Cenovus May Restart Another Two Deferred Oil Sands Projects
CALGARY, Alberta, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Canadian oil and gas producer Cenovus Energy Inc said on Thursday it is doing engineering and design work at two of its deferred oil sands projects in northern Alberta and it could potentially reactivate them in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The two projects, Foster Creek phase H and Narrows Lake phase A, would add up to 75,000 barrels per day of production. That would be in addition to Cenovus' 50,000 bpd Christina Lake phase G project, which the company said in December it was restarting.
Chief Executive Brian Ferguson said Cenovus has not made a sanctioning decision yet but will provide more information on capital costs and timing of a decision in June.
"We've got a very clear, full portfolio of opportunities in the oil sands where we literally have the next five years of investment opportunity ahead of us," Ferguson told analysts on a quarterly earnings call.
Calgary-based Cenovus has committed to capacity on TransCanada Corp's proposed Keystone XL and Energy East pipelines, Ferguson said, although he did not specify volumes.
Ferguson also told Reuters in an interview that given Cenovus' oil sands growth outlook, the company is more likely to sell than buy any production assets, and a couple of conventional oil projects have been earmarked for sale when markets are deemed appropriate.
The remarks came as Cenovus reported a surprise fourth-quarter profit as production rose and costs fell.
The company said its oil sands operating costs fell 12 percent in 2016, while operating costs for its conventional oil assets fell 10 percent.
Cenovus' total crude oil production rose about 10 percent to 219,551 barrels per day in the fourth quarter. Expansions at its Christina Lake and Foster Creek projects in northern Alberta increased total oil sands production capacity by 26 percent to an average of 390,000 barrels per day in the quarter.
Operating earnings were C$321 million, or 39 cents a share, compared with a loss of C$438 million, or 53 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Analysts had expected the company to report a quarterly loss. Cenovus shares were last up 0.4 percent on the Toronto Stock Exchange at C$18.03.
Cenovus reported net earnings of C$91 million ($69.73 million), or 11 Canadian cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of C$641 million, or 77 cents per share, in the year-prior quarter.
($1 = 1.3050 Canadian dollars)
(Additional reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Leslie Adler)
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Weatherford CEO's Rebound Plan Relies On Getting Smaller
- Iran Says Oil Market Is Too Tight For US Zero Exports Target
- China's Squeezed 'Teapots' Eye Petchem Path To Riches
- Baker Hughes: US Drillers Add Oil Rigs For Second Week In Three
- Venezuela Hands China More Oil Presence, But No Mention Of New Funds
- Falcon Oil Declares Commercial Flow Test Results for Shenandoah Well
- UK Oil Regulator Publishes New Emissions Reduction Plan
- Japan Failing to Meet Corporate Demand for Clean Power: Amazon
- PetroChina Posts Higher Annual Profit on Higher Production
- McDermott Settles Reficar Dispute
- Macquarie Strategists Expect Brent Oil Price to Grind Higher
- US, SKorea Launch Task Force to Stop Illicit Refined Oil Flows into NKorea
- Russian Navy Enters Warship-Crowded Red Sea Amid Houthi Attacks
- Pennsylvania County Joins List of Local Govts Suing Big Oil over Climate
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call
- India Halts Russia Oil Supplies From Sanctioned Tanker Giant
- DOI Announces Proposal for Second GOM Offshore Wind Auction
- Centcom, Dryad Outline Recent Moves Around Red Sea Region
- PetroChina Set to Receive Venezuelan Oil
- Czech Conglomerate to Buy Major Stake in Gasnet for $917MM
- US DOE Offers $44MM in Funding to Boost Clean Power Distribution
- Oil Settles Lower as Stronger Dollar Offsets Tighter Market
- UK Grid Operator Receives Aid to Advance Rural Decarbonization
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call