by-rail loading capacity to partially mitigate a portion of Cenovuss WCS crude oil volumes against wider differentials; the Corporations ability to produce from oil sands facilities on an unconstrained basis; estimates of quantities of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, NGLs and condensate from properties and other sources not currently classified as proved; the accuracy of accounting estimates and judgments; future use and development of technology and associated expected future results; the Corporations ability to obtain necessary regulatory and partner approvals; the successful, timely and cost effective implementation of capital projects, development programs or stages thereof; the Corporations ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet current and future obligations; estimated abandonment and reclamation costs, including associated levies and regulations applicable thereto; the Corporations ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; Cenovuss ability to access sufficient capital and insurance coverage to pursue development plans; the stability of general domestic and global economic, market and business conditions; forecast inflation and other assumptions inherent in Cenovuss 2021 guidance available on cenovus.com and as set out below; Cenovuss ability to access and implement all technology and equipment necessary to achieve expected future results, and that such results are realized.

2021 guidance, as updated January 28, 2021, and available on cenovus.com, assumes: Brent prices of US$49.50/bbl, WTI prices of US$46.50/bbl; WCS of US$32.50/bbl; AECO natural gas prices of $2.50/Mcf; Chicago 3-2-1 crack spread of US$11.00/bbl; and an exchange rate of $0.78 US$/C$.

The risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information, include, but are not limited to: the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Corporation’s business, including any related restrictions, containment, and treatment measures taken by varying levels of government in the jurisdictions in which we operate; the success of our new COVID-19 workplace policies and the return of our people to our workplaces; Cenovus’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Husky Arrangement in a timely manner or at all; the ability of Cenovus and Husky to amalgamate; Cenovus’s

ability to successfully integrate Husky’s business with its own in a timely and cost effective manner or at all; the effects of entering new business activities; unforeseen or undisclosed liabilities associated with the Husky Arrangement; the inaccuracy of any assessments undertaken in connection with the Husky Arrangement and any resulting pro forma information; the inaccuracy of any historical or reserves information provided by Husky and of any resulting pro forma information; Cenovus’s ability to access or implement some or all of the technology necessary to efficiently and effectively operate the Corporation’s assets and achieve expected future results; the effect of the Husky Arrangement on relationships with customers, suppliers and other third parties; the effect of Cenovus’s increased indebtedness; the effect of new significant shareholders; volatility of and other assumptions regarding commodity prices; the impact of production agreements among OPEC and non-OPEC members; foreign exchange risk, including related to agreements denominated in foreign currencies; the effectiveness of the Corporation’s risk management program, including the impact of derivative financial instruments, the success of hedging strategies and the sufficiency of the Corporation’s liquidity position; the accuracy of cost estimates regarding commodity prices, currency and interest rates; lack of alignment of realized WCS prices and WCS prices used to calculate the contingent payment to ConocoPhillips; product supply and demand; the accuracy of Cenovus’s share price and market capitalization assumptions; market competition, including from alternative energy sources; risks inherent in Cenovus’s marketing operations, including credit risks, exposure to counterparties and partners, including the ability and willingness of such parties to satisfy contractual obligations in a timely manner; risks inherent in the operation of the Corporation’s crude-by-rail terminal, including health, safety and environmental risks; Cenovus’s ability to maintain desirable ratios of Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA as well as Net Debt to Capitalization; the Corporation’s ability to access various sources of insurance coverage and debt and equity capital, generally, and on acceptable terms; Cenovus’s ability to finance growth, capital expenditures and dividends, including any increases thereto; changes in credit ratings applicable to Cenovus or any of its securities; the accuracy of reserves estimates, future production and future net revenue estimates, including any pro forma information relating to the Husky Arrangement; the accuracy of accounting estimates and judgements; Cenovus’s ability to replace and expand oil and gas reserves; the costs to acquire exploration rights, undertake geological studies, appraisal drilling and project development; potential requirements under applicable accounting standards for impairment or reversal of estimated recoverable amounts of some or all of the Corporation’s assets or goodwill from time to time; Cenovus’s ability to maintain relationships with its partners and to successfully manage and operate our integrated operations and businesses; reliability of Cenovus’s assets including in order to meet production targets; potential disruption or unexpected technical difficulties in developing new products and

2

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


manufacturing processes; ability to successfully complete development programs; the occurrence of unexpected events that result in operational interruptions, including blowouts, fires, explosions, railcar incidents or derailments, aviation incidents, gaseous leaks, migration of harmful substances, loss of containment, releases or spills, including releases or spills from offshore facilities and shipping vessels at terminals or hubs and as a result of pipeline or other leaks; extreme weather events, natural disasters, iceberg incidents, acts of vandalism and terrorism, and other accidents or hazards that may occur at or during transport to or from commercial or industrial sites and other accidents or similar events; refining and marketing margins; cost escalations, including inflationary pressures on operating costs, such as labour, materials, natural gas and other energy sources used in oil sands processes and increased insurance deductibles or premiums; the cost and availability of equipment necessary to Cenovuss operations; potential failure of products to achieve or maintain acceptance in the market; risks associated with the energy industrys and Cenovuss reputation, social license to operate and litigation related thereto; unexpected cost increases or technical difficulties in operating, constructing or modifying manufacturing or refining facilities; unexpected difficulties in producing, transporting or refining of bitumen and/or crude oil into petroleum and chemical products; risks associated with technology and equipment and its application to our business, including potential cyberattacks; geo-political and other risks associated with our international operations; risks associated with climate change and Cenovuss assumptions relating thereto; the timing and the costs of well and pipeline construction; the Corporations ability to access markets and 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 Cenovuss ability to attract and retain, critical talent; possible failure to obtain and retain qualified leadership and personnel, and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner; changes in labour demographics and relationships, including with any unionized workforces; unexpected abandonment and reclamation costs; changes in the regulatory framework, permits, or approvals in any of the locations in which Cenovus operates or to any of the infrastructure upon which Cenovus relies; government actions or regulatory initiatives to curtail energy operations or pursue broader climate change

agendas; 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 Cenovuss business, financial results and Consolidated Financial Statements; changes in general economic, market and business conditions; the political, social and economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which Cenovus operates or supplies; the status of our relationships with the communities in which we operate, including with Indigenous communities; the occurrence of unexpected events such as protests, epidemics, pandemics, war, terrorist threats and the instability resulting therefrom; and risks associated with existing and potential future lawsuits, shareholder proposals and regulatory actions against us.

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 Cenovus’s material risk factors, refer to “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”), which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF, and to the risk factors described in other documents Cenovus files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities in Canada, available on SEDAR at sedar.com, and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at sec.gov, and on the Corporation’s website at cenovus.com. Additional information concerning Husky’s business and assets as of December 31, 2020 may be found in the annual information form of Husky dated February 8, 2021 for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Husky AIF”) and Husky’s management’s discussion and analysis of the financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Husky MD&A”), each of which is filed and available on SEDAR under Husky’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

Information on or connected to Cenovus’s website cenovus.com or Husky’s website at huskyenergy.com does not form part of this AIF unless expressly incorporated by reference herein.

 

3

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

CORPORATE STRUCTURE

 

 

Cenovus Energy Inc. was formed under the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”) by amalgamation of 7050372 Canada Inc. (“7050372”) and Cenovus Energy Inc. (formerly Encana Finance Ltd. and referred to as “Subco”) on November 30, 2009 pursuant to an arrangement under the CBCA involving, among others, 7050372, Subco and Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.). On January 1, 2011, Cenovus Energy Inc. amalgamated with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cenovus Marketing Holdings Ltd., through a plan of arrangement approved by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. On July 31, 2015, Cenovus Energy Inc. amalgamated with its wholly-owned subsidiary, 9281584 Canada Limited (formerly 1528419 Alberta Ltd.), by way of a vertical short-form amalgamation. On August 1, 2018, Cenovus Energy Inc. amalgamated with its wholly-owned subsidiary, 10904635 Canada Limited (formerly Cenovus FCCL Ltd.), by way of a vertical short-form amalgamation.

In connection with the Husky Arrangement (defined below), Cenovus’s articles were amended effective December 30, 2020 to create:

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 1 (the “Series 1 First Preferred Shares”),

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 2 (the “Series 2 First Preferred Shares”);

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 3 (the “Series 3 First Preferred Shares”);

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 4 (the “Series 4 First Preferred Shares”);

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 5 (the “Series 5 First Preferred Shares”);

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 6 (the “Series 6 First Preferred Shares”);

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 7 (the “Series 7 First Preferred Shares”); and

Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 8 (the “Series 8 First Preferred Shares”) (collectively, the “First Preferred Shares”).

The Corporation’s head and registered office is located at 4100, 225 – 6 Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1N2.

 

INTERCORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS

Cenovus’s material subsidiaries and partnerships as at December 31, 2020 are as follows:

Subsidiaries & Partnerships

Percentage Owned(1)

Jurisdiction of Incorporation,

Continuance, Formation or

Organization

Cenovus Energy Marketing Services Ltd.

100

Alberta

FCCL Partnership (“FCCL”)

100

Alberta

WRB Refining LP (“WRB”)(2)

50

Delaware

 

(1)

Reflects all voting securities of all subsidiaries and partnerships beneficially owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, by Cenovus.

(2)

Cenovus non-operating interest held through Cenovus Overseas Finance ULC and Cenovus US Holdings Inc.

As of December 31, 2020, the Corporation’s remaining subsidiaries and partnerships each account for (i) less than 10 percent of the Corporation’s consolidated assets as at December 31, 2020 and (ii) less than 10 percent of the Corporation’s consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020. In aggregate, Cenovus’s subsidiaries and partnerships not listed above did not exceed 20 percent of the Corporation’s total consolidated assets or total consolidated revenues as at and for the year ended December 31, 2020.

On January 1, 2021, pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), Husky became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cenovus (the “Husky Arrangement”) and will remain as such until completion of a planned amalgamation among the two entities. See “The Husky Arrangement” and “Description of the Business Following the Husky Arrangement” for further information.

A description of Husky’s significant subsidiaries and jointly-controlled entities is included in the Husky AIF, which is filed and available on SEDAR under Husky’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

As at December 31, 2020, Cenovus was an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Cenovus is in the business of developing, producing and marketing crude oil, natural gas and NGLs in Canada, and also conducts marketing activities and owns refining interests in the United States (“U.S.”).

As at December 31, 2020, all of Cenovus’s oil and natural gas reserves and production were located in Canada, within the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. As at December 31, 2020, Cenovus had a land base of approximately 5.2 million net acres. The estimated proved plus probable reserves life index at December 31, 2020 was approximately 39 years.

 

4

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


BUSINESS SEGMENTS

As at December 31, 2020, the Corporation’s reportable segments were as follows:

 

Oil Sands

Cenovus’s Oil Sands segment includes the development and production of bitumen in northeast Alberta. Cenovus’s bitumen assets include Foster Creek and Christina Lake as well as Narrows Lake and other projects in the early stages of development.

Conventional

The Conventional segment includes approximately 3.6 million net acres of land primarily in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas, rich in natural gas and NGLs. The assets are located in Alberta and British Columbia and include interests in numerous natural gas processing facilities (collectively, the “Conventional Assets”).

Refining and Marketing

Cenovus’s Refining and Marketing segment includes transporting and selling crude oil, natural gas and NGLs and joint ownership of 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.

Corporate and Eliminations

This segment 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 (“G&A”), financing activities and research costs. As financial instruments are settled, the realized gains and losses are recorded in the operating segment to which the derivative instrument relates. Eliminations include adjustments for internal usage of natural gas production between segments, transloading services provided to the Oil Sands segment by the Corporation’s rail terminal, crude oil production used as a feedstock by the Refining and Marketing segment and unrealized intersegment profits in inventory. Eliminations are recorded at transfer prices based on current market prices.

 

Three Year History

The following describes significant events and conditions that have influenced the development of Cenovus’s business during the last three financial years:

 

2018

Sale of Suffield assets. In the first quarter, Cenovus completed the sale of its Suffield crude oil and natural gas operations for cash proceeds of $512 million, before closing adjustments.

New Chief Financial Officer. In the second quarter, Jon McKenzie was appointed Cenovus’s Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer.

Sale of Cenovus Pipestone Partnership. In the third quarter, Cenovus completed the sale of its general partnership that held the natural gas and liquids business in northwestern Alberta for cash proceeds of $625 million, before closing adjustments.

Debt reduction. In October, Cenovus redeemed US$800 million of its US$1.3 billion unsecured notes due October 2019. In December, Cenovus repurchased a principal amount of US$76 million of unsecured notes for US$69 million.

Sublease of excess office space. In the third quarter, Cenovus subleased an additional eight floors of The Bow tower in Calgary, Alberta, further reducing Cenovus’s long-term fixed real estate costs.

Continued wide differentials. The differentials between West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) and Western Canadian Select (“WCS”) averaged US$26.31 per barrel, a 120 percent increase compared with 2017, reaching a record of US$52.00 per barrel in the fourth quarter. Average WCS prices remained flat in 2018 in relation to 2017.

Government production curtailment. On December 2, 2018, the Government of Alberta announced a temporary mandatory oil production curtailment for Alberta producers, starting in January 2019, to, among other things, address the record-high differentials between WTI and WCS at Hardisty.

Re-rated refinery processing capacity. As a result of consistently strong operating performance, higher utilization rates and optimizations executed in 2018, both U.S. refineries were re-rated to reflect higher processing capacity effective January 1, 2019. Crude capacity at the Wood River Refinery was re-rated to 333,000 barrels per day from 314,000 barrels per day, while capacity at the Borger Refinery was re-rated to 149,000 barrels per day from 146,000 barrels per day.

 

5

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

2019

Debt reduction. In 2019, Cenovus repurchased a principal amount of US$1,276 million of unsecured notes for US$1,214 million. In October, Cenovus also repaid US$500 million in unsecured notes upon maturity.

Achieved first steam from Christina Lake phase G. In 2019, Cenovus began using steam from Christina Lake phase G to produce oil from other phases.

Ramped up crude-by-rail shipments. Using its fleet of railcars, Cenovus ramped up shipments of crude-by-rail over the course of 2019 to exit the year with December loaded volumes averaging 105,985 barrels per day and rail sales of 91,059 barrels per day.

Alberta government extended curtailment. In August, the Alberta government announced an extension of its mandatory oil production curtailment program to December 31, 2020.

Increased dividend by 25 percent. In October, Cenovus announced a 25 percent increase to its dividend for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Moved headquarters. In October, Cenovus completed the move of its headquarters in downtown Calgary, from The Bow tower to Brookfield Place.

Alberta government implemented Special Production Allowance program. Cenovus qualified for a Special Production Allowance to produce crude oil above curtailment for incremental increases in rail shipments.

Re-rated Wood River Refinery processing capacity. As a result of consistently strong operating performance, higher utilization rates and optimization executed in 2019, the Wood River Refinery crude capacity was re-rated to 346,000 barrels per day from 333,000 barrels per day, to reflect higher processing capacity, effective January 1, 2020.

2020

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. In the first quarter, Cenovus announced ESG targets in four key ESG focus areas: climate & greenhouse gas emissions, Indigenous engagement, land and wildlife and water stewardship.

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter, Cenovus took action to protect the health and safety of its staff and ensure the continuity of its business. Following the guidance of public health officials, the Corporation directed all staff who were able to do so to work from home, established mandatory self-isolation protocols and restricted travel policies as well as implemented active health screening, physical distancing and advanced cleaning and sanitation measures at its field operations.

Reduction of capital spending and suspension of crude-by-rail program. On March 9, 2020, Cenovus announced a reduction to its 2020 capital program of approximately 32 percent in response to the significant decline in world benchmark crude oil prices. Cenovus also announced the temporary suspension of the crude-by-rail program and the deferral of final investment decisions on major growth projects.

Further reduction of capital spending and suspension of the dividend. On April 2, 2020, Cenovus announced a further reduction to its 2020 capital program of $150 million, for a total year to date reduction in the 2020 capital program of 43 percent, along with additional cost-saving measures including the temporary suspension of its dividend.

Temporary additional credit facility liquidity. In April, to further enhance its liquidity, the Corporation obtained commitments from several of its existing lenders for an additional $1.1 billion committed credit facility. On December 31, 2020, Cenovus cancelled the $1.1 billion committed credit facility prior to the closing of the Husky Arrangement.

Used dynamic storage to shift production into stronger price environment. In the second quarter of 2020, Cenovus curtailed its oil sands production, storing mobilized oil in its reservoirs in response to the significant decline in crude oil prices. Production was ramped up by approximately 60,000 barrels per day in June and subsequent months in an improved price environment.

Senior note offering. On July 30, 2020, Cenovus completed a public offering in the U.S. of US$1,000,000,000 in 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2025.

Agreement with Husky. On October 25, 2020 Cenovus and Husky announced the Husky Arrangement, an all-stock transaction valued at $23.6 billion, inclusive of debt, which would combine the two companies.

New leadership team. In the fourth quarter, Cenovus announced the new executive leadership team of the combined company. The new leadership team was appointed on January 1, 2021 following the closing of the Husky Arrangement.

Alberta government curtailment program put on hold. While the government’s regulatory authority to curtail oil production extends through 2021, starting in December 2020, Alberta’s government lifted monthly oil curtailment.

Marten Hills asset sale. On November 9, 2020, Cenovus announced the sale of its Marten Hills heavy oil assets to Headwater Exploration Inc. (“Headwater”) for a combination of cash, common share equity consideration and purchase warrants, while retaining a gross

6

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


overriding royalty interest in the property. The sale closed December 2, 2020.

Cenovus amends articles to create series of First Preferred Shares. In connection with the Husky Arrangement, Cenovus’s articles were amended effective December 30, 2020, to create a series First Preferred Shares.

2021

Cenovus acquires Husky. Effective January 1, 2021, Cenovus completed the Husky Arrangement and acquired all of the issued and outstanding Husky common shares and Husky preferred shares. As a result of completing the Husky Arrangement, Husky became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cenovus. Pursuant to the Husky Arrangement, holders of Husky common shares received 0.7845 of a Cenovus common share (“Common Share”) and 0.0651 of a Cenovus warrant (“Cenovus Warrant”), in respect of each Husky common share held, resulting in the issuance of 788,517,905

Common Shares and 65,433,323 Cenovus Warrants, and holders of Husky preferred shares exchanged each Husky preferred share for one First Preferred Share with substantially identical terms. Each whole Cenovus Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $6.54 at any time up to January 1, 2026. In connection with the Husky Arrangement and pursuant to applicable securities laws, Cenovus will be filing a business acquisition report containing pro forma financial statements of the combined company as of December 31, 2020.

Reconstitution of the Board. Concurrently with the completion of the Husky Arrangement, Cenovus’s board of directors (the “Board”), and each committee of the Board, were reconstituted, with each of Canning K. N. Fok, Eva L. Kwok, Wayne E. Shaw and Frank J. Sixt being appointed to the Board.

 

7

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

 

PRIOR TO THE HUSKY ARRANGEMENT

OIL SANDS

Cenovus’s Oil Sands segment includes 100 percent ownership of the Foster Creek and Christina Lake assets, both of which are producing. In addition, the Corporation has several emerging projects in the early stages of development, including 100 percent owned projects at Narrows Lake and Telephone Lake. The Oil Sands segment also includes Cenovus’s Athabasca natural gas property. All of the gas produced from the Athabasca natural gas property since April 2018 is used as fuel at the adjacent Foster Creek operation.

As at December 31, 2020, Cenovus held bitumen rights of approximately 1.6 million gross acres (1.6 million net acres) within the Athabasca and Cold Lake areas, as well as the exclusive rights to lease an additional 536,000 gross acres on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, an active military base.

Development Approach

Cenovus uses steam-assisted gravity drainage (“SAGD”) technology to recover bitumen. The Corporation does not employ mining techniques for extraction and none of its reserves are suitable for extraction using mining techniques. SAGD involves injecting steam into the reservoir to enable bitumen to be pumped to the surface. Cenovus applies a manufacturing-like, phased approach to developing its oil sands assets. This approach incorporates learnings from previous phases into future growth plans, helping the Corporation to minimize costs.

Technology

Cenovus continues to focus on technologies which are targeted to lower its cost structure, improve margins, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions amid continuing price uncertainty, a lower carbon future, increased interest in corporate sustainability efforts and regulatory changes.

Foster Creek

Cenovus has a 100 percent working interest in Foster Creek. It is located on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range and has a reservoir depth up to 500 meters below the surface. Foster Creek produces from the McMurray formation using SAGD technology.

The Corporation holds surface access rights from the governments of Canada and Alberta and bitumen rights from the Government of Alberta for exploration, development and transportation from areas within the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. In addition, Cenovus holds exclusive rights to lease several hundred thousand acres of bitumen rights in other areas on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range on the Corporation’s and/or its assignee’s behalf.

Production from phases A through G at Foster Creek averaged 163,210 barrels per day in 2020 (159,598 barrels per day in 2019).

Cenovus operates a 98-megawatt natural gas‑fired cogeneration facility in conjunction with Foster Creek. The steam and power generated by the facility is presently being used within the SAGD operation and any excess power generated is being sold into the Alberta power pool.

Christina Lake

Cenovus has a 100 percent working interest in Christina Lake. It is located approximately 120 kilometers south of Fort McMurray, Alberta and has a reservoir depth up to 375 meters below the surface. Christina Lake produces from the McMurray formation using SAGD technology.

Production from phases A through G at Christina Lake averaged 218,513 barrels per day in 2020 (194,659 barrels per day in 2019). Cenovus operates a 100-megawatt natural gas-fired cogeneration facility in conjunction with Christina Lake. The steam and power generated by the facility is presently being used within the SAGD operation and any excess power generated is being sold into the Alberta power pool. Phase G has an approved design capacity of 50,000 gross barrels per day. Cenovus began producing steam from phase G in 2019 and utilized the full facility in 2020.

Narrows Lake

Cenovus has a 100 percent working interest in Narrows Lake. Narrows Lake is located adjacent to Christina Lake and has a reservoir depth up to 375 meters below the surface.

In 2012, Cenovus received regulatory approval for 130,000 gross barrels per day of production capacity. Due to the low commodity price environment, and historically high price differentials, Cenovus had deferred new construction spending on phase A. Cenovus is now progressing development of the Narrows Lake resource by using existing infrastructure at Christina Lake.

Telephone Lake

Cenovus’s 100 percent owned Telephone Lake property is located in the Borealis Region in northeastern Alberta, approximately 90 kilometers northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Cenovus received approval from the Alberta Energy Regulator in late 2014 for a SAGD project with initial production capacity of 90,000 gross barrels per day. The Corporation continues to assess what may be the optimal development plan for the Telephone Lake asset.

Capital Investment

In 2020, capital investment in the Oil Sands segment was $427 million, focused on sustaining programs related to existing production at Foster Creek and Christina Lake as well as the stratigraphic test well program to determine pad placement for sustaining well pads and expansions. Other capital investment related to advancing key initiatives and technology development costs.

8

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


CONVENTIONAL

Cenovus has western Canadian conventional crude oil and natural gas assets including undeveloped land, exploration and producing assets, and related infrastructure in Alberta and British Columbia. Cenovus’s Conventional Assets include approximately 3.6 million net acres of land primarily in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas, with an average 75 percent working interest. In addition, the Conventional Assets include interests in numerous natural gas processing plants with an estimated net processing capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet per day. The Conventional Assets are expected to provide short-cycle development opportunities with high return potential that complement Cenovus’s long-term oil sands development. Conventional production is expected to provide an economic hedge for the natural gas required as a fuel source at both the Corporation’s oil sands and refining operations.

