Average realized pricing for Upstream production was $46.06 per boe compared to $25.47 per boe in the same period in 2018. Realized pricing for oil and liquids averaged $47.52 per barrel compared to $18.93 per barrel in Q4 2018, and natural gas pricing averaged $7.02 per thousand cubic feet (mcf), compared to $6.86 per mcf in theyear-ago period.
Upstream operating costs were $15.25 per boe compared to $13.75 per boe in Q4 2018, primarily due to higher energy and transportation costs, and lower production.
Upstream operating netbacks averaged $27.48 per boe compared to $9.42 per boe in theyear-ago period.
Upgrader and refinery throughput was 203,400 bbls/day, compared to 286,900 bbls/day in the same period in 2018. This takes into account an extended turnaround at the Lima Refinery to complete the crude oil flexibility project.
The Chicago 3:2:1 crack spread averaged $12.06 US per barrel compared to $13.38 US per barrel in Q4 2018. The average realized U.S. refining and marketing margin was $7.85 US per barrel of crude oil throughput, which reflects an unfavourablefirst-in,first-out (FIFO)pre-tax inventory valuation adjustment of $0.24 US per barrel. This compared to $9.12 US per barrel a year ago, which included an unfavourable FIFOpre-tax inventory valuation adjustment of $8.51 US per barrel.
The Upgrader realized margin was $20.21 per barrel compared to $29.13 per barrel in the same period in 2018, which takes into account narrower light-heavy differentials.
The operating margin in the Infrastructure and Marketing segment was $12 million compared to $175 million in Q4 2018, largely due to narrower location differentials and the outage in November on the Keystone pipeline.
Q4 INTEGRATED CORRIDOR
• | | Average Upstream production of 241,600 boe/day, compared to 240,100 boe/day in Q4 2018 |
• | | Operating margin of $293 million, compared to $334 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 |
• | | Downstream throughput of 203,400 bbls/day, compared to 286,900 bbls/day in Q4 2018 |
Thermal Production
Combined average thermal bitumen production from Lloydminster thermal projects, the Tucker Thermal Project and the Sunrise Energy Project was 137,800 bbls/day (Husky W.I.), which takes into account extended production quotas in Alberta, compared to 132,900 bbls/day (Husky W.I.) in Q4 2018. Overall production from the Lloyd thermal portfolio averaged88,300 bbls/day compared to 80,500 bbls/day in theyear-ago period, with an average of 92,000 bbls/day in December.
Five new Saskatchewan thermal bitumen projects with a combined nameplate capacity of 50,000 bbls/day are being advanced through 2023. The Spruce Lake Central project is 92% complete, with startup expected bymid-year 2020. The Spruce Lake North project is 60% complete, with first oil planned around the end of 2020.
Downstream
U.S. refinery throughput averaged 91,700 bbls/day, compared to 179,100 bbls/day in theyear-ago period.
The Lima Refinery average throughput was 21,400 bbls/day, which takes into account an extended shutdown to complete the crude oil flexibility project. This, along with lower crack spreads, contributed to an overall negative operating margin of $169 million for the U.S. refining segment, compared to an operating margin of $45 million in theyear-ago period.
The Superior Refinery rebuild is under way with a return to full operations expected in 2021. Rebuild costs are expected to be substantially covered by property damage insurance.Pre-tax business interruption insurance recovery in the fourth quarter was $116 million. Insurance recovery related to the rebuild (not included in funds from operations) was $194 million.
Canadian throughput, including the Upgrader, Asphalt Refinery and Prince George Refinery, averaged 111,700 bbls/day. A project to increase diesel production at the Upgrader from 6,000 bbls/day to nearly 10,000 bbls/day is expected to be completed in the second quarter. The Upgrader captured margins of $20.21 per barrel.
3 HUSKY ENERGY INC. – 2019 FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS