EX-99.4 5 cve-994.htm EX-99.4 cve-40f_20191231.htm

 

Exhibit 99.4

 


 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Supplementary Information – Oil and Gas Activities (unaudited)

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019

(Canadian Dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

DISCLOSURES ABOUT OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES TOPIC 932 “EXTRACTIVE ACTIVITIES – OIL AND GAS” (unaudited)

 

The following select disclosures of Cenovus Energy Inc.’s (“Cenovus” or the “Company”) reserves and other oil and gas information have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Topic 932, “Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas” and the U.S. disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

All amounts pertaining to Cenovus’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). Unless otherwise noted, all dollars are in millions of Canadian dollars. All references to C$ or $ are to Canadian dollars and references to US$ are to U.S. dollars.

RESERVES DATA

 

The SEC Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting final rules require that proved after royalty reserves be estimated using existing economic conditions (constant pricing). Cenovus’s results have been calculated using the average of the first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve-month period. This same twelve-month average price is also used in calculating the aggregate amount of (and changes in) future cash inflows related to the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows. Future fluctuations in prices, production rates, or changes in political or regulatory environments could cause Cenovus’s share of future production from Canadian reserves to be materially different from that presented.

 

The reserves disclosed are effective December 31, 2019, and were prepared by the independent, qualified reserves evaluators McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. and GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. There are significant differences between reserves evaluated under the SEC requirements and those presented in the Company’s Annual Information Form filed under National Instrument 51-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities” (“NI 51-101”). NI 51-101 requires disclosure of before royalties reserves and the associated values using forecasted prices and costs.

 

The reserves presented in this supplemental information are estimates only. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. In general, estimates of economically recoverable bitumen, crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas reserves and the future net cash flows derived therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, including but not limited to: product prices; future operating and capital costs; historical production from the properties and the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies, including with respect to environmental regulations, royalty payments and taxes; initial production rates; production decline rates; and the availability, proximity and capacity of oil and gas gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities, all of which may vary considerably from actual results.

 

All such estimates are to some degree uncertain and classifications of reserves are only attempts to define the degree of uncertainty involved. For those reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable bitumen, crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, classification of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues expected therefrom, prepared by different engineers or by the same engineers at different times, may vary substantially. Cenovus’s actual production, sales, royalty payments, taxes and development and operating expenditures with respect to its reserves may vary from current estimates and such variances may be material. Actual reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates disclosed. For a full discussion of Cenovus’s material risk factors refer to “Risk Management and Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual 2019 Management’s Discussion and Analysis included in the annual report on Form 40-F of which this document forms a part.

 

Estimates with respect to reserves that may be developed and produced in the future are often based upon volumetric calculations and upon analogy to similar types of reserves, rather than upon actual production history. Subsequent evaluation of the same reserves based upon production history will result in variations, which may be material, in the estimated reserves.

 

Canadian provincial royalties are determined based on a graduated percentage scale which varies with prices and production rates. Canadian reserves, as presented on a net basis, assume royalty rates in existence at the time the estimates were made.

 

The reserves data contained herein is dated February 11, 2020 with an effective date of December 31, 2019.


Cenovus Energy Inc.

2

Supplementary Information – Oil and Gas Activities (unaudited)

                                                                                                                       


 

OIL AND GAS RESERVES INFORMATION

 

All of Cenovus’s reserves are located in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.