On January 1, 2020 the Marten Hills heavy oil assets were moved into the Conventional segment from the Oil Sands segment. In the fourth quarter of 2020, Cenovus completed the sale of its Marten Hills heavy oil assets to Headwater for a combination of cash, common share equity consideration and purchase warrants, while retaining a gross overriding royalty interest in the property.

Elmworth-Wapiti

Cenovus is one of the largest operators and producers in the Elmworth-Wapiti area, located in northwest Alberta and northeast British Columbia. As of December 31, 2020, Cenovus held leasehold rights of 1.16 million net acres in this area.

The Elmworth-Wapiti area provides production potential from more than 10 formations, with the most prospective being the Falher and Dunvegan. It is a mature area that was historically developed with conventional vertical well technology. Cenovus has shifted to horizontal drilling in its development programs with a view to unlock the vast resource potential in the tight sand plays.

The primary processing facility in the area is the Cenovus-operated Elmworth plant. The Corporation holds significant working interests in four other major natural gas processing facilities in the region. Net production in Elmworth-Wapiti averaged 30,898 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020 (31,992 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2019).

Kaybob-Edson

As of December 31, 2020, Cenovus held leasehold rights of approximately 733,602 net acres in the Kaybob-Edson area, which is situated in west-central Alberta. Target development is in the Montney and Lower Cretaceous formations where successful industry drilling has proven the resource potential of those formations in lands offsetting Cenovus acreage. In the Kaybob-Edson area, natural gas processing is primarily controlled by midstream operators and other oil and gas companies.

Cenovus has secured longer term contracts to manage both existing base and new-development volumes. Additionally, Cenovus operates natural gas processing facilities in the area, including the Peco and Wolf plants. Net production in Kaybob-Edson averaged 29,085 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020 (34,751 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2019).

Clearwater

The Clearwater area is situated in west-central Alberta, south of Kaybob-Edson. As of December 31, 2020, Cenovus held leasehold rights of approximately 765,136 net acres. Cenovus’s assets in the Clearwater area are characterized by multi-horizon, Cretaceous and Jurassic reservoirs at depths ranging from 1,900 meters to 3,000 meters, all with high NGL content in a predominantly gas prone area. This is a mature area historically developed with conventional vertical well technology, providing Cenovus with a series of lower risk horizontal drilling development programs. Cenovus operates natural gas processing facilities in the area, including the Sand Creek and Alder plants. Net production in Clearwater averaged 27,197 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020 (30,680 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2019).

Capital Investment

In 2020, capital investment of $78 million in the Conventional segment focused on disciplined development, which encompassed maintaining safe and reliable operations, acquiring seismic data, start-up of a recompletion program to optimize existing production and commencement of a drilling program focusing on the Clearwater and Kaybob-Edson areas. The Kaybob-Edson area included the drilling of three net wells, completion of one net well, tie-in of one net well and other activities to maintain existing production and infrastructure. The Clearwater area focused on the drilling of three net wells and other activities to sustain existing production and infrastructure. The Elmworth-Wapiti area focused on activities to maintain existing production and infrastructure. Capital investment included expenditures on the Marten Hills heavy oil assets which were subsequently sold in the fourth quarter of 2020.

 

 

9

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

REFINING AND MARKETING

 

Cenovus’s Refining and Marketing segment includes its U.S. refining non-operator ownership interests and operations involved in the coordination of Cenovus’s marketing and transportation initiatives to optimize the value received for its products.

Refining

The refining interests allow Cenovus 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.

Through WRB, Cenovus has a 50 percent ownership interest in both the Wood River refinery located in Roxana, Illinois (the “Wood River Refinery”) and the Borger refinery located in Borger, Texas (the “Borger Refinery”). Phillips 66, an unrelated U.S. public company, is the operator and managing partner of WRB. WRB has a management committee, which is composed of three Cenovus representatives and three Phillips 66 representatives, with each company holding equal voting rights. The refineries have a combined stated processing capacity of approximately 495,000 gross barrels per day of crude oil in 2020.

 

The following table summarizes the key operational results for the refineries in the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Refinery Operations(1)

2020

2019

Crude Oil Capacity (Mbbls/d)

495

482

Crude Oil Runs (Mbbls/d)

372

443

Heavy Oil

149

177

Light and Medium Oil

223

266

Crude Utilization (%)

75

92

Refined Products (Mbbls/d)

 

 

Gasoline

195

223

Distillates

127

167

Other

63

76

Total

385

466

 

(1)

Represents 100 percent of Wood River and Borger Refinery operations.

 

 

Wood River Refinery

Wood River Refinery ranks in the top 10 percent of approximately 130 refineries in the U.S., based on total crude oil capacity. It is located in Roxana, Illinois, approximately 25 kilometers northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The Wood River Refinery processes light low-sulphur and heavy high-sulphur crude oil that it receives from North American crude oil pipelines to produce gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, petrochemical feedstock as well as petroleum coke and asphalt. The gasoline and diesel are transported via pipelines to markets in the upper U.S. Midwest. Other products are transported via pipeline, truck, barge and railcar to various markets.

Wood River Refinery’s stated crude oil processing capacity for 2020 was 346,000 gross barrels per day. In 2020, approximately 57 percent of the crude oil processed at the Wood River Refinery consisted of Canadian heavy crude oil.

Borger Refinery

Borger Refinery is located in Borger, Texas, approximately 80 kilometers north of Amarillo, Texas. Borger Refinery processes mainly medium and heavy high-sulphur crude oil that it receives from North American pipeline systems to produce gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, along with NGLs and solvents. The refined products are transported via pipelines to markets in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and the U.S. Mid-Continent.

Borger Refinery’s stated crude oil processing capacity for 2020 was 149,000 gross barrels per day.

Capital Investment – Refining

In 2020, combined capital investment at both Wood River Refinery and Borger Refinery was $243 million net, focused on yield enhancement and reliability and maintenance projects.

Marketing

Cenovus’s marketing activities are focused on optimizing netbacks of its production and asset base across crude oil, condensate, natural gas, and NGLs.

As part of managing market risk arising from optimization activities, Cenovus may enter into financial transactions from time to time. Details of these transactions in 2020 are provided in the notes to the Corporation’s annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Transportation

Cenovus continues to focus on near, mid, and long-term strategies to optimize netbacks for its production. As at December 31, 2020, Cenovus had entered into various transportation and storage commitments totaling $21 billion, $14 billion of which relates to pipelines that are in approval or construction phases but are not yet in service. With its committed capacity on pipeline projects, Cenovus has substantial potential future pipeline capacity to the Canadian West Coast and U.S. Gulf Coast.

The Corporation’s portfolio of transportation commitments includes feeder pipelines from its production areas to the major Alberta trade centres, major pipelines to markets downstream of these centres and rail transportation agreements, including contracts with rail companies to transport heavy

10

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


crude oil from Alberta to various destinations on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Other transportation commitments are primarily related to diluent supply, railcar transportation as well as tankage and terminalling of both crude oil blend and condensate volumes.

Cenovus’s transportation portfolio also includes a crude-by-rail terminal located at Bruderheim, Alberta that is connected to the rail lines of Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, and allows crude oil to be delivered to major demand centres across Canada and the U.S. The Corporation has lifted the suspension of its crude-by-rail program after temporarily suspending the program during the second quarter of 2020 in response to improving market conditions. Volumes loaded at the Bruderheim terminal averaged 32,213 barrels per day (65,293 barrels per day in 2019).

Capital Investment ‑ Marketing

In 2020, Marketing capital investment was $33 million, focused on storage infrastructure projects.

THE HUSKY ARRANGEMENT

Pursuant to the Husky Arrangement, Husky became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021 and will remain as such until completion of a planned amalgamation among the two entities. The combined company continues to operate as Cenovus, and remains headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.

For information regarding how the combined company’s business has been reorganized and segmented as of January 1, 2021, see “Description of the Business Following the Husky Arrangement”.

The following information describes the organization and segmentation of Husky’s business as at December 31, 2020. Husky’s business was organized under two business segments: (i) an integrated Canada-U.S. upstream and downstream corridor (the “Integrated Corridor”); and (ii) production located offshore the east coast of Canada (“Atlantic”) and offshore China and Indonesia (“Asia Pacific” and, collectively with Atlantic, “Offshore”).

Integrated Corridor

Husky’s business in the Integrated Corridor included (i) the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Value Chain; (ii) Oil Sands; (iii) Western Canada Production; (iv) U.S. Refining; and (v) Canadian Refined Products.

The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Value Chain includes the exploration for, and development and production of, heavy crude oil and bitumen, and the production of ethanol. Blended heavy crude oil and bitumen are either sold directly to the Canadian market or transported utilizing the Husky Midstream Limited Partnership (“HMLP”) pipeline systems to the existing Keystone pipeline and other pipelines to be sold in the U.S. downstream market. Heavy crude oil can be upgraded at Husky’s upgrading facility located in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan (the “Lloydminster Upgrader”) and at Husky’s asphalt refinery in

Lloydminster, Alberta (the “Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery”) into synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel and asphalt. This business also includes the marketing and transportation of both Husky’s own production and third-party commodity trading volumes of heavy crude oil, synthetic crude oil, asphalt and ancillary products. The sale and transportation of Husky’s production and third-party commodity trading volumes are managed through access to capacity on third-party pipelines and storage facilities in both Canada and the U.S. Husky is able to capture price differences between the two markets by utilizing infrastructure capacity to deliver production and/or third-party commodity trading volumes from Canada to the U.S. market.

The Oil Sands business includes the exploration for, and development and production of, bitumen within Husky’s 50 percent owned and operated Sunrise Energy project in the Athabasca region of northern Alberta (the “Sunrise Energy Project”). It also includes the marketing and transportation of Husky’s and third-party production of bitumen through access to capacity on third-party pipelines and storage facilities in both Canada and the U.S.

The Western Canada Production business includes the exploration for, and development and production of, light crude oil, conventional natural gas and NGLs in Western Canada. Husky’s conventional natural gas and NGL production is marketed and transported with other third-party commodity trading volumes through access to capacity on third-party pipelines, export terminals and storage facilities which provides flexibility for market access.

The U.S. Refining business includes the refining of crude oil at the crude oil refinery owned and operated by Husky and located in Lima, Ohio (the “Lima Refinery”), a non-operated interest in a crude oil refinery 50 percent owned by Husky and 50 percent owned and operated by BP Corporation North America Inc. (“BP”) and located in Toledo, Ohio (the “BP-Husky Toledo Refinery”), and the crude oil refinery owned by Husky and located in Superior, Wisconsin (the “Superior Refinery”) to produce diesel fuel, gasoline, asphalt and other products. Husky also markets its own and third-party volumes of refined petroleum products including gasoline and diesel fuel.

The Canadian Refined Products business includes the marketing of Husky’s and third-party volumes of refined petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, through petroleum outlets.

Offshore

Husky’s Offshore business includes operations, development and exploration in Asia Pacific and Atlantic. The price received for Husky’s Asia Pacific production is largely based on long-term contracts and crude oil production from Atlantic is primarily driven by the price of Brent.

11

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Additional information concerning Husky’s business as of December 31, 2020 may be found in the Husky AIF, which is filed and available on SEDAR under Husky’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

INTEGRATED CORRIDOR

Third-Party Pipeline Commitments

In 2010, Husky commenced its pipeline commitment on the Keystone pipeline system, which ships Canadian crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta to Patoka, Illinois. Husky has the ability to utilize the portion of the Keystone pipeline system that continues to Cushing, Oklahoma, and Husky holds long-term firm capacity on the Enbridge Flanagan South pipeline and Southern Access Extension pipeline which connect Enbridge’s Mainline to the U.S. Gulf Coast and Patoka markets.

Due to Husky’s Keystone pipeline commitment, the Lima Refinery has the ability to access a significant amount of Canadian crude oil as part of its crude feedstock requirements. The Keystone pipeline has enabled Husky to transport crude oil through interconnecting pipeline systems to the Lima Refinery and/or sell it into the Cushing, Oklahoma market.

In 2017, Husky purchased the 50,000 barrel per-day Superior Refinery, which runs a combination of heavy Canadian crude and light crudes from Canada and the U.S. The Superior Refinery is located on the Enbridge Mainline crude system. As a seller and buyer of crude oils, Husky has a relatively balanced exposure to many location and grade differentials.

Lloydminster Heavy Oil Value Chain

Thermal and Non-Thermal Developments

Heavy Oil and Bitumen

The majority of Husky’s heavy oil assets are located in the Lloydminster region of Alberta and Saskatchewan, with lands consisting of approximately two million acres. The majority of Husky’s operations are 100 percent working interest. Husky’s operations are supported by a network of facilities and pipelines that transport heavy crude oil and bitumen from Husky’s field locations to the Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery, Lloydminster Upgrader and Husky’s other assets in the Integrated Corridor, providing Husky full integration.

Lloydminster Thermal Projects

Husky’s Lloydminster bitumen production consists of eleven thermal plants located in the Lloydminster region of Saskatchewan: Bolney/Celtic, Dee Valley, Edam East, Edam West, Paradise Hill, Pikes Peak South, Rush Lake 1 & 2, Sandall, Spruce Lake Central and Vawn. Each plant has a number of production pads and utilizes SAGD technology. Husky’s Lloydminster thermal production has been ramped up to full rates following a deliberate ramp down late in the first quarter of 2020 in response to market conditions. Production from Husky’s Lloydminster thermal projects averaged 81,000 barrels per day in 2020.

Husky has an inventory of thermal projects. These long-life developments are built with modular, repeatable designs and require low sustaining capital once brought online.

Tucker Thermal Project

Husky’s Tucker thermal project (the “Tucker Thermal Project”) is a SAGD oil sands project located 30 kilometers northwest of Cold Lake, Alberta. It commenced bitumen production at the end of 2006.

Bitumen production averaged 18,300 barrels per day in 2020.

A major plant turnaround was completed for the central processing facility and field in 2020.

Cold and Enhanced Oil Recovery (“EOR”)

Husky’s production from its Cold and EOR business consists of a combination of production technologies including, cold heavy oil productions with sand (“CHOPS”) and horizontal wells and EOR projects.

During 2020, Husky operated three CO2 injection EOR pilot projects and a CO2 capture and liquefaction plant at the Lloydminster Ethanol Plant. The liquefied CO2 is used in the ongoing EOR piloting program. Husky is also piloting a CO2 capture technology at its Pikes Peak South facility in Saskatchewan.

Production averaged 21,400 barrels per day of heavy crude oil, 1,400 barrels per day of medium crude oil and 11.2 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020.

Upgrading Operations

Husky owns and operates the Lloydminster Upgrader. The Lloydminster Upgrader is designed to process blended heavy crude oil feedstock, creating high quality, low-sulphur synthetic crude oil and ultra-low sulphur diesel and recovers diluent from the feedstock for return to, and reuse in, the field. Synthetic crude oil is used as refinery feedstock for the production of transportation fuels in Canada and the U.S.

The Lloydminster Upgrader’s current rated production capacity is 81,500 barrels per day of synthetic crude oil, diluent and ultra-low sulphur diesel.

Production at the Lloydminster Upgrader averaged 45,872 barrels per day of synthetic crude oil, 11,926 barrels per day of diluent and 6,043 barrels per day of ultra-low sulphur diesel in 2020. In addition, as by-products of its upgrading operations, the Lloydminster Upgrader produced approximately 297 long ton per day of sulphur and 774 long ton per day of petroleum coke during 2020. These products are sold in Canadian and international markets.

Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery

The Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery processes heavy crude oil and bitumen into asphalt products used in road construction and maintenance. The refinery has a throughput capacity of 30,000 barrels per day of heavy crude oil and bitumen. The refinery also produces straight run gasoline, bulk distillates and industrial products. The straight run gasoline stream

12

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


is removed and re-circulated into HMLPs pipeline network as pipeline diluent. The distillate stream is transferred to the Lloydminster Upgrader and treated for blending into the Husky Synthetic Blend (HSB) stream. Industrial products are a blend of medium and light distillate and gas oil streams, which are typically sold directly to customers as refinery feedstock, drilling and well-fracturing fluids, or used in asphalt cutbacks and emulsions.

Refinery throughput averaged 28,000 barrels per day of blended heavy crude oil and bitumen feedstock in 2020. Due to the seasonal demand for asphalt products, many asphalt refineries typically operate at full capacity only during the normal paving season in Canada and the northern U.S. Husky has implemented various strategies to increase refinery throughput during the other months of the year that are outside of the normal paving season, such as increasing storage capacity and developing U.S. markets for asphalt products. This allows the Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery to run at or near full capacity throughout the year.

Asphalt Distribution Network

In addition to sales directly from the Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery, Husky, through its asphalt division, has an asphalt distribution network which consists of seven asphalt terminals located at: Kamloops, British Columbia; Edmonton and Lethbridge, Alberta; Yorkton, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Rhinelander, Wisconsin; and Crookston, Minnesota and an emulsion plant located at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Husky also markets asphalt from independently operated terminals in the states of Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio.

The asphalt terminals in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and Crookston, Minnesota and the independently operated terminals in the states of Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio are part of Husky’s U.S. Refining business segment.

Ethanol Plants

Husky’s ethanol plant in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan has an annual nameplate capacity of 130 million liters and its Minnedosa, Manitoba ethanol plant has an annual nameplate capacity of 130 million liters. Combined ethanol production averaged 733,000 liters per day in 2020.

During 2012, the Lloydminster plant commissioned a CO2 capture facility. The plant is currently capturing CO2 for use in Husky’s non-thermal EOR projects and ethanol produced at the plant has a low carbon intensity designation.

Husky Midstream Limited Partnership

HMLP was created in July 2016 with the sale of selected pipeline gathering systems in Alberta and Saskatchewan and the Lloydminster and Hardisty terminals. CKI Infrastructure Holdings Limited owns 16.25 percent, Power Assets Holdings Limited owns 48.75 percent and Husky owns 35 percent of HMLP and Husky is the operator. HMLP has approximately 2,200 kilometers of pipeline in the Lloydminster region, 5.9 million barrels of storage capacity at Hardisty and Lloydminster and other ancillary assets.

Husky’s Lloydminster terminal, with a total storage capacity of 1.0 million barrels, serves as a hub for the gathering systems. The pipeline systems transport blended heavy crude oil to Lloydminster, accessing markets through the Lloydminster Upgrader and Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery. Blended heavy crude oil and bitumen from the field and synthetic crude oil from the upgrading operations are transported south to Hardisty, Alberta to a connection with the major export trunk pipelines. Husky’s Hardisty terminal, with a total storage capacity of 4.9 million barrels, acts as the exclusive blending hub for WCS. HMLP has diversified its operations with its Ansell Corser gas processing plant in west-central Alberta, with 120 million cubic feet per day of processing capacity.

Oil Sands

Sunrise Energy Project

On March 31, 2008, Husky and BP completed a transaction that created integrated North American oil sands and refining businesses. The businesses are comprised of a 50/50 partnership to develop the Sunrise Energy Project, operated by Husky, and a 50/50 limited liability company for the BP-Husky Toledo Refinery, operated by BP Products North America Inc.

The Sunrise Energy Project is a SAGD oil sands project located in the Athabasca region of northern Alberta. Bitumen production averaged approximately 44,800 barrels per day (22,400 barrels per day Husky working interest) in 2020.

Tucker Thermal Project

The Tucker Thermal Project is a SAGD oil sands project reported within the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Value Chain. See “Lloydminster Heavy Oil Value Chain - Thermal and Non-Thermal Developments” for more information.

Western Canada Production

Northern Operations

Husky’s Northern Operations are located primarily in northwest Alberta. Production in 2020 consisted of approximately 1,176 barrels per day of light crude oil, 5,208 barrels per day of NGLs and 148.2 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas reflecting heavily weighted conventional natural gas production of approximately 79 percent. Primary areas of operations include Edson and Grande Prairie, where operations are centered on liquids-rich gas resource production.

Edson operations are located primarily in west-central Alberta and consist of the Ansell and Galloway areas. The Ansell natural gas resource play is located in the deep basin Cretaceous formations. Husky holds an average 95 percent working interest in approximately 177 net sections of contiguous lands. Production from the Ansell and Galloway areas has doubled since 2012 and averaged 1,420 barrels per day of NGL and 100.1 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020.

Grande Prairie operations are located primarily in northwest Alberta and consist primarily of the

13

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Wembley, Kakwa, and Wapiti areas. Production from Grande Prairie averaged 1,170 barrels per day of light crude oil, 3,794 barrels per day of NGLs and 48.1 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020. The Kakwa Spirit River liquids-rich natural gas resource play averaged 36 barrels per day of light crude oil, 1,861 barrels per day of NGLs and 27.8 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020. Wapiti averaged 976 barrels per day of NGLs and 3.8 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020.

Southern Operations

Husky’s Southern Operations are primarily located in central and southern Alberta. As at December 31, 2020, Husky operated three natural gas facilities with approximately 600 active wells throughout the area. Production from Southern Operations averaged 265 barrels per day of light crude oil, 1,500 barrels per day of NGLs and 23.1 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020.

Rainbow Lake Operations

Rainbow Lake, located approximately 900 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, Alberta, is the site of Husky’s largest light crude oil production operation in Western Canada. Production from the Rainbow Lake assets averaged 4,286 barrels per day of light crude oil, 3,500 barrels per day of NGL and 78.7 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas in 2020.

Husky holds a 50 percent interest in a 90 megawatt natural gas fired cogeneration facility adjacent to its Rainbow Lake processing plant.

Canadian Refined Products

Retail and Commercial Network

As of December 31, 2020, Husky’s retail and commercial network included 546 independently operated Husky and Esso-branded petroleum product outlets. Husky’s retail and commercial operating model is balanced by corporate-owned/dealer-operated and branded dealer-owned-and-operated sites. The network consists of a variety of full- and self-serve retail stations, travel centres and cardlocks serving urban and rural markets across the country, while Husky’s bulk distributors offer direct sales to commercial and agricultural markets in the Prairie provinces.

U.S. Refining

Lima Refinery

The Lima Refinery has a crude oil throughput capacity of up to 175,000 barrels per day. The Lima Refinery processes both light sweet crude oil and heavy crude oil feedstock sourced from the U.S. and Canada, which includes Canadian synthetic crude oil, including HSB produced by the Lloydminster Upgrader. The Lima Refinery produces low-sulphur gasoline, gasoline blend stocks, ultra-low sulphur diesel, jet fuel, petrochemical feedstock and other by-products. The feedstocks are received via the Mid-Valley and Marathon pipelines, and the refined products are transported via the Buckeye, Inland and Energy Transfer Partners pipeline systems and by rail car to

primary markets in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and southern Michigan.

During 2020, total throughput at the Lima Refinery averaged 140,000 barrels per day. Production consisted of an average of 68,000 barrels per day of gasoline, 53,000 barrels per day of total distillates and 19,000 barrels per day of other products in 2020.

The refinery is designed to allow for the processing of up to 40,000 barrels per day of heavy crude oil from Western Canada and the ability to swing between light and heavy crude oil feedstock.

BP-Husky Toledo Refinery

Husky’s BP-Husky Toledo Refinery has a nameplate capacity of 160,000 barrels per day. Products from the refinery include low-sulphur gasoline, ultra-low sulphur diesel, aviation fuels and by-products.

Husky’s share of total throughput averaged 65,400 barrels per day in 2020, with Husky’s share of sales averaging 38,900 barrels per day of gasoline, 20,100 barrels per day of distillates and 9,600 barrels per day of other fuel and feedstock.

Superior Refinery

On November 8, 2017, Husky completed the acquisition of the Superior Refinery, which has a permitted throughput capacity of 50,000 barrels per day and an operating capacity of 49,000 barrels per day on its crude slate at the time of acquisition. The refinery produces motor fuel products and asphalt from light and heavy crude oil originating from North Dakota and Western Canada.

The refinery also has associated infrastructure including five storage and distribution terminals that are strategically located throughout the northern area of the U.S. These terminals include: the Superior products terminal; the Duluth Terminal in Duluth, Minnesota, which has a storage capacity of 200,000 barrels; the Duluth Marine Terminal in Duluth, Minnesota which has a storage capacity of 14,000 barrels; the Rhinelander Terminal in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, which has a storage capacity of 166,000 barrels; and the Crookston Terminal in Crookston, Minnesota, which has a storage capacity of 156,000 barrels.

On April 26, 2018, the Superior Refinery experienced an incident while preparing for a major turnaround and was taken out of operation. During 2019, demolition, site preparation work and permitting were completed, and the rebuild work commenced. The rebuild is ongoing and Cenovus anticipates a substantial portion of the investment will be recovered from property damage insurance.

OFFSHORE

Asia Pacific

China

Liwan Gas Project

The Liwan Gas Project includes the natural gas discoveries at the Liwan 3-1, Liuhua 34-2 and Liuhua 29-1 fields within the Contract Area 29/26

14

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


exploration block located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin of the South China Sea, approximately 300 kilometers southeast of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Husky has a 49 percent working interest in the Liwan 3-1 and Liuhua 34-2 fields and a 75 percent working interest in the Liuhua 29-1 field, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Limited or its subsidiaries (“CNOOC”) has 51 percent and 25 percent working interests, respectively.

Construction work was completed in the third quarter of 2020 at Liuhua 29-1, the third deepwater gas field of the Liwan Gas Project. First gas production from the Liuhua 29-1 development started in November 2020 and sales were initiated that same month. This seven-well subsea development is fully installed and utilizes the existing Liwan Gas Gathering system and the facilities located on the central platform and Gaolan Onshore Gas Plant. The buyer began taking 40 million cubic feet per day on November 4, 2020.

Total gas sales from Liwan 3-1, Liuhua 34-2 and Liuhua 29-1 averaged 366 million cubic feet per day, 34 million cubic feet per day and 6 million cubic feet per day, respectively in 2020. Husky’s working interest share of production from the three fields was 201 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas and 8,600 barrels per day of NGL in 2020.

Block 15/33

Husky executed a production sharing contract (“PSC”) in December 2015 for an exploration block offshore China. Block 15/33 is located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea, about 140 kilometers southeast of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and covers an area of 155 square kilometers in water depths of approximately 80 to 100 meters. Husky is the operator of the block during the exploration phase, with a working interest of 100 percent. In the event of a commercial discovery, its partner CNOOC may assume a working interest of up to 51 percent during the development and production phase by paying its proportional share of all development costs. Under the PSC, the corresponding CNOOC share of exploration costs is to be recovered from production allocated to Husky.

In the third quarter of 2020, an agreement was signed between Husky and CNOOC to extend the end of the second phase of exploration period of the petroleum contract to December 31, 2021.

Block 16/25

Husky executed a PSC in April 2017 for an exploration block offshore China. Block 16/25 is located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea, about 150 kilometers southeast of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and approximately 72 kilometers northeast of Block 15/33. The block covers an area of 44 square kilometers in water depths of approximately 85 to 100 meters.

During 2020, an amendment agreement was signed between Husky and CNOOC under which the first phase of the exploration period was extended to April 30, 2022, with the remaining obligatory

exploration well to be completed in the area to be agreed upon by the parties. The initial contract area under the Block 16/25 petroleum contract was relinquished pursuant to the terms of the amendment agreement.

Blocks 22/11 and 23/07

Husky and CNOOC signed two PSCs for Blocks 22/11 and 23/07 in the Beibu Gulf area of the South China Sea in the first half of 2018. Husky is the operator of both blocks with a working interest of 100 percent during the exploration phase. In the event of a commercial discovery, its partner CNOOC may assume a participating partnership interest of up to 51 percent in either or both blocks for the development and production phases. Husky entered into the two-year exploration phase II of the PSC for Block 23/07 and committed to drill one exploration well before November 30, 2021. Block 22/11 was relinquished during 2020.

Taiwan

In December 2012, Husky signed a joint venture agreement with CPC Corporation, the Taiwan national oil and gas company. Husky and CPC Corporation have rights to an exploration block in the South China Sea covering approximately 7,700 square kilometers located southwest of the island of Taiwan. Husky holds a 75 percent working interest during exploration, while CPC Corporation holds the remaining 25 percent and has the right to participate in any development programs up to a 50 percent interest.

Indonesia

Madura Strait

Husky has a 40 percent interest in the joint venture that holds the Madura Strait PSC encompassing approximately 622,000 acres (2,516 square kilometers) in the Madura Strait area, located offshore East Java, Indonesia. Husky’s two partners in the incorporated joint venture are CNOOC, which is the contracted operator and has a 40 percent working interest, and Samudra Energy Ltd., which holds the remaining 20 percent interest through its affiliate, SMS Development Ltd. The Madura Strait includes the operating BD field and future developments at the MDA, MBH, MDK and MAC fields.

Total BD field sales averaged 86 million cubic feet per day of gas and 6,000 barrels per day of associated liquids in 2020. Husky’s working interest share of production was 34 million cubic feet per day of conventional natural gas and 2,400 barrels per day of NGLs in 2020.

Atlantic

Husky’s Atlantic exploration and development program is focused in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin and the Flemish Pass offshore Newfoundland and Labrador (“NL”). The Jeanne d’Arc Basin contains the Hibernia, Terra Nova and Hebron fields, as well as the White Rose field and satellite extensions, including North Amethyst, West White Rose and South White Rose. In the Flemish Pass Basin, Husky holds a 35 percent non-operated working interest in each of the Bay

15

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


du Nord, Bay de Verde, Baccalieu, Harpoon and Mizzen discoveries. Husky is the operator of the White Rose field and satellite extensions and holds an ownership interest in the Terra Nova field, as well as a number of smaller undeveloped fields. Husky also holds significant exploration acreage offshore NL.

The White Rose field is located 354 kilometers off the coast of NL and is approximately 48 kilometers east of the Hibernia field on the eastern flank of the Jeanne d’Arc Basin. Husky is the operator of the main White Rose field and satellite tiebacks, including the North Amethyst, West White Rose and South White Rose extensions. Husky has a 72.5 percent working interest in the main field and a 68.875 percent working interest in the satellite extensions. To date, production has been facilitated via subsea tie-ins with wells drilled independently through drill centres and connected via flowlines to the SeaRose floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Husky’s share of light crude oil production from the White Rose field and satellite extensions was 17,600 barrels per day (Husky working interest) during 2020.

In May 2017, Husky and its co-venturers announced plans to proceed with full field development at West White Rose using a fixed drilling platform. Major construction was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation. In October 2020, Husky announced the continued suspension of construction on the Concrete Gravity Structure in Argentia, NL.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS FOLLOWING THE HUSKY ARRANGEMENT

Management is in the process of finalizing the determination of the operating and reporting segments for the Corporation following the Husky Arrangement. It is anticipated that the Corporation’s business will be conducted predominately through an upstream and downstream segment. Management continues to evaluate how the segments may be presented and will make a final determination during the first quarter of 2021.

The upstream business is anticipated to be reported as follows:

Oil Sands, includes the development and production of heavy oil and bitumen in northeast Alberta and Saskatchewan. Cenovus’s oil sands assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Sunrise and Tucker oil sands projects, as well as Lloydminster Thermal and Cold and Enhanced Oil Recovery assets.

Conventional, includes the operations from conventional oil and natural gas production, including processing operations in the Deep Basin and other parts of Western Canada.

Offshore, includes the offshore operations, exploration and development activities in the Asia Pacific region and Atlantic Canada region.

The downstream business is anticipated to be reported as follows:

Canadian Manufacturing, includes Cenovus’s owned and operated upgrader and asphalt refinery in Lloydminster, the owned and operated crude-by-rail terminal and two ethanol plants.

Retail, includes the Canadian retail, commercial and wholesale channels.

U.S. Manufacturing, includes the U.S. operations of wholly-owned refineries in Lima and Superior, the jointly owned Wood River and Borger refineries with operator Phillips 66 and the jointly owned Toledo refinery with BP Products North America Inc. as operator.

COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS

All aspects of the energy industry are highly competitive. For further information on the competitive conditions affecting Cenovus, refer to the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors – Operational Risk” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

All phases of crude oil, natural gas and refining operations are subject to environmental regulation pursuant to a variety of federal, provincial, territorial, state, municipal and local laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which Cenovus operates, as well as international conventions (collectively, the “environmental regulations”). For further information on the environmental regulations affecting Cenovus, refer to the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors – Environmental Risk” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT & ETHICS

Cenovus has established policies and standards relating to the conduct of business in a safe, healthy, ethical, legal and environmentally, socially and fiscally responsible manner. Cenovus’s commitment in these areas is reflected in the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics (the “Code”). The Code applies to the Corporation’s directors, officers and all employees, as well as contractors and suppliers who conduct activities for, or on behalf of, Cenovus. Individuals subject to the Code are accountable for applying it to their own conduct and work. Each employee, officer and director is also asked to regularly review the Code to confirm they understand their individual responsibilities and that they conform to the requirements of the Code.

The Code addresses the identification and management of ethical situations and provides guidance in making ethical business decisions and reporting violations of the Code. The Code provides a message from the President & Chief Executive Officer and addresses a number of matters including: (a) Cenovus’s values and reputation; (b) responsible information use; (c) acting with integrity;

16

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


(d) compliance with laws and regulations; and (e) reporting potential violations.

Sustainability Policy

Cenovus’s Sustainability Policy addresses business conduct to help ensure the Corporation’s activities are undertaken in a responsible, transparent and respectful manner and in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and industry standards in the jurisdictions in which Cenovus operates. The Sustainability Policy specifically references the following matters: (a) leadership and governance; (b) people; (c) environment; (d) stakeholder engagement; (e) Indigenous engagement; and (f) community involvement and investment.

With respect to the environment specifically, the Sustainability Policy provides that Cenovus recognizes the importance of: integrating environmental considerations into Cenovus’s business plans, spending decisions, performance management, project development, operations, communications and stakeholder relations; tracking and reporting on a broad range of environmental metrics; and committing to limit Cenovus’s impact on climate, air, land and water by investing in technology, continuously improving operating practices and collaborating externally to find innovative solutions to minimize environmental impact and maximize business value.

With respect to social aspects, the Sustainability Policy provides that Cenovus recognizes the importance of: conducting its business with respect and care for the people and communities affected by

its activities, noting the Corporation’s commitment to health and safety and support for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; engaging stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, in a manner based on honesty, trust and respect; and developing and maintaining positive relationships with the communities within which Cenovus operates by, among other means, providing opportunities that help neighbouring communities share in the benefits that come from responsibly developing oil and natural gas resources, and striving to create a positive impact for both the community and Cenovus’s business through community investment programs.

In addition to the Code and Sustainability Policy, Cenovus has established other policies and practices that in some instances relate to environmental and or social aspects of Cenovus’s business. Stakeholders, employees and contractors are encouraged to report any business conduct concerns, including violations of applicable laws or any Cenovus policy, through the Corporation’s anonymous Integrity Helpline. Employees and contractors may also report any such concerns to their supervisor, a human resources business partner, or a member of the Investigations Committee.

The aforementioned policies are accessible on the Corporation’s website at cenovus.com, as is Cenovus’s Environmental, Social & Governance Report (“ESG Report”). The ESG Report is published annually to detail management’s efforts and performance across environment, social and governance topics that are important to its stakeholders.

 

 

EMPLOYEES

The following table summarizes Cenovus’s full-time equivalent (“FTE”) employees as at December 31, 2020:

 

FTE Employees

Upstream

1,415

Downstream

109

Corporate

889

Total

2,413

 

Cenovus also engages contractors and service providers. As of December 31, 2020, Husky had 4,598 FTE employees. Refer to the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF, for further information on employee and other workforce related risks affecting Cenovus.

RISK FACTORS

A discussion of risk factors can be found in the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF.

RESERVES DATA AND OTHER OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

 

As a Canadian issuer, Cenovus is subject to the reporting requirements of Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the reporting of the Corporation’s reserves in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (“NI 51‑101”).

As at December 31, 2020, the Corporation’s reserves were located in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Cenovus retained two independent qualified reserves evaluators (“IQREs”), McDaniel & Associates

Consultants Ltd. (“McDaniel”) and GLJ Ltd. (“GLJ”), to evaluate and prepare reports on 100 percent of its bitumen, heavy crude oil, light crude oil and medium crude oil combined (“light and medium oil”), NGLs, conventional natural gas and shale gas proved and probable reserves. McDaniel evaluated approximately 96 percent of Cenovus’s proved reserves, all located in Alberta, and GLJ evaluated approximately four percent of the Corporation’s proved reserves, located in Alberta and British Columbia.

17

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


The Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee (SERR Committee), composed entirely of independent directors, reviews, among other things, the qualifications and appointment of the IQREs, the procedures relating to the disclosure of information with respect to oil and gas activities and the procedures for providing information to the IQREs. The SERR Committee meets independently with the management of Cenovus and each IQRE to determine whether any restrictions affect the ability of the IQREs to report on the reserves data without reservation. In addition, the SERR Committee reviews the reserves data and the report of the IQREs and provides a recommendation regarding approval of the reserves disclosure to the Board.

Classifications of reserves as proved or probable are only attempts to define the degree of certainty associated with the estimates. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of petroleum reserves. It should not be assumed that the estimates of future net revenues presented in the tables below represent the fair market value of the reserves. There is no assurance that the forecast prices and costs assumptions will be attained and variances could be material. Readers should review the definitions and information contained in “Additional Notes to Reserves Data Tables”, “Definitions” and “Pricing Assumptions” in

conjunction with the reserves disclosure. The reserves estimates provided herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Actual reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates disclosed. See the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF, for additional information.

Cenovus’s reserves data and other oil and gas information contained in this AIF is dated February 8, 2021, with an effective date of December 31, 2020. McDaniel’s preparation date of the information is January 19, 2021 and GLJ’s preparation date is January 6, 2021. For certain reserves data, additional disclosure is provided to show the anticipated effect of the Husky Arrangement – see “Expected Changes to Reserves - Husky Arrangement”. For certain categories of “Other Oil and Gas Information” additional disclosure is provided to show the anticipated effect of the Husky Arrangement, which disclosure is identified as including information from Husky. Additional information concerning Husky and its reserves data and other oil and gas information as of December 31, 2020 may be found in the Husky AIF and the Husky MD&A, each of which is filed and available on SEDAR under Husky’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

 

Disclosure of Reserves Data

The reserves data presented summarizes the Corporation’s bitumen, heavy crude oil, light and medium oil, NGLs, conventional natural gas, shale gas and total reserves and the net present values (“NPV”) and future net revenue (“FNR”) for these reserves. The reserves data uses forecast prices and costs prior to provision for interest, G&A expenses or the impact of any hedging activities. Estimates of FNR have been presented on a before and after income tax basis. For the purposes of this section and the section entitled “Expected Changes to Reserves – Husky Arrangement”, references to “Company” are to Cenovus Energy Inc.

Summary of Company Interest Oil and Gas Reserves as at December 31, 2020

(Forecast prices and costs)

 

 

Before Royalties(1)

Bitumen

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

765

7

40

790

943

Developed Non-Producing

199

-

1

18

203

Undeveloped

3,848

-

9

157

3,884

Proved Reserves

4,812

7

50

965

5,030

Probable Reserves

1,520

6

31

601

1,656

Proved plus Probable Reserves

6,332

13

81

1,566

6,686

 

 

 

After Royalties(3)

Bitumen(4)

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

604

6

33

745

768

Developed Non-Producing

156

-

1

17

160

Undeveloped

2,999

-

8

149

3,032

Proved Reserves

3,759

6

42

911

3,960

Probable Reserves

1,115

5

27

561

1,240

Proved plus Probable Reserves

4,874

11

69

1,472

5,200

 

(1)

Before royalties excludes royalty interest reserves.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material representing less than 1% of total conventional natural gas on a proved plus probable basis.

(3)

Includes royalty interest reserves.

(4)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material representing less than 1% of total bitumen on a proved plus probable basis.

18

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Summary of Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as at December 31, 2020

(Forecast prices and costs)

 

Discounted at %/year ($ millions)

 

Unit Value

Discounted at

10%(1)

Before Income Taxes

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

 

$/BOE

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

11,486

12,182

10,814

9,517

8,464

 

14.09

Developed Non-Producing

4,215

3,155

2,440

1,938

1,572

 

15.30

Undeveloped

83,708

30,790

14,080

7,530

4,478

 

4.64

Proved Reserves

99,409

46,127

27,334

18,985

14,514

 

6.90

Probable Reserves

46,804

11,424

4,576

2,621

1,807

 

3.69

Proved plus Probable Reserves

146,213

57,551

31,910

21,606

16,321

 

6.14

 

 

Discounted at %/year ($ millions)

After Income Taxes(2)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

9,143

10,201

9,229

8,196

7,333

Developed Non-Producing

3,267

2,437

1,880

1,490

1,208

Undeveloped

64,765

23,546

10,578

5,550

3,230

Proved Reserves

77,175

36,184

21,687

15,236

11,771

Probable Reserves

36,095

8,724

3,488

1,999

1,377

Proved plus Probable Reserves

113,270

44,908

25,175

17,235

13,148

 

(1)

Unit values have been calculated using Company Interest After Royalties reserves.

(2)

Values are calculated by considering existing tax pools and tax circumstances for Cenovus and its subsidiaries in the consolidated evaluation of Cenovus’s oil and gas properties and taking into account current federal and provincial tax regulations. Values do not represent an estimate of the value at the business entity level, which may be significantly different. For information at the business entity level, please see Cenovus’s Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Total Future Net Revenue (undiscounted) as at December 31, 2020

(Forecast prices and costs ‑ $ millions)

Reserves

Category

Revenue

Royalties

Operating

Costs

Development

Costs

Total

Abandonment

and

Reclamation

Costs(1)

Future

Net

Revenue

Before

Future

Income

Taxes

Future

Income

Taxes

Future

Net

Revenue

After

Future

Income

Taxes

Proved

Reserves

258,732

57,269

62,975

32,576

6,503

99,409

22,234

77,175

Proved

plus

Probable Reserves

372,906

86,837

84,905

47,597

7,354

146,213

32,943

113,270

 

(1)

Total abandonment and reclamation costs included for all wells, facilities and other liabilities, known and existing, and to be incurred as a result of future development activity.

Future Net Revenue by Product Type as at December 31, 2020

(Forecast prices and costs)

Reserves Category

Product Types

Future Net Revenue

Before Income Taxes

(discounted at 10%/year)

($ millions)

Unit Value

Discounted at

10%/year(1)

($/BOE)

Proved Reserves

Bitumen(2)

26,834

7.14

 

Light and Medium Oil(3)

60

4.61

 

Conventional Natural Gas(4)

440

2.34

 

Total

27,334

6.90

Proved plus

Bitumen(2)

30,863

6.33

Probable Reserves

Light and Medium Oil(3)

124

4.87

 

Conventional Natural Gas(4)

923

3.07

 

Total

31,910

6.14

 

(1)

Unit values have been calculated using Company Interest After Royalties reserves.

(2)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(3)

Includes solution gas and other byproducts.

(4)

Includes shale gas and other byproducts, but excludes solution gas.

 

 

19

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Additional Notes to Reserves Data Tables

The estimates of FNR presented do not represent fair market value.

FNR from reserves excludes cash flows related to Cenovus’s risk management activities.

For disclosure purposes, Cenovus has included heavy crude oil with bitumen and shale gas with conventional natural gas, as the reserves of heavy crude oil and shale gas are not material.

In accordance with NI 51‑101, NPV and FNR amounts presented include all of Cenovus’s existing estimated abandonment and reclamation costs, plus all forecast estimates of abandonment and reclamation costs attributable to future development activity associated with the reserves.

Barrels of oil equivalent estimates and tables may not sum due to rounding.

Definitions

1.

After Royalties means volumes after deduction of royalties and includes royalty interest reserves.

2.

Before Royalties means volumes before deduction of royalties and excludes royalty interest reserves.

3.

Company Interest means, in relation to production, reserves, resources and property, the interest (operating or non‑operating) held by Cenovus.

4.

Gross means: (a) in relation to wells, the total number of wells in which Cenovus has an interest; and (b) in relation to properties, the total acreage of properties in which Cenovus has an interest.

5.

Net means: (a) in relation to wells, the number of wells obtained by aggregating Cenovus’s working interest in each of its gross wells; and (b) in relation to Cenovus’s interest in a property, the total acreage in which it has an interest multiplied by its working interest.

6.

Proved plus probable reserves life index means Company Interest Before Royalties proved plus probable reserves divided by Company Interest Before Royalties production.

7.

Reserves are estimated remaining quantities of crude oil and natural gas and related substances anticipated to be recoverable from known accumulations, as of a given date, based on analysis of drilling, geological, geophysical and

engineering data, the use of established technology and specified economic conditions, which are generally accepted as being reasonable, and are disclosed later in this AIF.

Reserves are classified according to the degree of certainty associated with the estimates:

 

Proved reserves are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated proved reserves.

 

Probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated proved plus probable reserves.

Each of the reserves categories may be divided into developed and undeveloped categories:

 

Developed reserves are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from existing wells and installed facilities or, if facilities have not been installed, that would involve a low expenditure (e.g. when compared to the cost of drilling a well) to put the reserves on production. The developed category may be subdivided as follows:

 

o

Developed producing reserves are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from completion intervals open at the time of the estimate. These reserves may be currently producing or, if shut-in, they must have previously been on production, and the date of resumption of production must be known with reasonable certainty.

 

o

Developed non-producing reserves are those reserves that either have not been on production, or have previously been on production, but are shut-in, and the date of resumption of production is unknown.

 

Undeveloped reserves are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (e.g. when compared to the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the reserves classification (proved, probable) to which they are assigned.

 

 

20

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Pricing Assumptions

The forecast of prices, inflation and exchange rate provided in the table below is computed using the average of forecasts (“IQRE Average Forecast”) by McDaniel, GLJ and Sproule Associates Limited (“Sproule”) and is used to estimate FNR associated with the reserves disclosed herein. The IQRE Average Forecast is dated January 1, 2021. The inflation forecast was applied uniformly to prices beyond the forecast interval, and to all future costs. For historical prices realized during 2020, see “Production History and Per-Unit Results” in this AIF.

