AI assistant
Paramount Resources Ltd. — Interim / Quarterly Report 2021
May 5, 2021
43230_rns_2021-05-05_a2111ec9-0e06-4be0-a70a-313466b39b6b.PDF
Interim / Quarterly Report
Open in viewerOpens in your device viewer
==> picture [468 x 115] intentionally omitted <==
Paramount Resources Ltd. Announces Q1 2021 Results, Increased Production Guidance, Preliminary 2022 Guidance, Fully Funded Wapiti Acceleration and $77 Million Non-Core Disposition
Calgary, Alberta – May 5, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
-
Sales volumes averaged 80,540 Boe/d (43% liquids) in the first quarter of 2021, well ahead of the Company’s first half 2021 production guidance of 74,000 Boe/d to 76,000 Boe/d (43% liquids) due to significant outperformance at Karr as well as higher than expected field reliability corporately.[(1)]
-
Sales volumes at Karr averaged 33,230 Boe/d (55% liquids) in the quarter compared to 26,914 Boe/d (56% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020.
-
This increase was driven by strong performance from the six well 3-10 pad that was brought onstream in February and the five well 5-16 West pad that was brought onstream in the fourth quarter of 2020, as well as workovers on the 16-4 pad that were completed in the fourth quarter of 2020.
-
Paramount achieved an important milestone at Karr, with first quarter exit sales volumes exceeding targeted plateau production of 40,000 Boe/d for the first time and March sales volumes averaging 39,938 Boe/d (53% liquids). Paramount estimates that 12 to 16 new wells per year will be required to maintain plateau production.
-
At plateau production of 40,000 Boe/d, annual asset level free cash flow at Karr would be $260 million to $290 million.[(2)]
-
-
Sales volumes at Wapiti averaged 14,107 Boe/d (62% liquids) in the quarter compared to 10,764 Boe/d (64% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The 31% increase in sales volumes was primarily due to new well production from the 5-3 West pad that was brought onstream partway through the fourth quarter.
-
First quarter capital spending totaled $59.3 million, which was focused on drilling and completion activities at Karr and Wapiti.
(1) In this press release, "liquids" refers to NGLs (including condensate) and oil combined, "natural gas" refers to conventional natural gas and shale gas combined, "condensate and oil" refers to condensate, light and medium crude oil and tight oil combined and "other NGLs" refers to ethane, propane and butane combined. See the Product Type Information section for a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil. See also "Oil and Gas Measures and Definitions" in the Advisories section.
(2) "Asset level free cash flow" is a Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section. Stated amounts are illustrative assuming Karr per-unit netbacks of $26.00/Boe, consistent with the first quarter of 2021, and 12 to 16 new wells per year at an average DCET cost of $7.5 million per well and excludes the cost of any potential incremental infrastructure requirements in the future.
-
All-in lease construction, drilling, completion, equip and tie-in (collectively "DCET") costs for the six well Karr 3-10 pad averaged a pacesetting $6.8 million per well, $0.2 million lower per well than prior estimates and representing a 12% reduction relative to average DCET costs for Karr wells in 2020.
-
Preliminary DCET costs at the three well Karr 4-28 pad, which was brought on production in late April 2021, were $6.9 million per well.
-
Paramount’s continued focus on strong execution, cost control and innovation has contributed to anticipated cost savings of $30 million in the Company’s 2021 capital program.
-
Abandonment and reclamation expenditures in the first quarter totaled $8.4 million, net of $1.7 million in funding under the Alberta Site Rehabilitation Program. Activities included the abandonment of 120 wells, 119 of which were abandoned under the Company’s ongoing area-based closure program at Zama.
-
Cash from operating activities was $81.3 million in the first quarter. Adjusted funds flow was $90.9 million or $0.69 per share.[(1)]
-
Paramount generated $23.2 million of free cash flow in the first quarter that, along with approximately $80 million in cash proceeds from non-core dispositions, was directed to debt reduction.[(1)]
-
Free cash flow in 2021 is expected to be directed towards debt reduction, with anticipated year-end 2021 net debt to adjusted funds flow of less than 1.5x.[(1)]
NON-CORE ASSET DISPOSITION
Paramount has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its non-operated Birch asset in northeast British Columbia for total consideration of approximately $77 million (the "Birch Disposition"). Closing is subject to customary conditions and is anticipated to occur in early July. Estimated second half 2021 production from the asset, net to Paramount, was approximately 1,900 Boe/d.
