Six months 2020 vs. six months 2019
Net loss in the first six months of 2020 was $714 million, or $0.97 per share on a diluted basis, compared to net income of $1,505 million or $1.94 per share in the first six months of 2019. 2019 results included a favourable impact, largely
non-cash,
of $662 million associated with the Alberta corporate income tax rate decrease.
Upstream recorded a net loss of $1,052 million for the first six months of the year, compared to net income of $1,043 million in the same period of 2019. Results were negatively impacted by lower realizations of about $1,800 million, the absence of a favourable impact of $689 million associated with the Alberta corporate income tax rate decrease in 2019, and lower volumes of about $210 million. These items were partially offset by lower royalties of about $310 million, lower operating expenses of about $190 million, and favourable foreign exchange effects of about $110 million.
West Texas Intermediate averaged US$36.66 per barrel in the first six months of 2020, down from US$57.45 per barrel in the same period of 2019. Western Canada Select averaged US$21.20 per barrel and US$45.88 per barrel for the same periods. The WTI / WCS differential widened to average approximately US$15 per barrel in the first six months of 2020, from around US$12 per barrel in the same period of 2019.
The Canadian dollar averaged US$0.73 in the first six months of 2020, a decrease of US$0.02 from the same period in 2019.
Imperial’s average Canadian dollar realizations for bitumen decreased in the first six months of 2020, primarily due to a decrease in WCS. Bitumen realizations averaged $15.54 per barrel, compared to $53.20 per barrel from the same period in 2019. The company’s average Canadian dollar realizations for synthetic crude decreased generally in line with WTI in the first six months of 2020, adjusted for changes in exchange rates and transportation costs. Synthetic crude realizations averaged $48.10 per barrel, compared to $74.77 per barrel from the same period in 2019.
Total gross production of Kearl bitumen averaged 208,000 barrels per day in the first six months of 2020 (147,000 barrels Imperial’s share), up from 193,000 barrels per day (137,000 barrels Imperial’s share) in the same period of 2019. Higher production was mainly due to the addition of supplemental crushing facilities in 2020, partially offset by the balancing of near-term production with demand through the advancement and extension of planned turnaround activities.
Gross production of Cold Lake bitumen averaged 131,000 barrels per day in the first six months of 2020, compared to 140,000 barrels per day in the same period of 2019.
During the first six months of 2020, the company’s share of gross production from Syncrude averaged 61,000 barrels per day, compared to 79,000 barrels per day in the same period of 2019. Lower production was mainly due to the balancing of near-term production with demand.
Downstream net income was $370 million, compared to $515 million in the same period of 2019. Results were negatively impacted by lower margins of about $250 million including the effects of reduced demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, and lower sales volumes of about $150 million. These items were partially offset by improved reliability of about $160 million, including the absence of the Sarnia fractionation tower incident which occurred in April 2019, and lower operating expenses of about $80 million.
Refinery throughput averaged 330,000 barrels per day in the first six months of 2020, compared to 364,000 barrels per day in the same period of 2019. Capacity utilization was 78 percent, compared to 86 percent in the same period of 2019. Lower throughput was primarily due to reduced demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by improved reliability including the absence of the Sarnia fractionation tower incident.
Petroleum product sales were 409,000 barrels per day in the first six months of 2020, compared to 477,000 barrels per day in the same period of 2019. Lower petroleum product sales were mainly due to reduced demand from the COVID-19 pandemic.