 

Oil and Liquids

 

Natural Gas

 

 

Year

WTI

Cushing

Oklahoma

(US$/bbl)

Edmonton

Par Price

40 API

(C$/bbl)

Western

Canadian

Select

(C$/bbl)

Edmonton

C5+

(C$/bbl)

 

AECO

Gas

Price

(C$/MMBtu)

 

Inflation

Rate

(%/year)

Exchange

Rate

(US$/C$)

2021

47.17

55.76

44.63

59.24

 

2.78

 

0.0

0.7683

2022

50.17

59.89

48.18

63.19

 

2.70

 

1.3

0.7650

2023

53.17

63.48

52.10

67.34

 

2.61

 

2.0

0.7633

2024

54.97

65.76

54.10

69.77

 

2.65

 

2.0

0.7633

2025

56.07

67.13

55.19

71.18

 

2.70

 

2.0

0.7633

2026

57.19

68.53

56.29

72.61

 

2.76

 

2.0

0.7633

2027

58.34

69.95

57.42

74.07

 

2.81

 

2.0

0.7633

2028

59.50

71.40

58.57

75.56

 

2.86

 

2.0

0.7633

2029

60.69

72.88

59.74

77.08

 

2.92

 

2.0

0.7633

2030

61.91

74.34

60.93

78.62

 

2.98

 

2.0

0.7633

2031

63.15

75.83

62.15

80.19

 

3.04

 

2.0

0.7633

2032+

+2%/yr

+2%/yr

+2%/yr

+2%/yr

 

+2%/yr

 

2.0

0.7633

Future Development Costs

The following table outlines undiscounted future development costs deducted in the estimation of FNR for the years indicated:

Reserves Category

($ millions)

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Remainder

Total

Proved Reserves

340

457

886

821

630

29,442

32,576

Proved plus Probable Reserves

378

501

890

826

652

44,350

47,597

 

Cenovus believes that existing cash balances, internally generated cash flows, existing credit facilities, management of its asset portfolio and access to capital markets will be sufficient to fund the Corporation’s future development costs. However, there can be no guarantee that the necessary funds will be available or that Cenovus will allocate funding to develop all of its reserves. Failure to develop those reserves would have a negative impact on the Corporation’s FNR.

The interest or other costs of external funding are not included in the reserves and FNR estimates and would reduce FNR depending upon the funding sources utilized. Cenovus does not believe that interest or other funding costs would make development of any property uneconomic.

21

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Reserves Reconciliation

The following tables provide a reconciliation of Company Interest Before Royalties reserves for bitumen, heavy crude oil, light and medium oil, NGLs, conventional natural gas and shale gas for the year ended December 31, 2020, presented using forecast prices and costs.

 

Proved

Bitumen(1)

(MMbbls)

Light and

Medium

Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural

Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

As at December 31, 2019

4,826

9

60

1,242

5,103

Extensions and Improved Recovery

4

-

1

10

6

Discoveries

-

-

-

-

-

Technical Revisions

131

-

(3)

(126)

108

Economic Factors

-

-

(2)

(37)

(9)

Acquisitions

-

-

1

18

3

Dispositions

(8)

-

-

-

(8)

Production(3)

(141)

(2)

(7)

(142)

(173)

As at December 31, 2020

4,812

7

50

965

5,030

 

 

Probable

Bitumen(1)

(MMbbls)

Light and

Medium

Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural

Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

As at December 31, 2019

1,594

8

37

783

1,768

Extensions and Improved Recovery

(4)

1

-

4

(2)

Discoveries

-

-

-

-

-

Technical Revisions

(50)

(2)

(4)

(155)

(83)

Economic Factors

-

(1)

(2)

(35)

(8)

Acquisitions

-

-

-

4

1

Dispositions

(20)

-

-

-

(20)

Production(3)

-

-

-

-

-

As at December 31, 2020

1,520

6

31

601

1,656

 

 

Proved plus Probable

Bitumen(1)

(MMbbls)

Light and

Medium

Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural

Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

As at December 31, 2019

6,420

17

97

2,025

6,871

Extensions and Improved Recovery

-

1

1

14

4

Discoveries

-

-

-

-

-

Technical Revisions

81

(2)

(7)

(281)

25

Economic Factors

-

(1)

(4)

(72)

(17)

Acquisitions

-

-

1

22

4

Dispositions

(28)

-

-

-

(28)

Production(3)

(141)

(2)

(7)

(142)

(173)

As at December 31, 2020

6,332

13

81

1,566

6,686

 

(1)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

(3)

Production used for the reserves reconciliation differs from publicly reported production. In accordance with NI 51‑101, Company Interest Before Royalties production used for the reserves reconciliation above includes Cenovus’s share of gas volumes provided to FCCL for steam generation, but does not include royalty interest production.

 

 

Bitumen proved and proved plus probable reserves decreased by 14 million barrels and 88 million barrels, respectively, as additions from improved performance in Oil Sands were more than offset by the disposition of the Marten Hills heavy oil assets and current year production;

Light and medium oil proved and proved plus probable reserves decreased by two million barrels and four million barrels, respectively, as minor additions were more than offset by technical revisions attributed to updates to the Conventional development plan, economic factors due to reduced product pricing, and current year production;

NGLs proved and proved plus probable reserves decreased by 10 million barrels and 16 million barrels, respectively, as minor additions and a minor acquisition were more than offset by reductions due to technical revisions attributed to updates to the Conventional development plan, economic factors due to reduced product pricing, and current year production; and

Conventional natural gas proved and proved plus probable reserves decreased by 277 billion cubic feet and 459 billion cubic feet, respectively, as additions attributed to Conventional development and minor acquisitions were more than offset by reductions due to technical revisions attributed to updates to the Conventional development plan, economic factors due to reduced product pricing, and current year production.

Undeveloped Reserves

Proved and probable undeveloped reserves have been estimated by the IQREs in accordance with procedures and standards contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook as amended from time to time (the “COGE Handbook”). In general, undeveloped reserves are scheduled to be produced within the next one to 50 years.

22

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


The undeveloped tables presented here reflect the product type groups reported above, specifically, bitumen includes heavy crude oil and conventional natural gas includes shale gas.

Company Interest Proved Undeveloped – Before Royalties

 

 

Bitumen(1)

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium

Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

 

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

2018

197

3,986

1

1

7

15

159

324

233

4,056

2019

37

3,827

1

2

10

30

208

43

3,873

2020

99

3,848

1

9

16

157

103

3,884

 

(1)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

 

 

Company Interest Probable Undeveloped – Before Royalties

 

 

Bitumen(1)

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium

Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas(2)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

 

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

First

Attributed

Total at

Year-End

2018

30

1,502

2

2

15

25

365

619

108

1,632

2019

7

1,474

3

5

5

21

87

433

29

1,571

2020

1,407

1

3

1

18

13

317

3

1,481

 

(1)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

 

 

Development of Proved and Probable Undeveloped Reserves

 

Bitumen

At the end of 2020, Cenovus had proved undeveloped bitumen reserves of 3,848 million barrels Before Royalties, or approximately 80 percent of the Corporation’s proved bitumen reserves. Of Cenovus’s 1,520 million barrels of probable bitumen reserves, 1,407 million barrels, or approximately 93 percent, are undeveloped. The evaluation of these reserves anticipates that the reserves will be recovered using SAGD.

Typical SAGD project development involves the initial installation of a steam generation facility, at a cost much greater than drilling a production/injection well pair, and then progressively drilling sufficient SAGD well pairs to fully utilize the available steam.

Bitumen reserves can be classified as proved when there is sufficient stratigraphic drilling to have demonstrated to a high degree of certainty the presence of the bitumen in commercially recoverable volumes. McDaniel’s standard for sufficient drilling in the McMurray formation is a minimum of eight stratigraphic wells per section with 3D seismic, or 16 stratigraphic wells per section with no seismic. Additionally, all requisite legal and regulatory approvals must have been obtained, operator funding approvals must be in place, and a reasonable development timetable must be established. Proved developed bitumen reserves are differentiated from proved undeveloped bitumen reserves by the presence of drilled production/injection well pairs at the reserves estimation effective date. Because a steam plant has a long life relative to well pairs, in the early stages of a SAGD project, only a small portion of proved reserves will be developed as the number of well pairs drilled will be limited by the available steam capacity.

Recognition of probable reserves requires sufficient drilling of stratigraphic wells to establish reservoir suitability for SAGD. McDaniel’s standard for probable reserves is a minimum of four stratigraphic wells per section. Reserves will be classified as probable if the number of wells drilled falls between the stratigraphic well requirements for proved reserves and for probable reserves, or if the reserves are located outside of an approved development plan area, but within an approved project area. If reserves lie outside the approved development area, approval to include those reserves in the development area must be obtained before development drilling of SAGD well pairs can commence.

Development of the proved and probable Foster Creek and Christina Lake undeveloped reserves will take place in an orderly manner as additional well pairs are drilled to utilize the available steam when existing well pairs reach the end of their steam injection phase. Development and capital spending on the proved and probable undeveloped reserves at Narrows Lake continues with the project currently scheduled to be on stream by 2026. The forecast production of Cenovus’s proved and proved plus probable bitumen reserves, extends approximately 46 years and 50 years, respectively. Production of the current proved developed portion is estimated to take approximately 21 years.

Light and Medium Oil, NGLs and Conventional Natural Gas

Cenovus’s Conventional Assets proved undeveloped and proved plus probable undeveloped reserves are approximately one percent and two percent of the Corporation’s proved and proved plus probable reserves, respectively. Cenovus plans to develop the Conventional proved and proved plus probable undeveloped reserves over the next five years and ten years, respectively.

 

23

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Significant Factors or Uncertainties Affecting Reserves Data

The evaluation of reserves is a continuous process that can be significantly impacted by a variety of internal and external influences. Revisions are often required resulting from changes in pricing, economic conditions, regulatory changes, and historical performance. While these factors can be considered and potentially anticipated, certain judgments and assumptions are always required. As new information becomes available, these areas are reviewed and revised accordingly. For a discussion of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Cenovus’s reserves data, see the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF. For a discussion of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Husky’s reserves data, see the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Husky MD&A.

Expected Changes to Reserves – Husky Arrangement

The pro forma reserves information presented in this AIF sets forth Cenovus’s anticipated gross reserves as at December 31, 2020 after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement as though the transaction had occurred on December 31, 2020. Cenovus has not constructed a consolidated reserves report of the combined assets of Cenovus and Husky, and has not engaged an independent reserves evaluator to produce such a report in accordance with NI 51-101.

Cenovus and Husky employed different methodologies to estimate their reserves information for the year ended December 31, 2020. Cenovus retained two IQREs, McDaniel and GLJ, to evaluate and prepare reports on 100 percent of its proved and probable reserves. All of Husky’s oil and gas reserves estimates were prepared by internal qualified reserves evaluators using a formalized process for determining, approving and booking reserves, and do not form part of Cenovus's reserves data as at December 31, 2020. For the purposes of Husky’s NI 51-101 reserves disclosure in the Husky AIF, Husky engaged Sproule to conduct a complete audit and review of 100 percent of Husky’s oil and gas reserves estimates. Sproule issued an audit opinion stating that Husky’s internally generated proved and probable reserves and net present values based on forecast and constant price assumptions are, in aggregate, reasonable, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted oil and gas engineering and evaluation practices as set out in the COGE Handbook. Cenovus's Board has not independently reviewed Husky’s process and procedures for determining, approving and booking Husky's reserves estimates and has relied on Sproule’s audit opinion as to the reasonableness of Husky’s reserves estimates as at December 31, 2020, and on Husky’s review and approval of such audit.

As a result, the actual reserves of Cenovus (after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement), if calculated as at December 31, 2020 by an independent reserves evaluator in accordance with NI 51-101, may differ from the reserves information presented in this AIF for a number of reasons, and such differences may be material. Additional information concerning Husky’s oil and natural gas properties and Husky’s operations and business as of December 31, 2020 may be found in the Husky AIF and the Husky MD&A, each of which is filed and available on SEDAR under Husky’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

Summary of Company Interest Oil and Gas Reserves as at December 31, 2020
(after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement)

(Forecast prices and costs)

 

Canada

Before Royalties(1)

Bitumen(2)

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas(3)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

920

27

65

1,352

1,238

Developed Non-Producing

214

2

3

38

224

Undeveloped

4,608

17

276

4,672

Proved Reserves

5,742

29

85

1,666

6,134

Probable Reserves

1,791

152

52

902

2,145

Proved plus Probable Reserves

7,533

181

137

2,568

8,279

 

(1)

Before royalties excludes royalty interest reserves.

(2)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(3)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

 

China

Before Royalties(1)

Bitumen

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

18

493

100

Developed Non-Producing

Undeveloped

Proved Reserves

18

493

100

Probable Reserves

1

63

12

Proved plus Probable Reserves

19

556

112

 

(1)

Before royalties excludes royalty interest reserves.

24

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Indonesia

Before Royalties(1)

Bitumen

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

4

129

26

Developed Non-Producing

Undeveloped

68

11

Proved Reserves

4

197

37

Probable Reserves

2

56

11

Proved plus Probable Reserves

6

253

48

 

(1)

Before royalties excludes royalty interest reserves.

 

Company Total

Before Royalties(1)

Bitumen(2)

(MMbbls)

Light and Medium Oil

(MMbbls)

NGLs

(MMbbls)

Conventional

Natural Gas(3)

(Bcf)

Total

(MMBOE)

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

920

27

87

1,974

1,364

Developed Non-Producing

214

2

3

38

224

Undeveloped

4,608

17

344

4,683

Proved Reserves

5,742

29

107

2,356

6,271

Probable Reserves

1,791

152

55

1,021

2,168

Proved plus Probable Reserves

7,533

181

162

3,377

8,439

(1)

Before royalties excludes royalty interest reserves.

(2)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(3)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

Summary of Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue as at December 31, 2020
(after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement)

(Forecast prices and costs)

 

Canada

Discounted at %/year ($ millions)

Before Income Taxes

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

8,309

12,620

11,915

10,783

9,756

Developed Non-Producing

4,023

3,041

2,362

1,880

1,528

Undeveloped

94,363

34,510

15,694

8,275

4,792

Proved Reserves

106,695

50,171

29,971

20,938

16,076

Probable Reserves

55,558

16,993

8,142

4,961

3,370

Proved plus Probable Reserves

162,253

67,164

38,113

25,899

19,446

 

China

Discounted at %/year ($ millions)

Before Income Taxes

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

5,049

4,225

3,635

3,196

2,860

Developed Non-Producing

Undeveloped

Proved Reserves

5,049

4,225

3,635

3,196

2,860

Probable Reserves

565

404

309

248

206

Proved plus Probable Reserves

5,614

4,629

3,944

3,444

3,066

 

Indonesia

Discounted at %/year ($ millions)

Before Income Taxes

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

435

372

324

287

257

Developed Non-Producing

Undeveloped

241

194

157

128

106

Proved Reserves

676

566

481

415

363

Probable Reserves

179

117

80

56

41

Proved plus Probable Reserves

855

683

561

471

404

 

Company Total

Discounted at %/year ($ millions)

Before Income Taxes

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Proved Reserves

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Producing

13,793

17,217

15,874

14,266

12,873

Developed Non-Producing

4,023

3,041

2,362

1,880

1,528

Undeveloped

94,604

34,704

15,851

8,403

4,898

Proved Reserves

112,420

54,962

34,087

24,549

19,299

Probable Reserves

56,302

17,514

8,531

5,265

3,617

Proved plus Probable Reserves

168,722

72,476

42,618

29,814

22,916

25

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Total Future Net Revenue (undiscounted) as at December 31, 2020
(after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement)

(Forecast prices and costs ‑ $ millions)

Canada

Reserves

Category

Revenue

Royalties

Operating

Costs

Development

Costs

Total

Abandonment

and

Reclamation

Costs(1)

Future

Net

Revenue

Before

Future

Income

Taxes

Proved

Reserves

310,192

62,070

87,376

41,556

12,495

106,695

Proved

plus

Probable Reserves

449,680

94,168

118,047

61,402

13,810

162,253

(1)

Total abandonment and reclamation costs included for all wells, facilities and other liabilities, known and existing, and to be incurred as a result of future development activity.

 

China

Reserves

Category

Revenue

Royalties

Operating

Costs

Development

Costs

Total

Abandonment

and

Reclamation

Costs(1)

 

 

Future

Net

Revenue

Before

Future

Income

Taxes

Proved

Reserves

6,953

376

1,368

160

5,049

Proved

plus

Probable Reserves

7,727

419

1,534

160

5,614

 

(1)

Total abandonment and reclamation costs included for all wells, facilities and other liabilities, known and existing, and to be incurred as a result of future development activity.

 

Indonesia

Reserves

Category

Revenue

Royalties

Operating

Costs

Development

Costs

Total

Abandonment

and

Reclamation

Costs(1)

 

 

Future

Net

Revenue

Before

Future

Income

Taxes

Proved

Reserves

2,342

719

883

36

28

676

Proved

plus

Probable Reserves

3,052

1,048

1,081

36

32

855

 

(1)

Total abandonment and reclamation costs included for all wells, facilities and other liabilities, known and existing, and to be incurred as a result of future development activity.

 

Company Total

Reserves

Category

Revenue

Royalties

Operating

Costs

Development

Costs

Total

Abandonment

and

Reclamation

Costs(1)

 

 

Future

Net

Revenue

Before

Future

Income

Taxes

Proved

Reserves

319,487

63,165

89,627

41,592

12,683

112,420

Proved

plus

Probable Reserves

460,459

95,635

120,662

61,438

14,002

168,722

 

(1)

Total abandonment and reclamation costs included for all wells, facilities and other liabilities, known and existing, and to be incurred as a result of future development activity.

26

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Pricing Assumptions (after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement)

Except as noted below, the forecast of prices, inflation and exchange rate provided in the table below is computed using the IQRE Average Forecast and is used to estimate FNR associated with the reserves after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement. The IQRE Average Forecast is dated January 1, 2021. The inflation forecast was applied uniformly to prices beyond the forecast interval, and to all future costs. China and Indonesia gas prices are derived from the gas sales agreements specific to each set of projects.

 

Oil and Liquids

 

Natural Gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

 

Year

WTI

Cushing

Oklahoma

(US$/bbl)

Edmonton

Par Price

40 API

(C$/bbl)

Western

Canadian

Select

(C$/bbl)

Edmonton

C5+

(C$/bbl)

 

AECO

Gas

Price

(C$/MMBtu)

China

Gas

Price(1)

(US$/Mcf)

Indonesia

Gas

Price(1)

(US$/Mcf)

 

Inflation

Rate

(%/year)

Exchange

Rate

(US$/C$)

2021

47.17

55.76

44.63

59.24

 

2.78

8.98

7.53

 

0.0

0.7683

2022

50.17

59.89

48.18

63.19

 

2.70

9.18

7.32

 

1.3

0.7650

2023

53.17

63.48

52.10

67.34

 

2.61

8.96

7.17

 

2.0

0.7633

2024

54.97

65.76

54.10

69.77

 

2.65

9.02

7.30

 

2.0

0.7633

2025

56.07

67.13

55.19

71.18

 

2.70

9.08

7.44

 

2.0

0.7633

2026

57.19

68.53

56.29

72.61

 

2.76

9.17

7.54

 

2.0

0.7633

2027

58.34

69.95

57.42

74.07

 

2.81

9.22

7.68

 

2.0

0.7633

2028

59.50

71.40

58.57

75.56

 

2.86

9.04

7.84

 

2.0

0.7633

2029

60.69

72.88

59.74

77.08

 

2.92

8.93

7.92

 

2.0

0.7633

2030

61.91

74.34

60.93

78.62

 

2.98

8.72

8.04

 

2.0

0.7633

2031

63.15

75.83

62.15

80.19

 

3.04

8.38

8.10

 

2.0

0.7633

2032+

+2%/yr

+2%/yr

+2%/yr

+2%/yr

 

+2%/yr

 

 

 

2.0

0.7633

 

(1)

China and Indonesia gas prices are derived from the gas sales agreements specific to each set of projects.

Future Development Costs (after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement)

The following tables outline undiscounted future development costs deducted in the estimation of FNR after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement for the years indicated:

Canada

Reserves Category

($ millions)

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Remainder

Total

Proved Reserves

612

807

1,321

1,186

1,090

36,540

41,556

Proved plus Probable Reserves

821

1,547

2,011

2,023

1,484

53,516

61,402

 

China

Reserves Category

($ millions)

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Remainder

Total

Proved Reserves

Proved plus Probable Reserves

 

Indonesia

Reserves Category

($ millions)

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Remainder

Total

Proved Reserves

13

23

36

Proved plus Probable Reserves

13

23

36

 

Company Total

Reserves Category

($ millions)

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Remainder

Total

Proved Reserves

625

830

1,321

1,186

1,090

36,540

41,592

Proved plus Probable Reserves

834

1,570

2,011

2,023

1,484

53,516

61,438

 

 

27

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Other Oil and Gas Information

Oil and Gas Properties and Wells

The following tables summarize Cenovus’s interests in producing and non-producing wells, as at December 31, 2020:

 

 

Oil

Gas

Total

Producing Wells

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Oil Sands(1)

731

731

232

214

963

945

Conventional(2)

608

361

3,954

2,856

4,562

3,217

Total

1,339

1,092

4,186

3,070

5,525

4,162

 

(1)

All producing Oil Sands wells are located in Alberta.

(2)

Includes 4,161 gross producing wells (2,889 net producing wells) located in Alberta; 401 gross producing wells (328 net producing wells) located in British Columbia.

 

 

Oil

Gas

Total

Non-Producing Wells(1)

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Oil Sands(2)

220

220

213

197

433

417

Conventional(3)

348

196

875

578

1,223

774

Total

568

416

1,088

775

1,656

1,191

 

(1)

Non-producing wells include wells which are capable of producing, but which are currently not producing. Non-producing wells do not include other types of wells such as stratigraphic test wells, service wells, or wells that have been abandoned.

(2)

All non-producing Oil Sands wells are located in Alberta.

(3)

Includes 1,152 gross non-producing wells (730 net non-producing wells) located in Alberta; 70 gross non-producing wells (43 net non-producing wells) located in British Columbia; one gross non-producing wells (one net non-producing wells) located in Saskatchewan.

As at December 31, 2020, Cenovus had no material properties with attributed reserves which are capable of producing, but which are not on production.

Exploration and Development Activity

The following tables summarize Cenovus’s gross participation and net interest in wells drilled in 2020(1):

 

Oil Sands

Conventional

Total

Wells Drilled

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

Oil

155

155

-

-

155

155

Gas

-

-

7

6

7

6

Dry & Abandoned

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total Canada

155

155

7

6

162

161

 

(1)

Oil Sands drilled no gross exploration wells (no net wells) in 2020. No exploration wells were drilled in Conventional in 2020.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, Oil Sands drilled 155 gross stratigraphic test wells (155 net wells). Conventional drilled no stratigraphic test wells.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, no service wells were drilled within Oil Sands and no service wells were drilled in Conventional.

SAGD well pairs are counted as a single oil producing well in the table above. During the year ended December 31, 2020, no well pairs were drilled.

For all types of wells except stratigraphic test wells, the calculation of the number of wells is based on the number of surface locations. For stratigraphic test wells, the calculation is based on the number of bottomhole locations.

Development activities were focused on sustaining bitumen production at Foster Creek and Christina Lake, and the production and de-risking resource potential of the Conventional properties.