REVISED 2021 GUIDANCE
Paramount is increasing its 2021 sales volume forecast as a result of strong year-to-date performance. Sales volumes in 2021 are now expected to average between 80,000 Boe/d and 82,000 Boe/d (44% liquids) after taking into account the Birch Disposition. This is an increase from previous guidance of 77,000 Boe/d to 80,000 Boe/d (45% liquids).
Second quarter 2021 sales volumes are expected to average between 77,000 Boe/d and 78,000 Boe/d (42% liquids). Second half 2021 sales volumes guidance remains unchanged at between 80,000 Boe/d and 84,000 Boe/d (45% liquids) notwithstanding the Birch Disposition.
The Company will be advancing approximately $60 million of activities in the Wapiti area by six months into the second half of 2021, capitalizing on the $30 million of anticipated cost savings in its 2021 capital program, incremental cash flow generation in light of higher production guidance and the Birch Disposition. Accordingly, the Company’s capital budget for 2021 is being increased to between $265 million and $285 million, excluding land acquisitions and abandonment and reclamation activities. This is an increase of $30 million at the mid-point from the previous guidance range of between $230 million and $260 million. Additional activities at Wapiti will include drilling, completing and bringing onstream the seven well 9-22
(1) "Adjusted funds flow", "free cash flow" and "net debt to adjusted funds flow" are Non-GAAP financial measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
2
pad, the tie-in of a pre-existing well from the 10-22 pad and the installation of associated infrastructure. Initial production from these activities is anticipated to come onstream in December 2021.
Inclusive of the increased capital at Wapiti, Paramount forecasts 2021 free cash flow of approximately $140 million. This is based on the following assumptions for 2021: (i) the midpoint of forecast capital spending and production, (ii) $25 million in abandonment and reclamation costs, (iii) realized pricing of $39.50/Boe (US$60.84/Bbl WTI, US$2.84/MMBtu NYMEX, $2.78/GJ AECO), (iv) royalties of $2.60/Boe, (v) operating costs of $11.30/Boe and (vi) transportation and processing costs of $3.85/Boe.
Approximately 52% of forecast midpoint production is hedged over the final three quarters of 2021. After taking such hedging into account, 2021 forecast free cash flow would still be approximately $60 million at an average WTI oil price of US$40.00/Bbl over the final three quarters of the year and would rise to $155 million at an average WTI oil price of US$65.00/Bbl over the final three quarters of the year.
The Company targets net debt to adjusted funds flow of between 1.0x and 2.0x. Free cash flow in 2021 is expected to be directed towards debt reduction, with anticipated year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow of less than 1.5x. The Company currently prioritizes the allocation of free cash flow to: (i) achieving the targeted range of net debt to adjusted funds flow; (ii) shareholder returns; and (iii) incremental growth.
PRELIMINARY 2022 GUIDANCE
Paramount expects to finalize its 2022 capital budget and related guidance in the first quarter of 2022. Based on preliminary planning and current market conditions, Paramount anticipates 2022 capital spending, excluding land acquisitions and abandonment and reclamation activities, to range between $325 million and $385 million, broken down as follows:
-
$250 million of sustaining capital and maintenance activities;
-
$75 million of growth capital with production benefits in 2022; and
-
$60 million of discretionary growth capital with production benefits largely in 2023.
A capital program in this range would be expected to result in 2022 annual average sales volumes of between 84,000 Boe/d and 88,000 Boe/d (45% liquids) and free cash flow of approximately $185 million. The free cash flow estimate is based on the following assumptions for 2022: (i) the midpoint of forecast capital spending and production, (ii) $30 million in abandonment and reclamation costs, (iii) realized pricing of $37.25/Boe (US$57.78/Bbl WTI, US$2.71/MMBtu NYMEX, $2.43/GJ AECO), (iv) royalties of $2.35/Boe, (v) operating costs of $11.10/Boe and (vi) transportation and processing costs of $3.75/Boe. If all expected free cash flow was directed towards debt reduction, anticipated year-end 2022 net debt to adjusted funds flow would be significantly less than 1.0x.
