Cenovus Energy swings to $235-million loss in second quarter on weak oil prices

Cenovus logo seen at the company's headquarters in Calgary, Alta., November 15, 2017. Cenovus Energy Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit of $113 million compared with a loss of nearly $1.36 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. The oilsands company says the profit amounted to nine cents per share for the quarter ended Dec. 31 compared with a loss of $1.10 per share in the fourth quarter of 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY — Cenovus Energy Inc. swung to a $235-million loss in the second quarter reflecting weak crude oil prices early in the quarter that contributed to a plunge in revenues.

The oilsands company says its loss amounted to 19 cents per share for the period ended June 30, compared with a profit of $1.45 per share or $1.78 billion a year earlier.

Total production from continuing operations amounted to 373,189 barrels of oil equivalent per day, up from 344,973 in the same period a year earlier.

Revenues fell to $2.17 billion from $5.6 billion a year earlier.

The Calgary-based company says it quickly ramped up production when Western Canadian Select prices increased almost tenfold from April to an average of C$46.03 per barrel in June.

Record volumes were therefore reached at its Christina Lake oil sands project in June and it achieved free funds flow for the month of more than $290 million.

“We view the second quarter as a period of transition, with April as the low point of the downturn and the first signs of recovery taking hold in May and June,” stated president and CEO Alex Pourbaix.

“That said, we expect the commodity price environment to remain volatile for some time. We believe the flexibility of our assets and our low cost structure position us to withstand a continued period of low prices if necessary.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2020.

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The Canadian Press