 

Properties With No Attributed Reserves

Cenovus has approximately 5.7 million gross acres (4.6 million net acres) of properties in Canada to which no reserves have been specifically attributed. For lands in which Cenovus holds multiple leases under the same surface area, both gross and net areas have been counted for each lease.

Cenovus has rights to explore, develop, and exploit approximately 472,944 net acres that could potentially expire by December 31, 2021, which relate entirely to Crown and freehold land.

Properties with no attributed reserves include Crown lands where bitumen contingent and prospective resources have been identified and Crown lands where exploration activities to date have not identified potential reserves in commercial quantities. The Corporation regularly reviews the economic

viability of these unproved properties on the basis of product pricing, capital availability and level of related infrastructure development. From this process, some properties are selected for future development activity while others are retained as inactive, sold, swapped or relinquished back to the mineral rights owner.

Additional Information Concerning Abandonment and Reclamation Costs

The estimated total future abandonment and reclamation costs for existing wells, facilities, and infrastructure is based on management’s estimate of costs to remediate, reclaim and abandon wells and facilities having regard to Cenovus’s working interest and the estimated timing of the costs to be incurred in future periods. Cenovus has developed a process to calculate these estimates, which considers

28

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

applicable regulations, actual and anticipated costs, type and size of the well or facility and the geographic location.

Cenovus has estimated undiscounted and uninflated future abandonment and reclamation costs for its existing upstream assets of approximately $2,508 million (approximately $543 million, discounted at 10 percent) at December 31, 2020, of which the Corporation expects to pay $124 million in the next three financial years.

Cenovus believes that the Husky Arrangement will increase estimated undiscounted and uninflated future abandonment and reclamation costs for its existing Canadian onshore and offshore upstream assets by approximately $3,455 million (approximately $1,553 million discounted at 10 percent), of which the Corporation expects to pay between $400 million and $500 million in the next three financial years. In Asia Pacific, and in accordance with the provisions of the regulations of the People’s Republic of China, Husky had deposited funds into separate accounts restricted to the funding of future abandonment and reclamation costs. As at December 31, 2020, Husky has deposited funds of

$164 million for future abandonment and reclamation costs, which were classified as non-current liabilities.

Of the undiscounted future abandonment and reclamation costs to be incurred over the life of Cenovus’s proved reserves, approximately $6.5 billion ($12.7 billion after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement) has been deducted in estimating the FNR, which represents the Corporation’s total existing estimated abandonment and reclamation costs, plus all forecast estimates of abandonment and reclamation costs attributable to future development activity associated with the reserves.

Tax Horizon

In 2020, the Corporation was subject to relatively insignificant cash taxes. Based on projected future net earnings (after taking into account the Husky Arrangement), the Corporation expects to pay cash taxes of approximately $200 million in 2021. This estimate could vary significantly if underlying assumptions change with respect to commodity prices, capital spending levels and acquisition and disposition transactions.

 

 

Costs Incurred

($ millions)

2020

Acquisitions

 

Unproved

12

Proved

6

Total Acquisitions

18

Exploration Costs

46

Development Costs

459

Total Costs Incurred

523

Forward Contracts

Cenovus may use financial derivatives to manage its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange and interest rates. A description of such instruments is provided in the notes to the Corporation’s annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Production Estimates

The following table summarizes the 2021 estimated production of Company Interest Before Royalties reserves for all properties held on December 31, 2020 using forecast prices and costs, all of which will be produced in Canada. These estimates assume certain activities take place, such as the development of undeveloped reserves, and that there are no divestitures.

2021 Estimated Production

Forecast Prices and Costs

Proved

Proved plus

Probable

Bitumen (bbls/d)(1)

392,037

402,414

Light and Medium Oil (bbls/d)

3,428

3,923

NGLs (bbls/d)

17,972

19,939

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf/d)(2)

361

407

Total (BOE/d)

473,687

494,173

 

(1)

Includes Foster Creek production of 157,823 barrels per day for proved and 159,550 barrels per day for proved plus probable, and Christina Lake production of 234,214 barrels per day for proved and 242,864 barrels per day for proved plus probable.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

29

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


The following table summarizes the 2021 estimated production of Company Interest Before Royalties reserves for all properties held on December 31, 2020 after giving effect to the Husky Arrangement as though such transaction had occurred on December 31, 2020.

Canada

2021 Estimated Production

Forecast Prices and Costs

Proved

Proved plus

Probable

Bitumen (bbls/d)(1)

526,904

556,717

Light and Medium Oil (bbls/d)

20,066

22,387

NGLs (bbls/d)

26,707

29,240

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf/d)(2)

580

637

Total (BOE/d)

670,358

714,479

 

(1)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

 

China

2021 Estimated Production

Forecast Prices and Costs

Proved

Proved plus

Probable

Bitumen (bbls/d)

-

-

Light and Medium Oil (bbls/d)

-

-

NGLs (bbls/d)

9,191

9,405

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf/d)

235

239

Total (BOE/d)

48,307

49,282

 

Indonesia

2021 Estimated Production

Forecast Prices and Costs

Proved

Proved plus

Probable

Bitumen (bbls/d)

-

-

Light and Medium Oil (bbls/d)

-

-

NGLs (bbls/d)

2,493

2,514

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf/d)

38

38

Total (BOE/d)

8,886

8,907

 

Company Total

2021 Estimated Production

Forecast Prices and Costs

Proved

Proved plus

Probable

Bitumen (bbls/d)(1)

526,904

556,717

Light and Medium Oil (bbls/d)

20,066

22,387

NGLs (bbls/d)

38,391

41,159

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf/d)(2)

853

914

Total (BOE/d)

727,551

772,668

 

(1)

Includes heavy crude oil that is not material.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

30

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Production History and Per-Unit Results

 

2020

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1

Bitumen

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production (bbls/d)

381,723

380,693

385,937

373,189

387,036

Foster Creek

163,210

158,068

164,954

166,032

163,820

Christina Lake

218,513

222,625

220,983

207,157

223,216

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Price ($/bbl)

28.64

39.02

39.67

12.64

22.35

Royalties ($/bbl)

2.34

3.73

3.54

0.80

1.21

Transportation and blending ($/bbl)

8.70

7.90

7.51

8.56

10.81

Operating expenses ($/bbl)

7.84

8.70

7.53

7.36

7.75

Netback excluding realized risk management(1)

9.76

18.69

21.09

(4.08)

2.58

Heavy Oil

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production (bbls/d)

2,751

1,966

3,236

2,232

3,576

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Price ($/bbl)

31.45

38.85

39.54

15.76

29.09

Royalties ($/bbl)

1.52

2.20

2.61

0.02

1.04

Transportation and blending ($/bbl)

2.02

2.42

2.45

1.18

1.89

Operating expenses ($/bbl)

9.78

8.72

6.91

13.68

10.70

Netback excluding realized risk management(1)

18.13

25.51

27.57

0.88

15.46

Light and Medium Oil

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production (bbls/d)

4,493

4,263

4,318

4,309

5,086

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Price ($/bbl)

42.78

44.80

49.19

27.47

48.54

Royalties ($/bbl)

5.87

4.77

6.06

4.71

7.63

Transportation and blending ($/bbl)

3.20

2.74

4.21

3.13

2.78

Operating expenses ($/bbl)

10.81

10.30

10.85

10.25

11.67

Netback excluding realized risk management(1)

22.90

26.99

28.07

9.38

26.46

Natural Gas(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production (MMcf/d)

380

371

360

392

395

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Price ($/Mcf)

2.37

2.94

2.34

2.04

2.17

Royalties ($/Mcf)

0.10

0.06

0.28

0.04

0.02

Transportation and blending ($/Mcf)

0.32

0.30

0.32

0.32

0.33

Operating expenses ($/Mcf)

1.47

1.35

1.58

1.46

1.48

Netback excluding realized risk management(1)

0.48

1.23

0.16

0.22

0.34

NGLs

 

 

 

 

 

Total Production (bbls/d)

19,513

18,358

18,297

20,320

21,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales Price ($/bbl)

22.04

27.76

21.38

18.74

20.75

Royalties ($/bbl)

2.19

5.27

6.45

(1.38)

(0.80)

Transportation and blending ($/bbl)

4.15

3.75

4.66

3.87

4.34

Operating expenses ($/bbl)

9.06

8.61

9.98

9.33

8.40

Netback excluding realized risk management(1)

6.64

10.13

0.29

6.92

8.81

(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. Netback is defined as gross sales less royalties, transportation and blending and operating expenses divided by sales volumes. Netbacks do not reflect non-cash write-downs (reversals) of product inventory until the inventory is sold. This calculation is consistent with the definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook. The crude oil sales price, transportation and blending costs, and sales volumes exclude the impact of purchased condensate. Netback does not have a standardized meaning as prescribed by IFRS and therefore is considered a non-GAAP measure. As such, it may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. This measure has been described and presented in this AIF in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with additional information regarding Cenovus’s liquidity and its ability to generate funds to finance its operations, and to comply with the requirements of NI 51‑101. This measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. For further information, refer to Cenovus’s most recent MD&A available at cenovus.com. For the reconciliation of the financial components of Netback to the GAAP measure and the sales volumes used in the calculations, see “Netback Reconciliations” in Appendix D.

(2)

Includes shale gas that is not material.

 

DIVIDENDS

The declaration of dividends is at the sole discretion of Cenovus’s Board and is considered each quarter. On April 2, 2020 the Board announced the temporary suspension of the dividend in response to the low global crude oil price environment resulting in no dividends paid in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. The Board has approved a first quarter dividend of $0.0175 per share payable on March 31, 2021 to holders of Common Shares of record as of March 15, 2021. The Board declared a first quarter dividend on the Series 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 First Preferred Shares, payable on March 31, 2021, in the amount of $8.5 million. Readers should also refer to the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF, for additional information.

Cenovus paid the following Common Share dividends over the last three years:

Common Share Dividends Paid

 

 

 

 

 

($ per share)

Year

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1

2020

0.0625

-

-

-

0.0625

2019

0.2125

0.0625

0.05

0.05

0.05

2018

0.20

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

 

31

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

Cenovus is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, and First Preferred Shares and Second Preferred Shares not exceeding, in aggregate, 20 percent of the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares. In connection with the Husky Arrangement, Cenovus’s articles were amended effective December 30, 2020 to create the Series 1 First Preferred Shares, the Series 2 First Preferred Shares, the Series 3 First Preferred Shares, the Series 4 First Preferred Shares, the Series 5 First Preferred Shares, the Series 6 First Preferred Shares, the Series 7 First Preferred Shares and the Series 8 First Preferred Shares.

As at December 31, 2020, there were approximately 1,228.9 million Common Shares and no First or Second Preferred Shares outstanding.

As at January 1, 2021, following completion of the Husky Arrangement, there were approximately 2,017.4 million Common Shares, 65.4 million Cenovus Warrants and 36.0 million First Preferred Shares outstanding (consisting of approximately 10.4 million Series 1 First Preferred Shares, 1.6 million Series 2 First Preferred Shares, 10.0 million Series 3 First Preferred Shares, 8.0 million Series 5 First Preferred Shares and 6.0 million Series 7 First Preferred Shares).

Common Shares

The holders of Common Shares are entitled to: (i) receive dividends if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board; (ii) receive notice of, to attend, and to vote on the basis of one vote per Common Share held, at all meetings of shareholders; and (iii) participate in any distribution of the Corporation’s assets in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up or other distribution of its assets among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs.

Preferred Shares

Cenovus may issue preferred shares in one or more series. Cenovus’s Board may determine the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to each series of Preferred Shares before the issue of such series. Holders of Preferred Shares are not entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders but may be entitled to vote if the Corporation fails to pay dividends on that series of Preferred Shares. The First Preferred Shares are entitled to priority over the Second Preferred Shares and the Common Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Cenovus’s affairs. The aggregate number of Preferred Shares issued by the Corporation may not exceed 20 percent of the aggregate number of the then-outstanding Common Shares.

Series 1 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 1 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly fixed rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September

and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

For the five-year period commencing March 31, 2016 to, but excluding, March 31, 2021, the dividend rate applicable to the Series 1 First Preferred Shares is set at 2.404%. Every fifth year thereafter, the dividend rate will be reset at the rate equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield on the applicable calculation date plus 1.73%.

Holders of Series 1 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 1 First Preferred Shares into Series 2 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on March 31, 2021, and on March 31 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 1 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on March 31, 2021 and on March 31 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 2 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 2 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly floating rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

The dividend rate is reset each quarter at the rate equal to the sum of the 90-day Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield on the applicable calculation date plus 1.73%.

Holders of Series 2 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 2 First Preferred Shares into Series 1 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on March 31, 2021, and on March 31 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 2 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on (i) March 31, 2021 and on March 31 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 and (ii) any other date that is not a Series 2 First Preferred Share conversion date, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.50, plus in each case all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 3 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 3 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly fixed rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

32

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


For the five-year period commencing December 31, 2019 to, but excluding, December 31, 2024, the dividend rate applicable to the Series 3 First Preferred Shares is set at 4.689%. Every fifth year thereafter, the dividend rate will be reset at the rate equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield on the applicable calculation date plus 3.13%.

Holders of Series 3 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 3 First Preferred Shares into Series 4 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on December 31, 2024, and on December 31 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 3 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on December 31, 2024 and on December 31 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 4 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 4 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly floating rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

The dividend rate is reset each quarter at the rate equal to the sum of the 90-day Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield on the applicable calculation date plus 3.13%.

Holders of Series 4 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 4 First Preferred Shares into Series 3 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on December 31, 2024 and on December 31 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 4 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on (i) December 31, 2024 and on December 31 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 and (ii) any other date that is not a Series 4 First Preferred Share conversion date, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.50, plus in each case all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 5 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 5 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly fixed rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

For the five-year period commencing March 31, 2020 to, but excluding, March 31, 2025, the dividend rate applicable to the Series 5 First Preferred Shares is set at 4.591%. Every fifth year thereafter, the dividend

rate will be reset at the rate equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield on the applicable calculation date plus 3.57%.

Holders of Series 5 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 5 First Preferred Shares into Series 6 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on March 31, 2025 and on March 31 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 5 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on March 31, 2025 and on March 31 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 6 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 6 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly floating rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

The dividend rate is reset each quarter at the rate equal to the sum of the 90-day Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield on the applicable calculation date plus 3.57%.

Holders of Series 6 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 6 First Preferred Shares into Series 5 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on March 31, 2025 and on March 31 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 6 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on (i) March 31, 2025 and on March 31 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 and (ii) any other date that is not a Series 6 First Preferred Share conversion date, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.50, plus in each case all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 7 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 7 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly fixed rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

For the five-year period commencing June 30, 2020 to, but excluding, June 30, 2025, the dividend rate applicable to the Series 5 First Preferred Shares is set at 3.935%. Every fifth year thereafter, the dividend rate will be reset at the rate equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield on the applicable calculation date plus 3.52%.

Holders of Series 7 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 7 First Preferred Shares into Series 8 First Preferred

33

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Shares, subject to certain conditions, on June 30, 2025 and on June 30 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 7 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on June 30, 2025 and on June 30 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Series 8 First Preferred Shares

Holders of Series 8 First Preferred Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly floating rate dividend, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, if, as and when declared by Cenovus’s Board.

The dividend rate is reset each quarter at the rate equal to the sum of the 90-day Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield on the applicable calculation date plus 3.52%.

Holders of Series 8 First Preferred Shares will have the right, at their option, to convert their Series 8 First Preferred Shares into Series 7 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on June 30, 2025 and on June 30 every five years thereafter.

Cenovus may, at its option, redeem all or any number of the then-outstanding Series 8 First Preferred Shares, subject to certain conditions, on (i) June 30, 2025 and on June 30 every five years thereafter, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.00 and (ii) any other date that is not a Series 8 First Preferred Share conversion date, by payment of an amount in cash for each share to be redeemed equal to $25.50, plus in each case all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (less any tax or other amount required to be deducted and withheld).

Cenovus Warrants

The Cenovus Warrants were created and issued pursuant to the terms of the warrant indenture dated January 1, 2021 (the “Warrant Indenture”) between Cenovus and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as warrant agent.

Each whole Cenovus Warrant is exercisable for one Common Share at any time up to 4:30 pm (MST) on January 1, 2026, with an exercise price of $6.54 per Common Share, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Indenture. Cenovus Warrants do not have voting or any other rights of

Common Shares. A copy of the Warrant Indenture is filed and available on SEDAR under Cenovus’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

Shareholder Rights Plan

Cenovus has a shareholder rights plan (the “Shareholder Rights Plan”) which was adopted in 2009 and creates a right that attaches to each issued Common Share. Until the separation time, which typically occurs at the time of an unsolicited take-over bid, whereby a person acquires or attempts to acquire 20 percent or more of Cenovus’s Common Shares, the rights are not separable from the Common Shares, are not exercisable and no separate rights certificates are issued. Each right entitles the holder, other than the 20 percent acquiror, from and after the separation time (unless delayed by Cenovus’s Board) and before certain expiration times, to acquire Common Shares at 50 percent of the market price at the time of exercise. In connection with the Husky Arrangement, the Corporation’s shareholders approved certain amendments to the Shareholder Rights Plan to ensure that an acquisition by any person of Common Shares or of rights to acquire Common Shares pursuant to (i) the Husky Arrangement, (ii) the Cenovus Warrants, including the exercise thereof, or (iii) any exercise of pre-emptive rights, including pursuant to any follow-on offering, under any Husky Arrangement Pre-Emptive Rights Agreement (defined below) does not and will not result in the occurrence of a “Flip-In Event” or the “Separation Time” (as those terms are defined in the Shareholder Rights Plan). The Shareholder Rights Plan was reconfirmed at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders and must be reconfirmed by the Corporation’s shareholders every three years. Shareholders will be asked to approve certain amendments and reconfirm the plan at the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Cenovus has a dividend reinvestment plan which permits holders of Common Shares to automatically reinvest all or any portion of the cash dividends paid on their Common Shares in additional Common Shares. At the discretion of the Corporation, the additional Common Shares may be issued from treasury at the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares (denominated in the currency in which the Common Shares trade on the applicable stock exchange) traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) during the last five trading days preceding the relevant dividend payment date or purchased on the market.

 

34

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Ratings

The following information relating to Cenovus’s credit ratings is provided as it relates to the Corporation’s financing costs and liquidity. Specifically, credit ratings affect Cenovus’s ability to obtain short-term and long-term financing and the cost of such financing. A reduction in the current rating on Cenovus’s debt by the Corporation’s rating agencies or a negative change in its ratings outlook could adversely affect Cenovus’s cost of financing, its access to sources of liquidity and capital, and potentially obligate it to post incremental collateral in the form of cash, letters of credit or other financial instruments. See the section entitled “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual 2020 MD&A, which section of the MD&A is incorporated by reference into this AIF, for further information.

The following table outlines the current ratings and outlooks of Cenovus’s debt and First Preferred Shares:

 

 

S&P Global

Ratings

(“S&P”)

Moody’s

Investors Service

(“Moody’s”)

DBRS

Limited

(“DBRS”)

Fitch

Ratings Inc.

(“Fitch”)

Senior Unsecured

Long-Term Rating

BBB-

Baa3

BBB

BB+

Outlook/Trend

Stable

Negative

Stable

Positive

Series 1 First Preferred Shares

P-3

 

Pfd-3

 

Series 2 First Preferred Shares

P-3

 

Pfd-3

 

Series 3 First Preferred Shares

P-3

 

Pfd-3

 

Series 5 First Preferred Shares

P-3

 

Pfd-3

 

Series 7 First Preferred Shares

P-3

 

Pfd-3

 

 

 

Credit ratings are intended to provide an independent measure of the credit quality of an issue of securities. The credit ratings assigned by the rating agencies are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell the securities nor do the ratings comment on market price or suitability for a particular investor. A rating may not remain in effect for any given period of time and may be revised or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency at any time in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant.

S&P’s long-term credit ratings are on a rating scale that ranges from AAA to D, which represents the range from highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of BBB- by S&P is within the fourth highest of 10 categories and indicates that the obligation exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. The addition of a “+” or “-” designation after a rating indicates the relative standing within the major rating categories. An S&P rating outlook assesses the potential direction of a long-term credit rating over the intermediate term (generally up to two years for investment grade and generally up to one year for speculative grade). Rating outlooks fall into four categories – “Positive”, “Negative”, “Stable” and “Developing”. In determining a rating outlook, consideration is given to any changes in the economic and/or fundamental business conditions. A “Stable” outlook indicates that a rating is not likely to change.

S&P began rating Cenovus’s First Preferred Shares on its Canadian preferred share scale in conjunction with the Husky Arrangement. S&P’s preferred share ratings are a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer with respect to a specific preferred share obligation. There is a direct correspondence between the ratings assigned on the preferred share scale and S&P’s ratings scale for long-term credit ratings. According to S&P’s ratings system, a P-3 rating on the Canadian preferred share rating scale is equivalent to a BB rating on the long-

term credit rating scale. A rating of BB by S&P is within the fifth highest of 10 categories and indicates that the obligation is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the issue.

Moody’s long-term credit ratings are on a rating scale that ranges from Aaa to C, which represents the range from highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of Baa3 by Moody’s is within the fourth highest of nine categories and is assigned to debt securities which are considered to be medium grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics. The addition of a 1, 2 or 3 modifier after a rating indicates the relative standing within a particular rating category. The modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category. A Moody’s rating outlook is an opinion regarding the likely rating direction over the medium term. Rating outlooks fall into four categories – “Positive”, “Negative”, “Stable”, and “Developing”. A designation of Negative indicates a higher likelihood of a downward rating change over the medium term.

DBRS’s long-term credit ratings are on a rating scale that ranges from AAA to D, which represents the range from highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of BBB by DBRS is within the fourth highest of 10 categories and is assigned to debt securities considered to be of adequate credit quality, with acceptable capacity for payment of financial obligations. Entities in the BBB category may be vulnerable to future events. The assignment of a “(high)” or “(low)” modifier within each rating category indicates relative standing within such category. The absence of either modifier indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. Rating trends provide guidance in respect of DBRS’s opinion regarding the outlook for the rating in question, with rating trends falling into one of three categories ‑ “Positive”, “Stable” or “Negative”. The rating trend

35

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


indicates the direction in which DBRS considers the rating is headed should present circumstances continue, or in some cases, unless challenges are addressed.

DBRS began rating Cenovus’s First Preferred Shares on its Preferred Share Rating Scale in conjunction with the Husky Arrangement. DBRS’s preferred share ratings are meant to give an indication of the risk that an issuer will not fulfill its full obligations in a timely manner, with respect to both dividend and principal commitments. DBRS’s preferred share ratings range from Pdf 1 (highest) to D (lowest). According to DBRS’s ratings system, preferred shares rated Pfd-3 are generally of adequate credit quality. While protection of dividends and principal is still considered acceptable, the issuing entity is more susceptible to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions, and there may be other adverse conditions present which detract from debt protection.