 

Net Proved Reserves (Cenovus Share After Royalties) (1)(2)
Average Fiscal-Year Prices

 

Bitumen

 

 

Crude Oil

 

 

Natural Gas Liquids

 

 

Natural Gas

 

 

Total

 

 

(MMbbls) (3)

 

 

(MMbbls) (3)

 

 

(MMbbls) (3)

 

 

(Bcf) (3)

 

 

(MMBOE) (3)

 

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

3,966

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

80

 

 

 

1,794

 

 

 

4,369

 

Revisions and improved recovery

 

155

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(10

)

 

 

(170

)

 

 

116

 

Extensions and discoveries

 

112

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

175

 

 

 

158

 

Sale of reserves in place

 

-

 

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(27

)

 

 

(553

)

 

 

(133

)

Production

 

(118

)

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(187

)

 

 

(160

)

End of year

 

4,115

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

1,059

 

 

 

4,350

 

Developed

 

667

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

860

 

 

 

856

 

Undeveloped

 

3,448

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

3,494

 

Total

 

4,115

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

1,059

 

 

 

4,350

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

4,115

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

1,059

 

 

 

4,350

 

Revisions and improved recovery

 

(212

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

(211

)

Extensions and discoveries

 

14

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

22

 

Purchase of reserves in place

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

-

 

Sale of reserves in place

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

-

 

Production

 

(103

)

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(158

)

 

 

(139

)

End of year

 

3,814

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

936

 

 

 

4,022

 

Developed

 

764

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

761

 

 

 

930

 

Undeveloped

 

3,050

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

175

 

 

 

3,092

 

Total

 

3,814

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

936

 

 

 

4,022

 

(1)

Definitions:

(a) “Net” reserves are the remaining reserves attributable to Cenovus, after deduction of estimated royalties and including royalty interests.

(b) “Proved” oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made.

(c) “Developed” oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well.

(d) “Undeveloped” reserves are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

(2)

Estimates of total net proved bitumen, crude oil, natural gas liquids, or natural gas reserves are not filed by Cenovus with any U.S. federal authority or agency other than the SEC.

(3)

“Million barrels” is abbreviated as MMbbls, “billion cubic feet” is abbreviated as Bcf, and “million barrel of oil equivalent” is abbreviated as MMBOE.

Changes to Reserves

The explanation of significant year-over-year changes in the Company’s net proved reserves for the year ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 is set forth below.

Year ended December 31, 2018

The changes to the Company’s net proved bitumen reserves in 2018 are explained as follows:

 

Revisions and improved recovery: Improved performance for the Christina Lake, Foster Creek, and Narrows Lake properties, increased net proved reserves by 69 million barrels. In addition, lower bitumen prices decreased royalties payable for the Company’s Christina Lake, Foster Creek and Narrows Lake properties and resulted in increased net proved reserves of 86 million barrels.

 

Extensions and discoveries: The recognition of lower continuous net pay thickness cut‑offs for the Christina Lake, Foster Creek and Narrows Lake properties increased reserves by 98 million barrels. In 2018, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved an area expansion at the Foster Creek property, increasing the Company’s net proved reserves by 14 million barrels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

3

Supplementary Information – Oil and Gas Activities (unaudited)

                                                                                                                       


 

The changes to the Company’s net proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas in 2018 are explained as follows:

 

Sale of reserves in place: The Company sold its Suffield property and Cenovus Pipestone Partnership, reducing its net proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas by 14 million barrels, 27 million barrels and 553 billion cubic feet, respectively.

 

Revisions and improved recovery: The year‑over‑year decrease in natural gas price decreased reserves of natural gas liquids and natural gas by three million barrels and 82 billion cubic feet, respectively. Technical revisions attributable to the re‑allocation of Deep Basin development spend decreased net proved reserves of natural gas liquids and natural gas of seven million barrels and 88 billion cubic feet, respectively.

 

Extensions and discoveries: Successful Deep Basin development identified net proved reserves of natural gas liquids and natural gas of 11 million barrels and 175 billion cubic feet, respectively.

Year ended December 31, 2019

The changes to the Company’s net proved bitumen reserves in 2019 are explained as follows:

 

Revisions and improved recovery: Increased bitumen prices resulted in higher royalties payable for the Company’s Christina Lake and Foster Creek properties which resulted in a decrease in net proved reserves of 212 million barrels.

 

Extensions and discoveries: Recognition of a phase expansion at Christina Lake increased the Company’s net proved reserves by 14 million barrels.

