Strathcona Resources Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial and Operating Results
Highlights
- Production of 185,122 boe/d (71% oil and condensate, 77% liquids)(1)
- Operating Earnings of
$209.0 million ($0.98 / share)(2) - Free Cash Flow of
$157.9 million ($0.74 / share)(2)
|
Three Months Ended |
||
($ millions, unless otherwise indicated) |
|
|
|
WTI (US$ / bbl) |
76.96 |
76.13 |
78.32 |
WCS Hardisty (C$ / bbl) |
77.77 |
69.31 |
76.85 |
AECO 5A (C$ / mcf) |
2.50 |
3.22 |
2.30 |
|
|
|
|
Bitumen (bbls/d) |
60,150 |
51,097 |
59,845 |
Heavy oil (bbls/d) |
51,835 |
57,443 |
52,736 |
Condensate and light oil (bbls/d) |
19,279 |
8,068 |
19,184 |
Total oil production (bbls/d) |
131,264 |
116,608 |
131,765 |
Other NGLs (bbls/d) |
11,738 |
8,501 |
11,906 |
Natural gas (mcf/d) |
252,720 |
114,304 |
254,361 |
Production (boe/d) |
185,122 |
144,160 |
186,064 |
Sales (boe/d) |
182,862 |
146,877 |
184,360 |
% Oil and condensate |
71 % |
81 % |
71 % |
% Liquids(1) |
77 % |
87 % |
77 % |
|
|
|
|
Oil and natural gas sales, net of blending costs and other income(2) |
1,004.3 |
761.5 |
1,003.7 |
Royalties |
126.2 |
113.1 |
134.9 |
Production and operating - Energy |
78.8 |
88.7 |
72.5 |
Production and operating - Non-energy |
135.4 |
115.9 |
133.3 |
Transportation and processing |
143.4 |
127.9 |
135.7 |
General and administrative |
22.0 |
25.9 |
24.5 |
Depletion, depreciation and amortization |
221.8 |
163.1 |
227.5 |
Interest and finance costs |
67.7 |
71.9 |
73.2 |
Current income tax (recovery) |
— |
(46.9) |
— |
Operating Earnings(2) |
209.0 |
101.9 |
202.1 |
Other items(3) |
108.4 |
(11.4) |
(61.6) |
Income and comprehensive income |
100.6 |
90.5 |
263.7 |
|
|
|
|
Operating Earnings(2) |
209.0 |
101.9 |
202.1 |
Non-cash items(4) |
244.1 |
180.6 |
249.1 |
Gain (loss) on risk management and foreign exchange contracts - realized |
2.5 |
(5.6) |
19.6 |
Funds from Operations(2) |
455.6 |
276.9 |
470.8 |
Capital expenditures |
(286.1) |
(228.7) |
(306.2) |
Decommissioning costs |
(11.6) |
(12.1) |
(13.8) |
Free Cash Flow(2) |
157.9 |
36.1 |
150.8 |
|
|
|
|
Debt |
2,642.5 |
3,041.7 |
2,665.0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
See "Presentation of Oil and Gas Information" and "Product Type Production Information" sections of this press release. |
(2) |
A non-GAAP financial measure which does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS; see "Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios" section of this press release. |
(3) |
Other items is an aggregation of loss/(gain) on risk management contracts, foreign exchange loss/(gain), transaction related costs (recoveries), unrealized loss/(gain) on Sable remediation fund, and deferred tax expense. |
(4) |
Non-cash items is an aggregation of depletion, depreciation and amortization, finance costs, and decommissioning government grant. |
|
Three Months Ended |
||
($/boe) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and natural gas sales, net of blending costs and other income(1) |
60.36 |
57.53 |
59.16 |
Royalties |
7.58 |
8.55 |
7.95 |
Production and operating - Energy |
4.74 |
6.71 |
4.27 |
Production and operating - Non-energy |
8.14 |
8.77 |
7.86 |
Transportation and processing |
8.62 |
9.68 |
8.00 |
General and administrative |
1.32 |
1.96 |
1.44 |
Depletion, depreciation and amortization |
13.33 |
12.34 |
13.41 |
Interest and finance costs |
4.07 |
5.44 |
4.31 |
Current income tax (recovery) |
— |
(3.55) |
— |
Operating Earnings(1) |
12.56 |
7.63 |
11.92 |
Effective royalty rate (%)(1) |
12.6 % |
14.9 % |
13.4 % |
(1) |
A non-GAAP financial measure which does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS; see "Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios" section of this press release. |
Quarter Review and Near-Term Priorities
Strathcona delivered steady performance in the first quarter of 2024, with production, operating earnings and free cash flow consistent with the fourth quarter of 2023, amid substantially consistent commodity prices. As part of the commissioning of a new third-party crude-by-rail offloading terminal in the
In
In
In the Montney, Strathcona spud the 4-well 3-4 pad at Kakwa, finished drilling the 7-well 2-24 pad at
Outlook
Strathcona's production guidance of 187,500 to 192,500 boe per day (78% liquids, 71% oil and condensate) remains unchanged for 2024, as does Strathcona's capital budget of
At current commodity prices, Strathcona anticipates achieving its debt target of
Conference Call Details
Strathcona will host a conference call on
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Time: 11:00AM ET (
URL Entry: To join without operator assistance, register at https://emportal.ink/3IYzW4p up to 15 minutes before the start time. Enter your name and phone number to receive an automated call-back.