Fitch’s long-term credit ratings are on a rating scale that ranges from AAA to D, which represents the range from highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of BB+ is within the fifth highest of 11 categories and is assigned to debt securities that indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in

business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists that supports the servicing of financial commitments. The modifiers “+” or ”-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. A Fitch rating outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two-year period, with rating outlooks falling into four categories: “Positive”, “Negative”, “Stable” or “Evolving”. Rating outlooks reflect financial or other trends that have not yet reached, or have not been sustained at, a level that would trigger a rating action, but which may do so if such trends continue. Positive or Negative outlooks do not imply that a rating change is inevitable and similarly, ratings with Stable outlooks can be raised or lowered without prior revision of the outlook. Where the fundamental trend has strong, conflicting elements of both positive and negative, the rating outlook may be described as Evolving. A Positive Rating Outlook indicates an upward trend on the rating scale.

Throughout the last four years, Cenovus has made payments to each of S&P, Moody’s, DBRS and Fitch related to the rating of the Corporation’s debt. Additionally, Cenovus has purchased products and services from S&P, Moody’s, DBRS and Fitch.

 

MARKET FOR SECURITIES

All of the outstanding Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol CVE. The following table outlines the share price trading range and volume of shares traded by month in 2020:

 

TSX

 

NYSE

 

Share Price Trading Range

 

 

Share Price Trading Range

 

 

High(1)

Low(1)

Close(1)

Share

Volume(2)

 

High(3)

Low(3)

Close(3)

Share

Volume(4)

 

($ per share)

(thousands)

 

(US$ per share)

(thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January

13.66

11.16

11.52

182,247

 

10.49

8.48

8.71

79,957

February

12.45

9.41

9.87

195,111

 

9.39

7.00

7.37

93,778

March

10.07

2.06

2.84

708,848

 

7.56

1.41

2.02

279,556

April

5.23

2.52

5.05

613,431

 

3.76

1.78

3.64

258,256

May

6.23

4.49

6.00

316,128

 

4.52

3.18

4.33

154,383

June

7.80

5.78

6.35

314,857

 

5.83

4.22

4.67

174,588

July

6.83

5.64

5.96

222,733

 

5.09

4.14

4.46

123,288

August

7.10

6.01

6.16

143,362

 

5.34

4.44

4.72

83,900

September

6.39

5.01

5.19

171,061

 

4.87

3.74

3.89

110,017

October

5.52

4.15

4.36

339,354

 

4.21

3.15

3.28

194,243

November

7.27

4.32

6.44

287,148

 

5.57

3.26

4.96

159,416

December

8.21

6.40

7.75

268,814

 

6.44

4.94

6.04

170,007

 

(1)

As reported by the TSX.

(2)

As reported by all Canadian marketplaces. Source: Bloomberg.

(3)

As reported by the NYSE.

(4)

As reported by all U.S. marketplaces. Source: Bloomberg.

As of January 6, 2021, the Cenovus Warrants are listed and posted for trading on the TSX under the symbol CVE.WT and on the NYSE under the symbol CVE WS and the Series 1 First Preferred Shares, Series 2 First Preferred Shares, Series 3 First Preferred Shares, Series 5 First Preferred Shares and Series 7 First Preferred Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX under the symbols CVE.PR.A, CVE.PR.B, CVE.PR.C, CVE.PR.E and CVE.PR.G, respectively.

36

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Directors

The following individuals are the directors of Cenovus:

Name and Residence

Director Since(1)

Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

 

 

 

Keith M. Casey(3,5)

San Antonio, Texas,

United States

2020

Independent

Mr. Casey is the Chief Executive Officer of Tatanka Midstream LLC, a private midstream company, since March 2020. Mr. Casey spent five years with Andeavor Corporation (“Andeavor”), formerly known as Tesoro Corporation, an integrated petroleum refining, logistics, and marketing company and served as Executive Vice-President Commercial and Value Chain of Andeavor, from August 2016 to October 2018, Executive Vice-President, Operations of Andeavor from May 2014 to August 2016, and Senior Vice-President, Strategy and Business Development of Andeavor from April 2013 to May 2014. Mr. Casey served as a director of Andeavor Logistics LP, formerly Tesoro Logistics LP, a publicly traded midstream service company, from April 2014 to April 2015 and has served as a director of a number of private midstream companies. Mr. Casey has worked in the refining industry since 1998 and prior to that, he held leadership and operational roles with BP Products North America Inc., Praxair Incorporated and Union Carbide Corp.

 

 

 

Canning K.N. Fok

Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region

2021

Non-independent

Mr. Fok is Chairman and a Director of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited, Hutchison Port Holdings Management Pte. Limited as the trustee-manager of Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, Power Assets Holdings Limited, HK Electric Investments Manager Limited as the trustee-manager of HK Electric Investments, and HK Electric Investments Limited. Mr. Fok is Deputy Chairman and an Executive Director of CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of TPG Telecom Limited. Mr. Fok is a director of Husky since 2000 and was Co-Chairman of Husky from 2000 to January 1, 2021.

 

 

 

Jane E. Kinney(2,5)

Toronto, Ontario,

Canada

2019

Independent

Ms. Kinney is a director of Intact Financial Corporation, a publicly traded insurance company, since May 2019. Ms. Kinney spent 25 years with Deloitte LLP Canada (“Deloitte”) and was admitted to the Deloitte Partnership in 1997. She was appointed Vice Chair, Leadership Team Member of Deloitte in June 2010 and served in this role until her retirement in June 2019. Previous positions with Deloitte include Canadian Managing Partner, Quality & Risk from May 2010 to June 2015, Global Chief Risk Officer from June 2010 to May 2012, and Risk and Regulatory Practice Leader from June 1999 to May 2010. She has also served as a lecturer at the University of Manitoba, Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University.

 

 

 

Harold N. Kvisle(3,4)

Calgary, Alberta,

Canada

2018

Independent

Mr. Kvisle is a director, since May 2009, and Chairman of ARC Resources Ltd., a publicly traded oil and gas company; and a director, since June 2017, and Board Chair of Finning International Inc., a publicly traded heavy equipment company. He served as a director of Cona Resources Ltd. (“Cona”), a publicly traded heavy oil company, from November 2011 to May 2018 when Cona was acquired by Waterous Energy Fund. Mr. Kvisle served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Talisman Energy Inc. (“Talisman”), a publicly traded oil and gas company, from September 2012 to May 2015 and as a director of Talisman from May 2010 to May 2015. From 2001 to 2010, Mr. Kvisle was President and Chief Executive Officer of TransCanada Corporation, now TC Energy Corporation (“TC Energy”), a publicly traded energy infrastructure company. Prior to joining TC Energy in 1999, he was the President of Fletcher Challenge Energy Canada Inc. Mr. Kvisle has worked in the oil and gas industry since 1975 and in the utilities and power industries since 1999.

 

 

 

37

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Name and Residence

Director Since(1)

Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

 

 

 

Eva L. Kwok(3,4)

Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada

2021

Independent

Mrs. Kwok is Chairman, a Director and Chief Executive Officer of Amara Holdings Inc., a private investment holding company. Mrs. Kwok is also a Director of CK Life Sciences Int’l., (Holdings) Inc., CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited and the Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation and a director of Husky since 2000.

 

 

 

Keith A. MacPhail(4,6)

Calgary, Alberta,

Canada

2018

Independent

Mr. MacPhail has served as the Chair of Cenovus’s Board since April 2020. He is a director (since July 2003) and served as Chairman of NuVista Energy Ltd., a publicly traded oil and gas company, from July 2003 to May 2020. He also served as a director of Bonavista Energy Corporation, formerly Bonavista Petroleum Ltd. (“Bonavista”), a publicly traded oil and gas company, from November 1997 to August 2020; Chairman from March 2012 to August 2020; Executive Chairman from 2012 to 2018; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2012; and as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to 2008. Mr. MacPhail served as a director of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (“CNRL”) from 1993 to 2015. Prior to joining Bonavista in 1997, Mr. MacPhail held progressively more responsible positions with CNRL, with his final position being Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he held the position of Production Manager with Poco Petroleums Ltd.

 

 

 

Richard J. Marcogliese(2,5)

Alamo, California,

United States

2016

Independent

Mr. Marcogliese is the Principal of iRefine, LLC, a privately owned petroleum refining consulting company, since June 2011; and a director of Delek US Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded downstream energy company, since January 2020. He served as Executive Advisor of Pilko & Associates L.P., a private chemical and energy advisory company, from June 2011 to December 2019; Operations Advisor to NTR Partners III LLC, a private investment company from October 2013 to December 2017; and from September 2012 to January 2016 as Operations Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, a partnership between The Carlyle Group and a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. that operates an oil refining complex on the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

 

 

 

Claude Mongeau(2,5)

Montreal, Quebec,
Canada

2016

Independent

Mr. Mongeau is a director of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, an international financial institution, since March 2015; and a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation, a publicly traded North American rail transportation provider, since September 2019. He served as a director of TELUS Corporation, a publicly traded telecommunications company, from May 2017 to August 2019. He also served as a director of Canadian National Railway Company, a publicly traded railroad and transportation company, from October 2009 to July 2016 and as President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2010 to June 2016. During his tenure with Canadian National Railway Company, he also served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer from October 2000 until December 2009 and held various increasingly senior positions from the time he joined in 1994. Mr. Mongeau also served as a director of SNC‑Lavalin Group Inc. from August 2003 to May 2015.

 

 

 

Alexander J. Pourbaix(7)

Calgary, Alberta,
Canada

2017

Non-independent

Mr. Pourbaix has served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Cenovus since November 6, 2017 and is a director of Canadian Utilities Limited, a publicly traded diversified global energy infrastructure corporation, since November 2019. He served as a director of Trican Well Service Ltd., a publicly traded oilfield services provider, from May 2012 to December 2019. Mr. Pourbaix served as Chief Operating Officer of TC Energy from October 2015 to April 2017. During his tenure with TC Energy, he also served as Executive Vice-President and President, Development from March 2014 to September 2015 and President, Energy & Oil Pipelines from July 2010 to February 2014, and held various increasingly senior positions from the time he joined TC Energy in 1994.

 

 

 

38

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Name and Residence

Director Since(1)

Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

 

 

 

Wayne E. Shaw(2,5)

Toronto, Ontario,
Canada

2021

Independent

Mr. Shaw is the President of G.E. Shaw Investments Limited, a private investment holding company. Prior to his retirement in April 2013, he was a Senior Partner with Stikeman Elliott LLP, Barristers and Solicitors, Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Shaw is also a director of the Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation and a director of Husky since 2000.

 

 

 

Frank J. Sixt(4)

Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region

2021

Non-independent

Mr. Sixt is an Executive Director, Group Finance Director and Deputy Managing Director of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited. Mr. Sixt is also the Non-Executive Chairman of TOM Group Limited, an Executive Director of CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited, a Non-Executive Director of TPG Telecom Limited, a Director of Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited (HTAL) and an Alternate Director to a Director of HTAL, HK Electric Investments Manager Limited as the trustee-manager of HK Electric Investments and HK Electric Investments Limited. Mr. Sixt is also a Director of the Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation and a director of Husky since 2000.

 

 

 

Rhonda I. Zygocki(3,4)

Friday Harbor, Washington,
United States

2016

Independent

Ms. Zygocki served as Executive Vice President, Policy and Planning of Chevron Corporation (“Chevron”), a publicly traded integrated energy company, from March 2011 until her retirement in February 2015 and prior thereto, during her 34 years with Chevron, she held a number of senior management and executive leadership positions in international operations, public affairs, strategic planning, policy, government affairs and health, environment and safety.

 

(1)

Directors were elected or appointed to Cenovus’s Board as follows:

 

Ms. Zygocki and Mr. Marcogliese were first elected as directors of Cenovus’s Board at the annual meeting of shareholders held on April 27, 2016;

 

Mr. Mongeau was appointed as a director of Cenovus’s Board as of December 1, 2016;

 

Mr. Pourbaix was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Cenovus’s Board as of November 6, 2017;

 

Messrs. Kvisle and MacPhail were first elected as directors of Cenovus’s Board at the annual meeting of shareholders held on April 25, 2018;

 

Ms. Kinney was first elected as a director of Cenovus’s Board at the annual meeting of shareholders held on April 24, 2019;

 

Mr. Casey was first elected as a director of Cenovus’s Board as of April 29, 2020; and

 

Mrs. Kwok, and Messrs. Fok, Shaw and Sixt were appointed as directors of Cenovus’s Board as of January 1, 2021.

The term of each of the directors is from the date of the meeting at which he or she is elected or appointed until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until a successor is elected or appointed.

(2)

Member of the Audit Committee.

(3)

Member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.

(4)

Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

(5)

Member of the Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee.

(6)

Ex officio, by standing invitation, non‑voting member of the Audit Committee, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and the Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee. As an ex officio non‑voting member, Mr. MacPhail attends as his schedule permits and may vote when necessary to achieve a quorum.

(7)

As an officer and a non‑independent director, Mr. Pourbaix is not a member of any of the committees of Cenovus’s Board.

As at December 31, 2020, Susan F. Dabarno, Steven F. Leer and M. George Lewis were directors of Cenovus. Each of Ms. Dabarno and Messrs. Leer and Lewis were members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Messrs. Leer and Lewis were also members of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and Ms. Dabarno was also a member of the Audit Committee. Each of Ms. Dabarno and Messrs. Leer and Lewis resigned from Cenovus’s Board on January 1, 2021, prior to closing of the Husky Arrangement.

Executive Officers

The following individuals are the executive officers of Cenovus:

Name and Residence

Office Held and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

 

 

Alexander J. Pourbaix

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Pourbaix’s biographical information is included under “Directors”.

 

 

Jeffrey R. Hart

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Hart was appointed Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From November 2018 to January 1, 2021, Mr. Hart was Chief Financial Officer of Husky; from April 2018 to November 2019, Mr. Hart was Acting Chief Financial Officer of Husky; and from February 2015 to April 2018, Mr. Hart was Vice President, Controller of Husky Oil Operations Limited.

 

 

39

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Name and Residence

Office Held and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

Jonathan M. McKenzie

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer

Mr. McKenzie was appointed Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From May 2018 to January 1, 2021, Mr. McKenzie was Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Cenovus. From April 2015 to April 2018, Mr. McKenzie was Chief Financial Officer of Husky. From April 2011 to April 2015, Mr. McKenzie was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of Irving Oil Ltd.; and from March 2009 to May 2011, Mr. McKenzie was Vice-President and Controller of Suncor Energy Inc.

 

 

Keith A. Chiasson

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President, Downstream

Mr. Chiasson was appointed Executive Vice-President, Downstream of Cenovus on March 1, 2019. From December 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Chiasson was Senior Vice-President, Downstream of Cenovus; from May 2017 to December 2017, Mr. Chiasson was Vice-President, Oil Sands Production Operations of Cenovus; and from July 2016 to May 2017, Mr. Chiasson was Vice-President, Operations of Cenovus. From April 2016 to July 2016, Mr. Chiasson was Kearl Operations Manager at Imperial Oil Resources; from September 2013 to April 2016, Mr. Chiasson was U.S. Operations Manager for ExxonMobil; and from January 2012 to September 2013, Mr. Chiasson was Planning and Business Analysis Manager for ExxonMobil Production Company.

 

 

P. Andrew Dahlin

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President, Safety & Operations Technical Services

Mr. Dahlin was appointed Executive Vice-President, Safety & Operations Technical Services of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From November 2020 to January 1, 2021, Mr. Dahlin was Executive Vice-President, Downstream of Husky; from May 2020 to November 2020, Mr. Dahlin was Executive Vice President, Onshore Upstream of Husky; from May 2018 to May 2020, Mr. Dahlin was Senior Vice President, Heavy Oil & Oil Sands of Husky Oil Operations Limited; from June 2017 to May 2018, Mr. Dahlin was Senior Vice President, Heavy Oil of Husky Oil Operations Limited; and from April 2012 to May 2017, Mr. Dahlin was Vice President, Upstream of Husky Oil Operations Limited.

 

 

Norrie C. Ramsay

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President, Upstream – Thermal, Major Projects & Offshore

Dr. Ramsay was appointed Executive Vice-President, Upstream – Thermal, Major Projects & Offshore of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From January 2020 to January 1, 2021, Dr. Ramsay was Executive Vice-President, Upstream of Cenovus; from December 2019 to January 2020, Dr. Ramsay was Executive Vice-President of Cenovus. From June 2019 to November 2019, Dr. Ramsay was Senior Vice-President, Projects at TC Energy; from August 2014 to May 2019, Dr. Ramsay was Senior Vice-President, Technical Centre & Projects at TC Energy; and from May 2010 to July 2014, Dr. Ramsay was Global Vice-President, Projects & Engineering at Talisman Energy Inc.

 

 

Karamjit S. Sandhar

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President, Strategy & Corporate Development

Mr. Sandhar was appointed Executive Vice-President, Strategy & Corporate Development of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From January 2020 to January 1, 2021, Mr. Sandhar was Senior Vice-President, Conventional of Cenovus, and Senior Vice-President, Deep Basin of Cenovus prior to the Deep Basin segment being renamed the Conventional segment in the first quarter of 2020. From December 2017 to December 2019, Mr. Sandhar was Senior Vice-President, Strategy & Corporate Development of Cenovus; from July 2016 until December 2017, Mr. Sandhar was Vice-President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development of Cenovus; from May 2016 to July 2016, Mr. Sandhar was Vice‑President, Investor Relations of Cenovus; from May 2015 to May 2016, Mr. Sandhar was Director, Investor Relations of Cenovus; and from April 2013 to May 2015 Mr. Sandhar was Principal, Portfolio Management of Cenovus.

40

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Name and Residence

Office Held and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years

 

 

Sarah J. Walters

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services

Mrs. Walters was appointed Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From December 2017 to January 1, 2021, Mrs. Walters was Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services of Cenovus; from January 2017 until December 2017, Mrs. Walters was Vice-President, Human Resources of Cenovus; from September 2015 to December 2016, Mrs. Walters was Vice-President, Organization & People of Cenovus; from March 2014 to August 2015, Mrs. Walters was Vice-President HR Business Partners & Organizational Design of Cenovus; from July 2013 to February 2014, Mrs. Walters was Vice‑President, HR Business Partners of Cenovus; and from March 2013 to July 2013, Mrs. Walters was Vice-President, HR Advisory of Cenovus. Prior to joining Cenovus in March 2013, Mrs. Walters was Vice-President HR, International Operations West at Talisman Energy Inc.

 

 

J. Drew Zieglgansberger

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Executive Vice-President, Upstream – Conventional & Integration

Mr. Zieglgansberger was appointed Executive Vice-President, Upstream – Conventional & Integration of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From January 2020 to January 1, 2021, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Executive Vice-President, Strategy & Corporate Development of Cenovus; from January 2018 to December 2019, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Executive Vice-President, Upstream of Cenovus; from April 2017 to January 2018, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Executive Vice-President, Deep Basin of Cenovus; from September 2015 to April 2017, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Executive Vice-President, Oil Sands Manufacturing of Cenovus; from June 2015 to August 2015, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Executive Vice-President, Operations Shared Services of Cenovus; from June 2012 to May 2015, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Senior Vice-President, Operations Shared Services of Cenovus; from January 2012 to May 2012, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Senior Vice-President, Regulatory, Local Community & Military of Cenovus; and from December 2010 to January 2012, Mr. Zieglgansberger was Senior Vice-President, Christina Lake of Cenovus.

 

 

Rhona M. DelFrari

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Vice-President, Stakeholder Engagement

Ms. DelFrari was appointed Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Vice-President, Stakeholder Engagement of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From June 2017 to January 1, 2021, Ms. DelFrari was Vice-President, Sustainability & Engagement. From January 2012 to June 2017, Ms. DelFrari held various positions within the communications, external relations and strategy portfolios.

 

 

Gary F. Molnar

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Senior Vice-President Legal, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Mr. Molnar was appointed Senior Vice-President Legal, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Cenovus effective January 1, 2021. From December 2015 to January 1, 2021, Mr. Molnar was Vice-President, Legal, Assistant General Counsel & Corporate Secretary; from March 2011 to December 2015, Mr. Molnar was Vice-President, Legal & Assistant Corporate Secretary; and from November 2009 to March 2011, Mr. Molnar was Vice-President & Assistant Corporate Secretary of Cenovus.

 

 

As at December 31, 2020, Harbir S. Chhina and Alan C. Reid were executive officers of Cenovus. Each of Messrs. Chhina and Reid resigned from his respective office on January 1, 2021, following closing of the Husky Arrangement.

As of December 31, 2020, all of Cenovus’s directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, directly or indirectly, 2,817,469 Common Shares or approximately 0.23 percent of the number of Common Shares that were outstanding as of such date. As of February 1, 2021, all of Cenovus’s directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over, directly or indirectly, 2,507,805 Common Shares or approximately 0.12 percent of the number of Common Shares that were outstanding as of such date.

Investors should be aware that some of Cenovus’s directors and officers are directors and officers of other private and public companies. Some of these private and public companies may, from time to time, be involved in business transactions or banking relationships which may create situations in which conflicts might arise. Any such conflicts shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures and requirements of the relevant provisions of the CBCA, including the duty of such directors and officers to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of Cenovus.

 

41

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions

 

To the Corporation’s knowledge, none of its current directors or executive officers are, as at the date of this AIF, or have been, within 10 years prior to the date of this AIF, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that:

(a)

was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (each, an “Order”) and that was issued while that director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or

(b)

was subject to an Order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.

To the Corporation’s knowledge, none of its directors or executive officers:

(a)

is, as at the date of this AIF, or has been within 10 years prior to the date of this AIF, a director or executive officer of any company that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a

year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or

(b)

has, within 10 years prior to the date of this AIF, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the director or executive officer.

To the Corporation’s knowledge, none of its directors or executive officers has been subject to:

(a)

any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or

(b)

any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee mandate is included as Appendix C to this AIF.

Composition of the Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee consists of four members, each

of whom is independent and financially literate in accordance with National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees. The Board determined that each of the following members of Cenovus’s Audit Committee qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert”, as that term is defined under U.S. securities legislation: Claude Mongeau and Jane E. Kinney. The education and experience of each of the members of the Audit Committee relevant to the performance of the responsibilities as an Audit Committee member is outlined below.

As at December 31, 2020, the Audit Committee consisted of Claude Mongeau, Jane E. Kinney, Susan F. Dabarno and Harold N. Kvisle. Concurrently with the completion of the Husky Arrangement, Cenovus’s Board, and each committee of the Board, were reconstituted, resulting in the current Audit Committee membership.

Claude Mongeau (Audit Committee Chair)

Mr. Mongeau holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from McGill University and has received honorary doctorate degrees from St. Mary’s and Windsor University. He is a director of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, an international financial institution, and Norfolk Southern Corporation, a publicly traded rail transportation provider. He served

as a director of TELUS Corporation, a publicly traded telecommunications company, from May 2017 to August 2019. He served as a director of Canadian National Railway Company, a publicly traded railroad and transportation company, from October 2009 to July 2016 and as President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2010 to June 2016. During his tenure with Canadian National Railway Company, he served as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer from October 2000 until December 2009 and from the time he joined Canadian National Railway Company in 1994 he held the titles of Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Vice-President, Strategic and Financial Planning and Assistant Vice-President, Corporate Development.

Jane E. Kinney

Ms. Kinney is a chartered professional accountant, a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA) and holds a Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo. She is a seasoned business leader with over 30 years of experience in providing advisory services to global financial institutions and has extensive experience in enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, cyber and IT risk management, digital transformation and stakeholder relations.