 

The changes to the Company’s net proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas in 2019 are explained as follows:

 

Extensions and discoveries: The Marten Hills development identified two million barrels of net proved crude oil reserves. Deep Basin development identified net proved reserves of natural gas liquids and natural gas of two million barrels and 32 billion cubic feet, respectively.

STANDARDIZED MEASURE OF DISCOUNTED FUTURE NET CASH FLOWS AND CHANGES THEREIN

 

In calculating the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, the average of the first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve-month period and cost assumptions were applied to Cenovus’s annual future production from net proved reserves to determine cash inflows. Future production and development costs do not include any cost inflation and assume the continuation of existing economic, operating and regulatory conditions. Future income taxes are calculated by applying statutory income tax rates to future pre-tax cash flows after provision for the tax cost of the oil and natural gas properties based upon existing laws and regulations. The discount was computed by application of a 10 percent discount factor to the future net cash flows. The calculation of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is based upon the discounted future net cash flows prepared by independent qualified reserves evaluators in relation to the reserves they respectively evaluated, and adjusted to the extent provided by contractual arrangements such as price risk management activities, in existence at year end and to account for asset retirement obligations and future income taxes.

 

Cenovus cautions that the discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves are an indication of neither the fair market value of Cenovus’s oil and gas properties, nor the future net cash flows expected to be generated from such properties. The discounted future net cash flows do not include the fair market value of exploratory properties and probable or possible oil and gas reserves, nor is consideration given to the effect of anticipated future changes in crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas prices, development, asset retirement and production costs and possible changes to tax and royalty regulations. The prescribed discount rate of 10 percent may not appropriately reflect future interest rates. The computation also excludes values attributable to Cenovus’s enhancing the netback price of the Company’s proprietary production.

 


 


 

Computation of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves were based on the following average of the first-day-of-the-month benchmark prices for the twelve-month period before the end of the year:

 

 

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids

 

 

Natural Gas

 

 

WTI (1)

Cushing

Oklahoma

 

 

WCS (2)

 

 

Edmonton MSW (3)

 

 

Edmonton C5+

 

 

Henry Hub Louisiana

 

 

AECO (4)

 

 

(US$/bbl)

 

 

(C$/bbl)

 

 

(C$/bbl)

 

 

(C$/bbl)

 

 

(US$/MMBtu)

 

 

(C$/MMBtu)

 

2019

 

55.69

 

 

 

55.65

 

 

 

67.09

 

 

 

69.19

 

 

 

2.58

 

 

 

1.76

 

2018

 

65.56

 

 

 

48.59

 

 

 

68.92

 

 

 

79.61

 

 

 

3.10

 

 

 

1.67

 

(1)

WTI is an abbreviation for West Texas Intermediate.

(2)

WCS is an abbreviation for Western Canadian Select.

(3)

MSW is an abbreviation for Mixed Sweet Blend.

(4)

AECO is an abbreviation for Alberta Energy Company.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves

($ millions)

2019

 

 

2018

 

Future cash inflows

 

164,640

 

 

 

106,744

 

Less future:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production costs

 

38,880

 

 

 

42,399

 

Development costs

 

22,625

 

 

 

24,895

 

Asset retirement obligation payments (1)

 

3,524

 

 

 

3,504

 

Income taxes (2)

 

22,031

 

 

 

8,040

 

Future net cash flows

 

77,580

 

 

 

27,906

 

Less 10 percent annual discount for estimated timing of cash flow

 

50,370

 

 

 

17,123

 

Discounted future net cash flow

 

27,210

 

 

 

10,783

 

(1)

Includes future abandonment and reclamation costs associated with existing and future wells having attributed reserves, non‑reserves wells and gathering systems, batteries, plants and processing facilities. The Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves (“SMOG”) for 2018 has been re-presented to include abandonment and reclamation costs of $213 million on a discounted basis and $1,604 million on an undiscounted basis relating to non‑reserves wells and gathering systems, batteries, plants and processing facilities.