Telephone Entry: Alternatively, you can join with operator assistance by dialing 1 (888) 390-0605 (North American Toll Free) and quote conference ID 965818
Webcast Link:
For those unable to participate in the conference call at the scheduled time, a recording of the conference call will be available for seven days following the call and can be accessed by dialing 1 (888) 390-0541 and entering the conference number 965818.
About Strathcona
Strathcona is one of
For more information about Strathcona, visit www.strathconaresources.com.
Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios
"Oil and natural gas sales, net of blending and other income" is calculated by deducting purchased product and blending costs from oil and natural gas sales, sales of purchased product and other income. Management uses this metric to isolate the revenue associated with Company production after accounting for the unavoidable cost of blending.
|
Three Months Ended |
||
($ millions, unless otherwise indicated) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and natural gas sales |
1,298.8 |
1,047.7 |
1,287.6 |
Sales of purchased products |
2.0 |
13.8 |
11.3 |
Other income |
0.1 |
— |
(0.1) |
Purchased product |
(2.0) |
(14.8) |
(10.3) |
Blending costs |
(294.6) |
(285.2) |
(284.8) |
Oil and natural gas sales, net of blending and other income |
1,004.3 |
761.5 |
1,003.7 |
"Operating Earnings" is considered by management a key financial metric for evaluating the profitability of the principal business and is derived from Income and comprehensive income adjusted for amounts which are considered non-recurring or not directly attributable to the Company's operations.
"Funds from Operations" is used by management to analyze operating performance and provides an indication of the funds generated by Strathcona's principal business to either fund operating activities, re-invest to either maintain or grow the business or make debt repayments.
"Free Cash Flow" is used by management to analyze operating performance and indicates funds available for deleveraging, funding future growth, or, at some point in the future, shareholder returns.
A quantitative reconciliation of Operating Earnings, Funds from Operations and Free Cash Flow to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, income and comprehensive income, is set forth below:
|
Three Months Ended |
||
($ millions, unless otherwise indicated) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income and comprehensive income |
100.6 |
90.5 |
263.7 |
Loss (gain) on risk management contracts |
39.7 |
(64.2) |
(129.1) |
Foreign exchange loss (gain) |
20.4 |
(5.9) |
(20.9) |
Transaction related costs (recoveries) |
0.1 |
1.2 |
(1.3) |
Unrealized loss (gain) on Sable remediation fund |
0.1 |
(0.2) |
(0.3) |
Deferred tax expense |
48.1 |
80.5 |
90.0 |
Operating Earnings |
209.0 |
101.9 |
202.1 |
Depletion, depreciation and amortization |
221.8 |
163.1 |
227.5 |
Finance costs |
22.3 |
17.8 |
21.6 |
Decommissioning government grant |
— |
(0.3) |
— |
Gain (loss) on risk management contracts - realized |
4.5 |
(5.4) |
19.5 |
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange - realized |
(2.0) |
(0.2) |
0.1 |
Funds from Operations |
455.6 |
276.9 |
470.8 |
Capital expenditures |
(286.1) |
(228.7) |
(306.2) |
Decommissioning costs |
(11.6) |
(12.1) |
(13.8) |
Free Cash Flow |
157.9 |
36.1 |
150.8 |
"Effective royalty rate" is calculated by dividing royalties by oil and natural gas sales, net of blending. This metric allows management to analyze the movement of royalty expense in relation to realized and benchmark commodity prices.
Supplementary Financial Measures
Readers are referred to "Specified Financial Measures" in Strathcona's first quarter 2024 and year-end 2023 MD&A for supplementary financial measures, which information is incorporated by reference to this new release.
The terms "Production and operating – Energy" and "Production and operating – Non-energy" are supplementary financial measures as they refer to portions of production and operating expenses. Non-energy operating expenses reflect the cost of operating activities relating to the production of resources. Energy operating expenses reflect the cost of gas and propane fuel, utilities and carbon tax incurred to operate facilities.
"Interest and finance costs" is an aggregation of interest and finance costs. Management uses this metric to obtain a fulsome understanding of all interest and accretion costs the Company is subject to.
"Other items" is an aggregation of risk management contracts, foreign exchange, transaction related costs, unrealized loss (gain) on Sable remediation fund, current income tax recovery and deferred tax expense. They are presented in such a manner to yield prominence to key financial metrics such as income and comprehensive income, Funds from Operations and Free Cash Flow.