42

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Ms. Kinney is a director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Intact Financial Corporation, a publicly traded insurance company. She spent 25 years with Deloitte and was admitted to the Deloitte Partnership in 1997. She was appointed Vice Chair, Leadership Team Member of Deloitte in June 2010 and served in this role until her retirement in June 2019. Previous positions with Deloitte include Canadian Managing Partner, Quality & Risk from May 2010 to June 2015, Global Chief Risk Officer from June 2010 to May 2012, and Risk and Regulatory Practice Leader from June 1999 to May 2010.

Richard J. Marcogliese

Mr. Marcogliese holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from the New York University School of Engineering and Science. He is the Principal of iRefine, LLC, a privately owned petroleum refining consulting company, and a director of Delek US Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded downstream energy company. He served as Executive Advisor of Pilko & Associates L.P., a private chemical and energy advisory company, from June 2011 to December 2019; Operations Advisor to NTR Partners III LLC, a private investment company from October 2013 to December 2017; and from September 2012 to January 2016 as Operations Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, a partnership between The Carlyle Group and a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. that operates an oil refining complex on the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

Wayne E. Shaw

Mr. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. He is the President of G.E. Shaw Investments Limited, a private investment holding company. Prior to his retirement in 2013, Mr. Shaw was a Senior Partner with Stikeman Elliott LLP, Barristers and Solicitors, Toronto, Ontario.

The above list does not include Keith A. MacPhail who is, by standing invitation as Chair of the Board, an ex officio member of Cenovus’s Audit Committee.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

Cenovus has adopted policies and procedures with respect to the pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The Audit Committee has established a budget for the provision of a specified list of audit and permitted non-audit services that the Audit Committee believes to be typical, recurring or otherwise likely to be provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Corporation’s auditor. Subject to the Audit Committee’s discretion, the budget generally covers the period between the adoption of the budget and the next meeting of the Audit Committee. The list of permitted services is sufficiently detailed to ensure that: (i) the Audit Committee knows precisely what services it is being asked to pre-approve; and (ii) it is not necessary for any member of management to make a judgment as to whether a proposed service fits within the pre-approved services.

Subject to the following paragraph, the Audit Committee has delegated authority to the Chair of the Audit Committee (or if the Chair is unavailable, any other member of the Audit Committee) to pre-approve the provision of permitted services by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP which are not otherwise pre-approved by the Audit Committee, including the fees and terms of the proposed services (“Delegated Authority”). Any required determination about the Chair’s unavailability will be required to be made by the good faith judgment of the applicable other member(s) of the Audit Committee after considering all facts and circumstances deemed by such member(s) to be relevant. All pre-approvals granted pursuant to Delegated Authority must be presented by the member(s) who granted the pre-approvals to the full Audit Committee at its next meeting.

The fees payable in connection with any particular service to be provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that have been pre-approved pursuant to Delegated Authority: (i) may not exceed $200,000, in the case of pre-approvals granted by the Chair of the Audit Committee; and (ii) may not exceed $50,000, in the case of pre-approvals granted by any other member of the Audit Committee.

All proposed services or the fees payable in connection with such services that have not already been pre-approved must be pre-approved by either the Audit Committee or pursuant to Delegated Authority. Prohibited services may not be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or pursuant to Delegated Authority.

 

43

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

External Auditor Service Fees

The following table provides information about the fees billed to Cenovus for professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

($ thousands)

2020

 

2019

Audit Fees(1)

2,598

 

2,938

Audit-Related Fees(2)

382

 

226

Tax Fees(3)

128

 

2

All Other Fees(4)

46

 

284

Total

3,154

 

3,450

 

(1)

Audit Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for the audit of the Corporation’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

(2)

Audit-Related Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Corporation’s financial statements and are not reported as Audit Fees. The services provided in this category included audit-related services in relation to Cenovus’s prospectuses and participation fees levied by the Canadian Public Accountability Board. Fees related to the acquisition or divestiture of assets are also included in Audit-Related Fees.

(3)

Tax Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for tax compliance and tax advice.

(4)

All Other Fees include fees billed for the review of Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act filings, advisory services around Enterprise Resource Planning and the Corporation’s Innovation Processes.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY ACTIONS

During the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no legal proceedings to which Cenovus is or was a party, or that any of its property is or was the subject of, which involves a claim for damages in an amount, exclusive of interest and costs, that exceeds 10 percent of Cenovus’s current assets and it is not aware of any such legal proceedings that are contemplated.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no penalties or sanctions imposed against Cenovus by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority, nor have there been any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body against the Corporation that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision, and it has not entered into any settlement agreements before a court relating to securities legislation or with a securities regulatory authority.

INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS

None of the Corporation’s directors or executive officers or any person or company that beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, more than 10 percent of any class or series of Cenovus’s outstanding voting securities, or any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons or companies, in each case, as at the date of this AIF, has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any past transaction within the three most recently completed financial years or any proposed transaction that has materially affected or is reasonably expected to materially affect Cenovus.

TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS

In Canada:

In the United States:

Computershare Investor Services, Inc.

8th Floor, 100 University Avenue

Toronto, ON M5J 2Y1

Canada

Computershare Trust Company NA

250 Royall St.

Canton, MA 02021

U.S.

 

Tel: 1-866-332-8898

Website: www.investorcentre.com/cenovus

 

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

Other than as set forth below, during the year ended December 31, 2020, Cenovus has not entered into any contracts, nor are there any contracts still in effect, that are material to the business, other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

ConocoPhillips Transaction

On March 29, 2017, Cenovus entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the “COP Acquisition Agreement”) with ConocoPhillips to acquire: (i) ConocoPhillips’ 50 percent interest (the “FCCL Interest”) (being the remaining 50 percent interest that Cenovus did not already own) in FCCL Partnership, the owner of the Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Narrows Lake oil sands projects in northeast Alberta, and (ii) the majority of ConocoPhillips’ western Canadian conventional assets, including ConocoPhillips’ exploration and production assets and related infrastructure and agreements in the Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson and Clearwater operating areas and other operating areas, and all of ConocoPhillips’ interest in petroleum and natural gas rights and oil sands leases within a certain area of mutual interest northwest of Foster Creek (the “Deep Basin Assets”). The FCCL Interest and the Deep Basin Assets

44

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


were acquired by Cenovus for total consideration of $17.6 billion, comprised of $15.0 billion cash, and 208 million Common Shares.

At closing of the COP Acquisition Agreement, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips entered into a contingent payment agreement (the “COP Contingent Payment Agreement”), pursuant to which Cenovus agreed to make quarterly payments to ConocoPhillips during the five years subsequent to the closing date of the COP Acquisition Agreement 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.

Also, at closing of the COP Acquisition Agreement, Cenovus and ConocoPhillips entered into a registration rights agreement (“COP Registration Rights Agreement”) and an investor agreement (“COP Investor Agreement”), which, among other things, restricted ConocoPhillips from selling or hedging its Common Shares until November 17, 2017. In addition, the COP Registration Rights Agreement provides ConocoPhillips with certain rights to facilitate the sale of its Common Shares, including the right to require Cenovus to qualify the distribution of the Common Shares held by ConocoPhillips and the right to piggy-back on an offering of Common Shares by Cenovus. The COP Investor Agreement places certain restrictions on ConocoPhillips, including from nominating new members to Cenovus’s board of directors and by requiring ConocoPhillips to vote its Common Shares in accordance with management recommendations or abstain from voting. The COP Registration Rights Agreement and the COP Investor Agreement will terminate when ConocoPhillips owns 3.5 percent or less of the then-outstanding Common Shares.

A copy of the COP Acquisition Agreement, which includes the forms of the COP Contingent Payment Agreement, COP Registration Rights Agreement and COP Investor Agreement, in redacted form, was filed on SEDAR on April 5, 2017, and a copy of the amendment to the COP Acquisition Agreement was filed on SEDAR on May 17, 2017, each of which may be viewed under Cenovus’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements

On October 24, 2020, each of Hutchison Whampoa Europe Investments S.à r.l. and L.F. Investments S.à r.l. entered into a separate standstill agreement with Cenovus (each, a “Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement”), with effect as of January 1, 2021. Each Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement sets forth certain restrictions and obligations in connection with such shareholder’s shareholdings in Cenovus following completion of the transactions contemplated by the Husky Arrangement, including but not limited to the following:

a.

subject to certain exceptions, without the prior written consent of Cenovus, such shareholder agreed that it will not acquire, agree to acquire or make any proposal or offer to acquire voting or equity securities of Cenovus or any of its subsidiaries (other than Cenovus Warrants), securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, voting or equity securities of Cenovus or any of its subsidiaries (other than Cenovus Warrants) or any assets of Cenovus or any of its subsidiaries;

b.

for a period of 18 months following January 1, 2021, such shareholder will not transfer or cause the transfer of any Common Shares, except as otherwise permitted by the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement (the “Transfer Restrictions”);

c.

without the prior written consent of Cenovus, such shareholder will not transfer or cause the transfer of, either alone or in the aggregate with its affiliates, the other such shareholder or its affiliates, any Common Shares or Cenovus Warrants to any person, if such transfer would, to the knowledge of the shareholder, result in such person, together with any persons acting jointly or in concert with such person, beneficially owning, or controlling or directing, 20 percent or more of the then-outstanding Common Shares, except (a) transfers effected through an underwritten public offering (including an underwritten public offering undertaken pursuant to the applicable Husky Arrangement Registration Rights Agreement (defined below); (b) transfers effected as a result of the consummation of an arrangement, amalgamation, merger or other similar business combination transaction involving Cenovus which has been approved by a resolution of holders of the Common Shares, or made to an offeror in relation to a take-over bid as set out in the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement; or (c) transfers to an affiliate as permitted by the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement; and

d.

such shareholder is subject to voting restrictions with respect to certain Board matters relating to the election of Cenovus’s directors and in connection with any arrangement, amalgamation, merger or other similar business combination transaction involving Cenovus.

The Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements terminate on the earlier of January 1, 2026, the date on which either of the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement is terminated by the written agreement of the parties, provided that the Transfer Restrictions have been complied with under each Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreement, the date on which Hutchison Whampoa Europe Investments S.à r.l. and L.F. Investments S.à r.l., together with their affiliates, cease to beneficially own, or control or direct, in aggregate, at least 10 percent of the then-outstanding Common Shares, or any Qualified Individual (as defined in the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements) duly nominated in accordance with the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements is not appointed to the Board in accordance with the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements.

Copies of the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements were filed on SEDAR on November 3, 2020 and may be viewed under Cenovus’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

45

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Husky Arrangement Registration Rights Agreements

On January 1, 2021, Cenovus and each of Hutchison Whampoa Europe Investments S.à r.l. and L.F. Investments S.à r.l. entered into a registration rights agreement (each, a “Husky Arrangement Registration Rights Agreement”) which provides such shareholders with certain rights to facilitate the sale of their Common Shares, including the right to require Cenovus to qualify the distribution of the Common Shares held by such shareholders and the right to piggy-back on an offering of Common Shares by Cenovus. These rights are available to such shareholders for a term beginning on July 1, 2022 and ceasing on the earlier of January 1, 2026, the date on which the Husky Arrangement Registration Rights Agreement is terminated by agreement of the parties, the date the holder ceases to, directly or indirectly, beneficially own in aggregate more than 5 percent of the then-outstanding Common Shares, or the date on which the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements are terminated.

Copies of the Husky Arrangement Registration Rights Agreements were filed on SEDAR on January 4, 2021 and may be viewed under Cenovus’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

Husky Arrangement Pre-Emptive Rights Agreements

On January 1, 2021, Cenovus and each of Hutchison Whampoa Europe Investments S.à r.l. and L.F. Investments S.à r.l. entered into a pre-emptive rights agreement (each, a “Husky Arrangement Pre-Emptive Rights Agreement”) which provides such shareholders with certain rights to allow such shareholder to maintain its pro rata share of the then-outstanding Common Shares. These rights are available to such shareholders for a term beginning on January 1, 2021 and ceasing on the earlier of January 1, 2026, the date on which the Husky Arrangement Pre-Emptive Rights Agreement is terminated by agreement of the parties, the date the shareholder ceases to, directly or indirectly, beneficially own in aggregate more than 5 percent of the then-outstanding Common Shares, or the date on which the Husky Arrangement Standstill Agreements are terminated.

Copies of the Husky Arrangement Pre-Emptive Rights Agreements were filed on SEDAR on January 4, 2021 and may be viewed under Cenovus’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

Warrant Indenture

At closing of the Husky Arrangement, the Cenovus Warrants were created and issued pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Indenture entered into with Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as warrant agent, which governs the Cenovus Warrants. The Warrant Indenture provides for customary adjustments to the number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Cenovus Warrants and/or to the exercise price in effect for the Cenovus Warrants, and for adjustment in the class and/or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the Cenovus Warrants and/or to the exercise price for the Cenovus Warrants, upon the occurrence of certain events. Cenovus also covenants in the Warrant Indenture that, so long as any Cenovus Warrant remains outstanding, Cenovus will give notice to holders of Cenovus Warrants of certain stated events, including events that would result in an adjustment to the exercise price for the Cenovus Warrants or the number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Cenovus Warrants, at least 10 business days prior to the record date of such event.

A copy of the Warrant Indenture was filed on SEDAR on January 4, 2021 and may be viewed under Cenovus’s profile at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov.

INTERESTS OF EXPERTS

The Corporation’s independent auditors are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, who have issued an independent auditor’s report dated February 8, 2021 in respect of Cenovus’s Consolidated Financial Statements which comprise the Consolidated Balance Sheets as at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and the Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss), Comprehensive Income, Shareholders’ Equity and Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 and Cenovus’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2020. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has advised that they are independent with respect to Cenovus within the meaning of the Code of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta and the rules of the SEC.

Information relating to Cenovus’s reserves in this AIF has been calculated by McDaniel and GLJ as independent qualified reserves evaluators. The partners, employees or consultants of each of McDaniel and GLJ, in each case, as a group own beneficially, directly or indirectly, less than one percent of any class of the Corporation’s outstanding securities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information relating to Cenovus is available on SEDAR at sedar.com and EDGAR at sec.gov. Additional information, including directors’ and officers’ remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of Cenovus’s securities, and securities authorized for issuance under its equity-based compensation plans, is included in the Corporation’s management information circular for its most recent annual meeting of shareholders.

Additional financial information concerning Cenovus as at December 31, 2020 can be found in Cenovus’s audited annual Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2020.

46

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


As a Canadian corporation listed on the NYSE, Cenovus is not required to comply with most of the NYSEs corporate governance standards, and instead may comply with Canadian corporate governance practices. However, the Corporation is required to disclose the significant differences between its corporate governance practices and the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic companies listed on the NYSE. Except as summarized on Cenovuss website at cenovus.com, it is in compliance with the NYSE corporate governance standards in all significant respects.

ACCOUNTING MATTERS

Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars. All references to “dollars”, “C$” or to “$” are to Canadian dollars and all references to “US$” are to U.S. dollars. The information contained in this AIF is dated as at December 31, 2020 unless otherwise indicated. Numbers presented are rounded to the nearest whole number and tables may not add due to rounding.

Unless otherwise indicated, all financial information included in this AIF has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, which are also generally accepted accounting principles for publicly accountable enterprises in Canada.

ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVERSIONS

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids

Natural Gas

 

 

 

 

bbl

barrel

AECO

Alberta Energy Company

bbls/d

barrels per day

Bcf

billion cubic feet

Mbbls/d

thousand barrels per day

Mcf

thousand cubic feet

MMbbls

million barrels

MMcf

million cubic feet

NGLs

natural gas liquids

MMcf/d

million cubic feet per day

BOE

barrel of oil equivalent

MMBtu

million British thermal units

BOE/d

barrels of oil equivalent per day

 

 

MMBOE

million barrels of oil equivalent

 

 

WTI

West Texas Intermediate

 

 

WCS

Western Canadian Select

 

 

In this AIF, certain 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 six Mcf to one bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead.

 

 

47

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

APPENDIX A

REPORT ON RESERVES DATA BY INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED RESERVES EVALUATORS

To the Board of Directors of Cenovus Energy Inc. (the “Corporation”):

1.

We have evaluated the Corporation’s reserves data as at December 31, 2020. The reserves data are estimates of proved reserves and probable reserves and related future net revenue as at December 31, 2020, estimated using forecast prices and costs.

2.

The reserves data are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the reserves data based on our evaluation.

3.

We carried out our evaluation in accordance with standards set out in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook as amended from time to time (the “COGE Handbook”) maintained by the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (Calgary Chapter).

4.

Those standards require that we plan and perform an evaluation to obtain reasonable assurance as to whether the reserves data are free of material misstatement. An evaluation also includes assessing whether the reserves data are in accordance with principles and definitions presented in the COGE Handbook.

5.

The following table shows the net present value of future net revenue (before deduction of income taxes) attributed to proved plus probable reserves, estimated using forecast prices and costs and calculated using a discount rate of 10 percent, included in the reserves data of the Corporation evaluated for the year ended December 31, 2020, and identifies the respective portions thereof that we have evaluated and reported on to the Corporation’s Board of Directors:

 

Independent Qualified Reserves Evaluator

Effective Date of Evaluation Report

Location of Reserves

Evaluated Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue

(before income taxes, 10% discount rate)

$ millions

 

 

 

 

McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd.

December 31, 2020

Canada

$30,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLJ Ltd.

December 31, 2020

Canada

$1,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$31,910

 

6.

In our opinion, the reserves data respectively evaluated by us have, in all material respects, been determined and are in accordance with the COGE Handbook, consistently applied.

7.

We have no responsibility to update our reports referred to in paragraph five for events and circumstances occurring after their respective effective dates.

8.

Because the reserves data are based on judgments regarding future events, actual results will vary and the variations may be material.

Executed as to our report referred to above:

 

/s/ Brian R. Hamm

 

/s/ Jodi L. Anhorn

 

 

Brian R. Hamm, P. Eng.

President & CEO

McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

 

 

Jodi L. Anhorn, M.Sc., P. Eng.

President and Chief Executive Officer

GLJ Ltd.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

February 8, 2021

 

A1

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

APPENDIX B

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS
ON RESERVES DATA AND OTHER INFORMATION

Management of Cenovus Energy Inc. (the “Corporation”) are responsible for the preparation and disclosure of information with respect to the Corporation’s oil and gas activities in accordance with securities regulatory requirements. This information includes reserves data.

Independent qualified reserves evaluators have evaluated the Corporation’s reserves data. A report from the independent qualified reserves evaluators will be filed with securities regulatory authorities concurrently with this report.

The Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation has:

 

(a)

reviewed the Corporation’s procedures for providing information to the independent qualified reserves evaluators;

 

(b)

met with the independent qualified reserves evaluators to determine whether any restrictions affected the ability of the independent qualified reserves evaluators to report without reservation; and

 

(c)

reviewed the reserves data with management and each of the independent qualified reserves evaluators.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation has reviewed the Corporation’s procedures for assembling and reporting other information associated with oil and gas activities and has reviewed that information with management. The Board of Directors has, on the recommendation of the Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee, approved:

 

(a)

the content and filing with securities regulatory authorities of the reserves data and other oil and gas information;

 

(b)

the filing of the report of the independent qualified reserves evaluators on the reserves data; and

 

(c)

the content and filing of this report.

Because the reserves data are based on judgments regarding future events, actual results will vary and the variations may be material.

 

 

/s/ Alexander J. Pourbaix

 

/s/ Jeffrey R. Hart

 

 

Alexander J. Pourbaix

President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Jeffrey R. Hart

Executive Vice-President &

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

/s/ Keith A. MacPhail

 

 

 

/s/ Richard J. Marcogliese

 

 

Keith A. MacPhail

Director and Chair of the Board

 

 

Richard J. Marcogliese

Director and Chair of the Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee

 

 

February 8, 2021

 

B1

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

APPENDIX C

AUDIT COMMITTEE MANDATE

PURPOSE

 

The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is a committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cenovus Energy Inc. (“Cenovus” or the “Corporation”) appointed to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.

 

The Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to:

 

 

Oversee and monitor the effectiveness and integrity of the Corporation’s accounting and financial reporting processes, financial statements and system of internal controls regarding accounting and financial reporting compliance.

 

Oversee audits of the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

Review and evaluate the Corporation’s risk management framework and related processes including the supporting guidelines and practice documents.

 

Review and approve management’s identification of principal financial risks and monitor the process to manage such risks.

 

Oversee and monitor the Corporation’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

 

Oversee and monitor the qualifications, independence and performance of the Corporation’s external auditors and internal auditing group.

 

Provide an avenue of communication among the external auditors, management, the internal auditing group, and the Board.

 

Report to the Board regularly.

 

The Committee has the authority to conduct any review or investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities. The Committee shall have unrestricted access to personnel and information, and any resources necessary to carry out its responsibility. In this regard, the Committee may direct internal audit personnel to particular areas of examination.

 

CONSTITUTION, COMPOSITION AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.Reporting

 

The Committee shall report to the Board.

 

2.Composition

 

The Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than eight directors as determined by the Board, all of whom shall qualify as independent directors pursuant to National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees (as implemented by the Canadian Securities Administrators (“CSA”) and as amended from time to time) (“NI 52-110”).

 

All members of the Committee shall be financially literate, as defined in NI 52-110, and at least one member shall have accounting or related financial managerial expertise. In particular, at least one member shall have, through (i) education and experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant or auditor or experience in one or more positions that involve the performance of similar functions; (ii) experience actively supervising a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, auditor or person performing similar functions; (iii) experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies or public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements; or (iv) other relevant experience:

 

 

An understanding of accounting principles and financial statements;

 

The ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves;

 

Experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and

C1

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporations financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities;

 

An understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and

 

An understanding of audit committee functions.

 

Committee members may not, other than in their respective capacities as members of the Committee, the Board or any other committee of the Board, accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, or be an “affiliated person” (as such term is defined in the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules, if any, adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) thereunder) of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation. For greater certainty, directors’ fees and fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the Corporation that are not contingent on continued service should be the only compensation an Audit Committee member receives from the Corporation.

 

At least one member shall have experience in the oil and gas industry.

 

Committee members shall not simultaneously serve on the audit committees of more than two other public companies, unless the Board first determines that such simultaneous service will not impair the ability of the relevant members to effectively serve on the Committee, and required public disclosure is made.

 

The non-executive Board Chair shall be a non-voting member of the Committee. See “Quorum” for further details.

 

3.Appointment of Committee Members

 

Committee members shall be appointed by the Board, effective after the election of directors at the annual meeting of shareholders, provided that any member may be removed or replaced at any time by the Board and shall, in any event, cease to be a member of the Committee upon ceasing to be a member of the Board.

 

4.Vacancies

 

Where a vacancy occurs at any time in the membership of the Committee, it may be filled by the Board.

 

5.Chair

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend for approval to the Board an independent Director to act as Chair of the Committee. The Board shall appoint the Chair of the Committee.

 

If unavailable or unable to attend a meeting of the Committee, the Chair shall ask another member to chair the meeting, failing which a member of the Committee present at the meeting shall be chosen to preside over the meeting by a majority of the members of the Committee present at such meeting.

 

The Chair presiding at any meeting of the Committee shall not have a casting vote.

 

The items pertaining to the Chair in this section should be read in conjunction with the Committee Chair section of the Chair of the Board of Directors and Committee Chair General Guidelines.