(2)

Income taxes for 2018 have been updated to reflect the change in abandonment and reclamation costs noted above.

Changes in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves

($ millions)

2019

 

 

2018 (1)

 

Balance, beginning of year

 

10,783

 

 

 

19,372

 

Changes resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales of oil and gas produced during the period (2)

 

(3,723

)

 

 

(1,435

)

Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery, net of related cost

 

153

 

 

 

475

 

Purchases of proved reserves in place

1

 

 

 

-

 

Sales of proved reserves in place

 

(1

)

 

 

(411

)

Net change in prices and production costs (2)

 

24,360

 

 

 

(12,993

)

Revisions to quantity estimates

 

(454

)

 

 

266

 

Accretion of discount

 

1,325

 

 

 

2,505

 

Previously estimated development costs incurred net of change in future development costs

 

75

 

 

 

405

 

Other

 

(425

)

 

 

(607

)

Net change in income taxes

 

(4,884

)

 

 

3,206

 

Balance, end of year

 

27,210

 

 

 

10,783

 

(1)

Updated due to the re-presentation of SMOG to include abandonment and reclamation costs associated with non-reserves wells and gathering systems, batteries, plants and processing facilities.

(2)

On January 1, 2019, Cenovus adopted IFRS 16, “Leases” (“IFRS 16”), which prescribes a different accounting treatment for operating leases than U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“US GAAP”). Under US GAAP, the amortization of a right-of-use asset and interest expense related to an operating lease are recorded by nature of the expense on the income statement (production costs). Under IFRS 16, amortization of a right-of-use asset and interest expense are classified as depreciation expense and finance costs, respectively. As a result, changes in SMOG due to the amortization of right-of-use assets and interest payments have been included by Cenovus in “Net change in prices and production costs”.

 


Cenovus Energy Inc.

5

Supplementary Information – Oil and Gas Activities (unaudited)

                                                                                                                       


 

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Results of Operations

($ millions)

2019

 

 

2018

 

Oil and gas sales to external customers, net of royalties, transportation and blending and realized risk management

 

4,683

 

 

 

2,332

 

Intersegment sales

 

417

 

 

 

517

 

 

 

5,100

 

 

 

2,849

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs, production and mineral taxes, and accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

1,434

 

 

 

1,474

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

1,862

 

 

 

1,851

 

Exploration expense

 

82

 

 

 

2,123

 

Operating income

 

1,722

 

 

 

(2,599

)

Income taxes

 

456

 

 

 

(702

)

Results of operations

 

1,266

 

 

 

(1,897

)

Capitalized Costs

($ millions)

2019

 

 

2018

 

Proved oil and gas properties

 

29,365

 

 

 

28,379

 

Unproved oil and gas properties (1)

 

787

 

 

 

785

 

Total capital cost

 

30,152

 

 

 

29,164

 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

6,008

 

 

 

4,251

 

Net capitalized costs

 

24,144

 

 

 

24,913

 

(1)

Unproved oil and gas properties include exploration and evaluation assets for which no proved reserves have been recognized.

Costs Incurred

($ millions)

2019

 

 

2018

 

Acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unproved (1)

 

4

 

 

 

16

 

Proved (2) (3)

 

5

 

 

 

325

 

Total acquisitions

 

9

 

 

 

341

 

Exploration costs

 

73

 

 

 

55

 

Development costs

 

686

 

 

 

1,043

 

Total costs incurred

 

768

 

 

 

1,439

 

(1)

An unproved property is a property to which no proved or probable reserves have been specifically attributed.

(2)

A proved property is a property to which proved and probable reserves have been specifically attributed.

(3)

Asset retirement costs are included in the year of acquisition.

 

Cenovus Energy Inc.

6

Supplementary Information – Oil and Gas Activities (unaudited)