The terms "Production and operating – Energy" and "Production and operating – Non-energy" are supplementary financial measures as they refer to portions of production and operating expenses. Non-energy operating expenses reflect the cost of operating activities relating to the production of resources. Energy operating expenses reflect the cost of gas and propane fuel, utilities and carbon tax incurred to operate facilities.
|
Three Months Ended |
||
($ millions, unless otherwise indicated) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss (gain) on risk management contracts |
39.7 |
(64.2) |
(129.1) |
Foreign exchange loss (gain) |
20.4 |
(5.9) |
(20.9) |
Transaction related costs (recoveries) |
0.1 |
1.2 |
(1.3) |
Unrealized loss (gain) on Sable remediation fund |
0.1 |
(0.2) |
(0.3) |
Deferred tax expense |
48.1 |
80.5 |
90. |
Other items |
108.4 |
(11.4) |
(61.6) |
"Non-cash items" is an aggregation of depletion, depreciation and amortization, finance costs, and other income – ARO government grant. They are presented in such a manner to yield prominence to key financial metrics such as income and comprehensive income, Funds from Operations and Free Cash Flow.
|
Three Months Ended |
||
($ millions, unless otherwise indicated) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depletion, depreciation and amortization |
221.8 |
163.1 |
227.5 |
Finance costs |
22.3 |
17.8 |
21.6 |
Other income - ARO government grant |
— |
(0.3) |
— |
Non-cash items |
244.1 |
180.6 |
249.1 |
Presentation of Oil and Gas Information
This press release contains various references to the abbreviation "boe" which means barrels of oil equivalent. All boe conversions in this press release are derived by converting gas to oil at the ratio of six thousand cubic feet ("mcf") of natural gas to one barrel ("bbl") of crude oil. Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion rate of 1 bbl : 6 mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio of oil compared to natural gas based on currently prevailing prices is significantly different than the energy equivalency ratio of 1 bbl : 6 mcf, utilizing a conversion ratio of 1 bbl : 6 mcf may be misleading as an indication of value.
References to "liquids" in this press release refer to, collectively, bitumen, heavy oil, condensate and light oil (comprised of condensate and light oil) and other natural gas liquids ("NGL") (comprised of ethane, propane and butane only). References to "oil and condensate" in this press release refer to, collectively, light and medium crude oil, heavy crude oil, bitumen and natural gas liquids. References to "natural gas" in this press release refer to conventional natural gas.
References to initial production rates and other short-term production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will commence production and decline thereafter and are not indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating aggregate production for us or the assets for which such rates are provided. Accordingly, we caution that the initial production rates should be considered to be preliminary.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information in this press release is based on Strathcona's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking information. The Company believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable as of the time of such information, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct, and such forward-looking information included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon.
The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "believe", "depends", "plan", "could" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: the Company's business strategy and future plans, including plans to grow production; expected operating strategy; the Company's production and capital budget guidance for 2024. Strathcona's debt repayment plans; expectations regarding the release of Strathcona's heavy oil inventory over the balance of 2024; expected improvements in heavy oil differentials; Strathcona's capital activity plans in
All forward-looking information reflects Strathcona's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the applicable forward-looking information is disclosed and in light of the Company's current expectations with respect to such things as: Strathcona's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to fund debt repayment; the success of Strathcona's operations and growth and expansion projects; expectations regarding production growth, future well production rates and reserve volumes; expectations regarding Strathcona's capital program, including the outlook for general economic trends, industry trends, prevailing and future commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates; the availability of third party services; prevailing and future royalty regimes and tax laws; future well production rates and reserve volumes; fluctuations in energy prices based on worldwide demand and geopolitical events; the impact of inflation; the integrity and reliability of Strathcona's assets; decommissioning obligations; Strathcona's ability to comply with its financial covenants; and the governmental, regulatory and legal environment. In addition, certain forward-looking information with respect to achieving Strathcona's debt target assumes commodity prices and exchange rates of:
The forward-looking information included in this press release is not a guarantee of future performance and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking information, including, without limitation: changes in commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of Strathcona's products; the continued impact, or further deterioration, in global economic and market conditions, including from inflation and/or certain geopolitical conflicts, such as the ongoing
The foregoing risks should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and Strathcona does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. Any forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Product Type Production Information
The Company's quarterly average daily production volumes, and the references to "natural gas", "crude oil" and "condensate", reported in this press release consist of the following product types, as defined in NI 51-101 and using a conversion ratio of 6 mcf : 1 bbl where applicable:
|
Three Months Ended |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heavy crude oil (bbl/d) |
51,835 |
57,443 |
52,736 |
Light and medium crude oil (bbl/d) |
551 |
716 |
580 |
Total crude oil (bbl/d) |
52,386 |
58,159 |
53,316 |
Bitumen (bbl/d) |
60,150 |
51,097 |
59,845 |
NGLs (bbl/d) |
30,466 |
15,853 |
30,509 |
Total liquids (bbl/d) |
143,002 |
125,109 |
143,670 |
Conventional natural gas (mcf/d) |
252,720 |
114,304 |
254,361 |
Total (boe/d) |
185,122 |
144,160 |
186,064 |
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