 

6.Secretary

 

The Committee shall appoint a Secretary who need not be a member of the Committee. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the Committee.

 

7.Meetings

 

The Committee shall meet at least quarterly. The Chair of the Committee may call additional meetings as required. In addition, a meeting may be called by the non-executive Board Chair, the Chief Executive Officer, or any member of the Committee or by the external auditors.

 

Committee meetings may, by agreement of the Chair of the Committee, be held in person, by video conference, by means of telephone or by a combination of any of the foregoing.

 

The Committee shall meet without the presence of management on a regular basis, to facilitate additional open and candid discussion among independent directors.

C2

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

8.Notice of Meeting

 

Notice of the time and place of each Committee meeting may be given orally, or in writing, or by facsimile, or by electronic means to each member of the Committee at least 24 hours prior to the time fixed for such meeting. Notice of each meeting shall also be given to the external auditors of the Corporation.

 

A member and the external auditors may, in any manner, waive notice of the Committee meeting. Attendance of a member at a meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of the meeting except where a member attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting was not lawfully called.

 

9.Quorum

 

A majority of Committee members, present in person, by video conference, by telephone, or by a combination thereof, shall constitute a quorum. In addition, if an ex officio, non-voting member’s presence is required to attain a quorum of the Committee, then the said member shall be allowed to cast a vote at the meeting.

 

10.Attendance at Meetings

 

The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Comptroller and the head of internal audit are expected to be available to attend the Committee’s meetings or portions thereof.

 

The Committee may, by specific invitation, have other resource persons in attendance.

 

The Committee shall have the right to determine who shall, and who shall not, be present at any time during a meeting of the Committee.

 

Directors, who are not members of the Committee, may attend Committee meetings, on an ad hoc basis, upon prior consultation and approval by the Committee Chair or by a majority of the members of the Committee.

 

11.Minutes

 

Minutes of each Committee meeting should be succinct yet comprehensive in describing substantive issues discussed by the Committee. However, they should clearly identify those items of responsibilities scheduled by the Committee for the meeting that have been discharged by the Committee and those items of responsibilities that are outstanding.

 

Minutes of Committee meetings shall be sent to all Committee members and to the external auditors. The full Board of Directors shall be kept informed of the Committee’s activities by a report following each Committee meeting.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

In carrying out its mandate, the Committee is expected to:

 

12.Review Procedures

 

 

(a)

Review and update the Committee’s mandate annually, or sooner if the Committee deems it appropriate to do so. Review the summary of the Committee’s composition and responsibilities in the Corporation’s annual report, annual information form or other public disclosure documentation.

 

 

(b)

Review the summary of all approvals by the Committee of the provision of audit, audit-related, tax and other services by the external auditors for inclusion in the Corporation’s annual report and Annual Information Form filed with the CSA and the SEC.

 

13.Annual Financial Statements

 

 

(a)

Discuss and review with management and the external auditors the Corporation’s and any subsidiary with public securities’ annual audited financial statements and related documents prior to their filing or distribution. Such review shall include:

 

 

(i)

The annual financial statements and related notes including significant issues regarding accounting principles, practices and significant management estimates and judgments,

C3

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

including any significant changes in the Corporations selection or application of accounting principles, any major issues as to the adequacy of the Corporations internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.

 

(ii)

Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 

(iii)

The use of off-balance sheet financing including management’s risk assessment and adequacy of disclosure.

 

(iv)

The external auditors’ audit examination of the financial statements and their report thereon.

 

(v)

Any significant changes required in the external auditors’ audit plan.

 

(vi)

Any serious difficulties or disputes with management encountered during the course of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of the external auditors’ work or access to required information.

 

(vii)

Other matters related to the conduct of the audit, which are to be communicated to the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards.

 

 

(b)

Review and formally recommend approval to the Board of the Corporation’s:

 

 

(i)

Year-end audited financial statements. Such review shall include discussions with management and the external auditors as to:

 

i.

The accounting policies of the Corporation and any changes thereto.

 

ii.

The effect of significant judgments, accruals and estimates.

 

iii.

The manner of presentation of significant accounting items.

 

iv.

The consistency of disclosure.

 

(ii)

Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 

(iii)

Annual Information Form as to financial information.

 

(iv)

All prospectuses and information circulars as to financial information.

 

The review shall include a report from the external auditors about the quality of the most critical accounting principles upon which the Corporation’s financial status depends, and which involve the most complex, subjective or significant judgmental decisions or assessments.

 

14.Quarterly Financial Statements

 

 

(a)

Review with management and the external auditors and either approve (such approval to include the authorization for public release) or formally recommend for approval to the Board the Corporation’s:

 

 

(i)

Quarterly unaudited financial statements and related documents, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 

(ii)

Any significant changes to the Corporation’s accounting principles.

 

(b)

Review quarterly unaudited financial statements prior to their distribution of any subsidiary of the Corporation with public securities.

 

15.Other Financial Filings and Public Documents

 

Review and discuss with management financial information, including earnings press releases, the use of “pro forma” or non-GAAP financial information and earnings guidance, contained in any filings with the CSA or SEC or press releases related thereto, and consider whether the information is consistent with the information contained in the financial statements of the Corporation or any subsidiary with public securities.

 

16.Internal Control Environment

 

 

(a)

Receive and review from management, the external auditors and the internal auditors an annual report on the Corporation’s control environment as it pertains to the Corporation’s financial reporting process and controls.

 

 

(b)

Review and discuss significant financial risks or exposures and assess the steps management has taken to monitor, control, report and mitigate such risk to the Corporation.

C4

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

 

(c)

Review in consultation with the internal auditors and the external auditors the degree of coordination in the audit plans of the internal auditors and the external auditors and enquire as to the extent the planned scope can be relied upon to detect weaknesses in internal controls, fraud, or other illegal acts. The Committee will assess the coordination of audit effort to assure completeness of coverage and the effective use of audit resources. Any significant recommendations made by the auditors for the strengthening of internal controls shall be reviewed and discussed with management.

 

 

(d)

Review with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and the external auditors: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Corporation’s internal controls and procedures for financial reporting which could adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act or applicable Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations within the required time periods, and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management of the Corporation or other employees who have a significant role in the Corporation’s internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.

 

 

(e)

Review significant findings prepared by the external auditors and the internal auditing department together with management’s responses.

 

17.Risk Oversight

 

Review and evaluate the Corporation’s risk management framework and related processes including the supporting guidelines and practice documents.

 

18.Other Review Items

 

 

(a)

Review the process for the certification of the interim and annual financial statements by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and the certifications made by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 

 

(b)

Review policies and procedures with respect to officers’ and directors’ expense accounts and perquisites, including their use of corporate assets, and consider the results of any review of these areas by the internal auditor or the external auditors.

 

 

(c)

Review all related party transactions between the Corporation and any executive officers or directors, including affiliations of any executive officers or directors.

 

 

(d)

Review with the General Counsel, the head of internal audit and the external auditors the results of their review of the Corporation’s monitoring of compliance with each of the Corporation’s published codes of business conduct and applicable legal requirements.

 

 

(e)

Review legal and regulatory matters, including correspondence with and reports received from regulators and government agencies, that may have a material impact on the interim or annual financial statements and related corporate compliance policies and programs. Members from the Legal and Tax groups should be at the meeting in person to deliver their respective reports.

 

 

(f)

Review policies and practices with respect to off-balance sheet transactions and trading and hedging activities, and consider the results of any review of these areas by the internal auditors or the external auditors.

 

 

(g)

Ensure that the Corporation’s presentation of hydrocarbon reserves has been reviewed with the Safety, Environment, Responsibility and Reserves Committee of the Board.

 

 

(h)

Review management’s processes in place to prevent and detect fraud.

 

 

(i)

Review:

 

 

(i)

procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Corporation, including confidential, anonymous submissions by employees of the Corporation, regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and

 

(ii)

a summary of any significant investigations regarding such matters.

 

 

(j)

Meet on a periodic basis separately with management.

C5

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

 

19.External Auditors

 

 

(a)

Be directly responsible, in the Committee’s capacity as a committee of the Board and subject to the rights of shareholders and applicable law, for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the external auditors (including resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report, or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation. The external auditors shall report directly to the Committee.

 

 

(b)

Meet on a regular basis with the external auditors (without management present) and have the external auditors be available to attend Committee meetings or portions thereof at the request of the Chair of the Committee or by a majority of the members of the Committee.

 

 

(c)

Review and discuss a report from the external auditors at least quarterly regarding:

 

 

(i)

All critical accounting policies and practices to be used;

 

(ii)

All alternative treatments within accounting principles for policies and practices related to material items that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the external auditors; and

 

(iii)

Other material written communications between the external auditors and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.

 

 

(d)

Obtain and review a report from the external auditors at least annually regarding:

 

 

(i)

The external auditors’ internal quality-control procedures.

 

(ii)

Any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the external auditors, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the external auditors, and any steps taken to deal with those issues.

 

(iii)

To the extent contemplated in the following paragraph, all relationships between the external auditors and the Corporation.

 

 

(e)

Review and discuss at least annually with the external auditors all relationships that the external auditors and their affiliates have with the Corporation and its affiliates in order to determine the external auditors’ independence, including, without limitation, (i) receiving and reviewing, as part of the report described in the preceding paragraph, a formal written statement from the external auditors delineating all relationships that may reasonably be thought to bear on the independence of the external auditors with respect to the Corporation and its affiliates, (ii) discussing with the external auditors any disclosed relationships or services that the external auditors believe may affect the objectivity and independence of the external auditors, and (iii) recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response to the external auditors’ report to satisfy itself of the external auditors’ independence.

 

 

(f)

Review and evaluate annually:

 

 

(i)

The external auditors’ and the lead partner of the external auditors’ team’s performance, and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors regarding the reappointment of the external auditors at the annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders or regarding the discharge of such external auditors.

 

(ii)

The terms of engagement of the external auditors together with their proposed fees.

 

(iii)

External audit plans and results.

 

(iv)

Any other related audit engagement matters.

 

(v)

The engagement of the external auditors to perform non-audit services, together with the fees therefor, and the impact thereof, on the independence of the external auditors.

 

(vi)

Review the Annual Report of the Canadian Public Accountability Board (“CPAB”) concerning audit quality in Canada and discuss implications for Cenovus.

C6

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

 

(vii)

Review any reports issued by CPAB regarding the audit of Cenovus.

 

 

(g)

Conduct periodically a comprehensive review of the external auditor, with the outcome intended to assist the Committee to identify potential areas for improvement for the audit firm, and to reach a final conclusion on whether the auditor should be reappointed or the audit put out for tender.

 

 

(h)

Upon reviewing and discussing the information provided to the Committee in accordance with paragraphs 19.(c) through (f), evaluate the external auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence, including whether or not the external auditors’ quality controls are adequate and the provision of permitted non-audit services is compatible with maintaining auditor independence, taking into account the opinions of management and the head of internal audit. The Committee shall present to the Board its conclusions in this respect.

 

 

(i)

Review the rotation of partners on the audit engagement team in accordance with applicable law. Consider whether, in order to assure continuing external auditor independence, it is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating the external auditing firm on a regular basis.

 

 

(j)

Set clear hiring policies for the Corporation’s hiring of employees or former employees of the external auditors.

 

 

(k)

Consider with management and the external auditors the rationale for employing audit firms other than the principal external auditors.

 

 

(l)

Consider and review with the external auditors, management and the head of internal audit:

 

 

(i)

Significant findings during the year and management’s responses and follow-up thereto.

 

(ii)

Any difficulties encountered in the course of their audits, including any restrictions on the scope of their work or access to required information, and management’s response.

 

(iii)

Any significant disagreements between the external auditors or internal auditors and management.

 

(iv)

Any changes required in the planned scope of their audit plan.

 

(v)

The resources, budget, reporting relationships, responsibilities and planned activities of the internal auditors.

 

(vi)

The internal audit department mandate.

 

(vii)

Internal audit’s compliance with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ standards.

 

20.Internal Audit Group and Independence

 

 

(a)

Meet on a periodic basis separately with the head of internal audit.

 

 

(b)

Review and concur in the appointment, compensation, replacement, reassignment, or dismissal of the head of internal audit.

 

 

(c)

Review with the head of internal audit the Internal Audit budget, resource plan, activities, organizational structure of the internal audit function and the qualifications of the internal auditors.

 

 

(d)

Confirm and assure, annually, the independence of the internal audit group.

 

 

(e)

Approve the Internal Audit Charter, and the annual Internal Audit Plan.

 

 

(f)

Review the performance and effectiveness of the Internal Audit function including conformance with The Institute of Internal Auditors’ International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and the Code of Ethics.

 

21.Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

 

 

(a)

Review and, where appropriate, approve the provision of all permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) in advance of the provision of those services by the external auditors (subject to the de minimus exception for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act or applicable CSA and SEC legislation and regulations, which services are approved by the Committee prior to the completion of the audit).

 

 

(b)

Review and, where appropriate and permitted, approve the provision of all audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) in advance of the provision of those services by the external auditors.

 

C7

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

(c)

If the pre-approvals contemplated in paragraphs 21.(a) and (b) are not obtained, approve, where appropriate and permitted, the provision of all audit and non-audit services promptly after the Committee or a member of the Committee to whom authority is delegated becomes aware of the provision of those services.

 

 

(d)

Delegate, if the Committee deems necessary or desirable, to subcommittees consisting of one or more members of the Committee, the authority to grant the pre-approvals and approvals described in paragraphs 21.(a) through (c). The decision of any such subcommittee to grant pre-approval shall be presented to the full Committee at the next scheduled Committee meeting.

 

 

(e)

Establish policies and procedures for the pre-approvals described in paragraphs 21.(a) and (b) so long as such policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service, the Committee is informed of each service and such policies and procedures do not include delegation to management of the Committee’s responsibilities under the Exchange Act or applicable CSA and SEC legislation and regulations.

 

22.Other Matters

 

 

(a)

Review and concur in the appointment, replacement, reassignment, or dismissal of the Chief Financial Officer.

 

 

(b)

Upon a majority vote of the Committee outside resources may be engaged where and if deemed advisable.

 

 

(c)

Report Committee actions to the Board of Directors with such recommendations as the Committee may deem appropriate.

 

 

(d)

Conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities. The Committee shall be empowered to retain, obtain advice or otherwise receive assistance from independent counsel, accountants, or others to assist it in the conduct of any investigation as it deems necessary and the carrying out of its duties.

 

 

(e)

Determine the appropriate funding for payment by the Corporation (i) of compensation to the external auditors for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation, (ii) of compensation to any advisors employed by the Committee, and (iii) of ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

 

 

(f)

Review and reassess the adequacy of this Mandate annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration and, if appropriate, recommendation to the Board for approval.

 

 

(g)

Consider for implementation any recommendations of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board with respect to the Committee’s effectiveness, structure, processes or mandate.

 

 

(h)

Perform such other functions as required by law, the Corporation’s by-laws or the Board of Directors.

 

 

(i)

Consider any other matters referred to it by the Board of Directors.

 

 

The duties and responsibilities of a member of the Committee are in addition to those duties set out for a member of the Board.

 

Revised Effective: February 8, 2021

 

 

C8

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


 

APPENDIX D

NETBACK RECONCILIATIONS

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. 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 non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the inventory is sold. Netbacks reflect Cenovus’s margin on a per-barrel basis of unblended bitumen and crude oil. As such, the bitumen and crude oil sales price, transportation and blending costs, and sales volumes exclude the impact of purchased condensate. Condensate is blended with the bitumen and heavy crude oil to reduce its thickness in order to transport it to market. Cenovus’s Netback calculation is aligned with the definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the financial components comprising Netbacks (in millions of dollars) to the nearest GAAP measure found in the annual and interim consolidated financial statements.

Year ended December 31, 2020

($ millions)

 

Per Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

Oil Sands(1)

 

Conventional(1)

 

 

Total Upstream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Sales

7,514

 

635

 

 

8,149

Less: Royalties

324

 

40

 

 

364

 

7,190

 

595

 

 

7,785

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation and Blending

4,399

 

81

 

 

4,480

Operating

1,094

 

318

 

 

1,412

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

316

 

-

 

 

316

Netback

1,381

 

196

 

 

1,577

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

268

 

-

 

 

268

Operating Margin

1,113

 

196

 

 

1,309

 

 

Basis of Netback Calculation

 

Adjustments

 

Per Above Table

 

Bitumen

Heavy

Crude

Oil

Light and

Medium

Oil

NGLs

Natural
Gas

 

Condensate

Inventory(2)

Other

 

Total Upstream

Gross Sales

4,053

30

71

157

328

 

3,452

-

58

 

8,149

Royalties

330

1

11

15

13

 

-

(6)

-

 

364

Transportation and Blending

1,232

2

5

30

 

44

 

3,452

(285)

-

 

 

4,480

Operating

1,109

9

18

65

203

 

-

(25)

33

 

1,412

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

-

316

-

 

316

Netback

1,382

18

37

47

68

 

-

-

25

 

1,577

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

268

Operating Margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,309

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Netbacks do not reflect non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the inventory is sold.

 


D1

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Three months ended December 31, 2020

($ millions)

 

Per Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

Oil Sands(1)

 

Conventional(1)

 

 

Total Upstream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Sales

2,227

 

184

 

 

2,411

Less: Royalties

131

 

12

 

 

143

 

2,096

 

172

 

 

2,268

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation and Blending

1,131

 

18

 

 

1,149

Operating

309

 

72

 

 

381

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

 

-

 

 

-

Netback

656

 

82

 

 

738

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

40

 

-

 

 

40

Operating Margin

616

 

82

 

 

698

 

 

Basis of Netback Calculation

 

Adjustments

 

Per Above Table

 

Bitumen

Heavy

Crude

Oil

Light and

Medium

Oil

NGLs

Natural
Gas

 

Condensate

Inventory(2)

Other

 

Total Upstream

Gross Sales

1,371

6

18

47

99

 

853

-

17

 

2,411

Royalties

131

-

3

8

1

 

-

-

-

 

143

Transportation and Blending

278

-

1

7

 

10

 

853

-

-

 

 

1,149

Operating

306

2

3

15

45

 

-

-

10

 

381

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

-

-

-

 

-

Netback

656

4

11

17

43

 

-

-

7

 

738

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

Operating Margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

698

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Netbacks do not reflect non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the inventory is sold.

Three months ended September 30, 2020

($ millions)

 

Per Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

Oil Sands(1)

 

Conventional(1)

 

 

Total Upstream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Sales

2,195

 

156

 

 

2,351

Less: Royalties

129

 

24

 

 

153

 

2,066

 

132

 

 

2,198

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation and Blending

1,015

 

21

 

 

1,036

Operating

276

 

81

 

 

357

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

 

-

 

 

-

Netback

775

 

30

 

 

805

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

137

 

-

 

 

137

Operating Margin

638

 

30

 

 

668

 

 

Basis of Netback Calculation

 

Adjustments

 

Per Above Table

 

Bitumen

Heavy

Crude

Oil

Light and

Medium

Oil

NGLs

Natural
Gas

 

Condensate

Inventory(2)

Other

 

Total Upstream

Gross Sales

1,447

11

20

36

78

 

747

-

12

 

2,351

Royalties

129

1

2

12

9

 

-

-

-

 

153

Transportation and Blending

274

1

2

7

 

11

 

747

(6)

-

 

 

1,036

Operating

274

2

4

17

53

 

-

-

7

 

357

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

-

-

-

 

-

Netback

770

7

12

-

5

 

-

6

5

 

805

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

137

Operating Margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

668

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Netbacks do not reflect non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the inventory is sold.


D2

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


Three months ended June 30, 2020

($ millions)

 

Per Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

Oil Sands(1)

 

Conventional(1)

 

 

Total Upstream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Sales

1,065

 

133

 

 

1,198

Less: Royalties

20

 

1

 

 

21

 

1,045

 

132

 

 

1,177

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation and Blending

649

 

19

 

 

668

Operating

224

 

81

 

 

305

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

(19)

 

-

 

 

(19)

Netback

191

 

32

 

 

223

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

66

 

-

 

 

66

Operating Margin

125

 

32

 

 

157

 

 

Basis of Netback Calculation

 

Adjustments

 

Per Above Table

 

Bitumen

Heavy

Crude

Oil

Light and

Medium

Oil

NGLs

Natural
Gas

 

Condensate

Inventory(2)

Other

 

Total Upstream

Gross Sales

425

3

11

34

73

 

639

-

13

 

1,198

Royalties

26

-

2

(3)

2

 

-

(6)

-

 

21

Transportation and Blending

289

-

1

7

 

12

 

639

(279)

(1)

 

 

668

Operating

248

2

5

17

52

 

-

(25)

6

 

305

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

-

(19)

-

 

(19)

Netback

(138)

1

3

13

7

 

-

329

8

 

223

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66

Operating Margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

157

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Netbacks do not reflect non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the inventory is sold.

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2020

($ millions)

 

Per Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

Oil Sands(1)

 

Conventional(1)

 

 

Total Upstream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Sales

2,027

 

162

 

 

2,189

Less: Royalties

44

 

3

 

 

47

 

1,983

 

159

 

 

2,142

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation and Blending

1,604

 

23

 

 

1,627

Operating

285

 

84

 

 

369

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

335

 

-

 

 

335

Netback

(241)

 

52

 

 

(189)

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

25

 

-

 

 

25

Operating Margin

(266)

 

52

 

 

(214)

 

 

Basis of Netback Calculation

 

Adjustments

 

Per Above Table

 

Bitumen

Heavy

Crude

Oil

Light and

Medium

Oil

NGLs

Natural
Gas

 

Condensate

Inventory(2)

Other

 

Total Upstream

Gross Sales

810

10

22

40

78

 

1,213

-

16

 

2,189

Royalties

44

-

4

(2)

1

 

-

-

-

 

47

Transportation and Blending

391

1

1

9

 

11

 

1,213

-

1

 

 

1,627

Operating

281

3

6

16

53

 

-

-

10

 

369

Inventory Write-Down (Reversal)

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

-

335

-

 

335

Netback

94

6

11

17

13

 

-

(335)

5

 

(189)

(Gain) Loss on Risk Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

Operating Margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(214)

 

(1)

Found in Note 1 of the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Netbacks do not reflect non-cash write-downs of product inventory until the inventory is sold.


D3

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form


The following table provides the sales volumes used to calculate Netback.

Sales Volumes

(barrels per day, unless otherwise stated)

2020

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1

Bitumen

 

 

 

 

 

Foster Creek

164,906

161,108

158,280

171,139

169,207

Christina Lake

221,675

220,676

238,140

198,954

228,764

Total Bitumen

386,581

381,784

396,420

370,093

397,971

Crude Oil (Heavy, Light and Medium) and NGLs

 

 

 

 

 

Heavy Crude Oil

2,640

1,922

3,087

1,981

3,576

Light and Medium Oil

4,493

4,263

4,318

4,309

5,086

NGLs

19,513

18,358

18,297

20,320

21,104

Total Bitumen, Crude Oil (Heavy, Light and Medium) and NGLs Sales

413,227

406,327

422,122

396,703

427,737

Natural Gas Sales (MMcf/d)(1)

380

371

360

392

395

Total Sales (BOE/d)

476,488

468,249

482,133

462,068

493,529

 

(1)

Includes volume sold between segments.

 

D4

Cenovus Energy Inc.2020 Annual Information Form