CORPORATE
The Company successfully closed non-core asset dispositions for cash proceeds of approximately $80 million in the first quarter of 2021.
In May 2021, Moody’s Investors Service Inc. assigned a "B2" corporate family rating to the Company with - a positive outlook and S&P Global Ratings assigned its "B " issuer credit rating to the Company with a positive outlook.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
3
Paramount continues to evaluate and pursue opportunities to provide environmentally sustainable value creation for its stakeholders. Advancements in technology paired with government incentive programs have the potential to create stakeholder benefits from both a greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions reduction and economic perspective.
The Company has engaged an outside engineering firm and is working with Clean Energy Systems, Inc. ("CES") to assess the opportunity for ultra-low emission upgrades to one of the Company’s facilities. The project envisions deploying CES’s oxy-combustion technology with CO2 capture to eliminate GHG emissions and generate excess electricity. The captured CO2 could be used for enhanced oil recovery in a Paramount owned and operated oil development or sequestered using the facility’s existing H2S and CO2 disposal system. The CES technology also provides an opportunity to treat produced water that can be used in place of fresh water for Paramount’s future developments. Paramount has held an indirect ownership interest in CES (through its investment in Paxton Corporation) for over a decade and is excited about the prospects for this technology.
REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
GRANDE PRAIRIE REGION
Grande Prairie Region sales volumes and netbacks are summarized below:[(1)]
| Q1 | 2021 | 2021 | Q4 | 2020 | % Change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales volumes | ||||||||
| Natural gas (MMcf/d) | 122.6 | 94.3 | 30 | |||||
| Condensate and oil (Bbl/d) | 23,974 | 19,635 | 22 | |||||
| Other NGLs (Bbl/d) | 2,984 | 2,429 | 23 | |||||
| Total (Boe/d) | 47,385 | 37,782 | 25 | |||||
| % liquids | 57% | 58% | ||||||
| % Change in $ | ||||||||
| Netback | ($ millions) | ($/Boe) | ($ millions) | ($/Boe) | millions | |||
| Petroleum and natural gas sales | 194.0 | 45.50 | 125.1 | 36.00 | 55 | |||
| Royalties | (11.6) | (2.72) | (6.2) | (1.78) | 87 | |||
| Operating expense | (49.0) | (11.49) | (42.4) | (12.20) | 16 | |||
| Transportation and NGLs processing | (20.0) | (4.69) | (14.2) |
(4.07) | 41 | |||
| 113.4 | 26.60 | 62.3 | 17.95 | 82 |
(1) "Netback" is a Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
4
KARR AREA
Karr sales volumes and netbacks are summarized below:
| Q1 | 2021 | 2021 | Q4 | 2020 | % Change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales volumes | ||||||||
| Natural gas (MMcf/d) | 90.2 | 70.5 | 28 | |||||
| Condensate and oil (Bbl/d) | 16,095 | 13,348 | 21 | |||||
| Other NGLs (Bbl/d) | 2,108 | 1,817 | 16 | |||||
| Total (Boe/d) | 33,230 | 26,914 | 23 | |||||
| % liquids | 55% | 56% | ||||||
| % Change in $ | ||||||||
| Netback | ($ millions) | ($/Boe) | ($ millions) | ($/Boe) | millions | |||
| Petroleum and natural gas sales | 132.5 | 44.31 | 86.1 | 34.79 | 54 | |||
| Royalties | (8.6) | (2.89) | (4.6) | (1.87) | 87 | |||
| Operating expense | (31.9) | (10.67) | (27.8) | (11.24) | 15 | |||
| Transportation and NGLs processing | (14.0) | (4.68) | (10.5) |
(4.26) | 33 | |||
| 78.0 | 26.07 | 43.2 | 17.42 | _81 _ |
First quarter sales volumes at Karr averaged 33,230 Boe/d (55% liquids) compared to 26,914 Boe/d (56% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Sales volumes increased as a result of new well production that came onstream in the first quarter and from a full quarter of production from wells that came onstream in the fourth quarter of 2020. Incremental production from existing wells following workovers in the fourth quarter of 2020 also contributed to the overall increase.
The 3-10 pad has continued to outperform internal type well projections, averaging gross peak 30-day production per well of 2,068 Boe/d (6.0 MMcf/d of shale gas and 1,073 Bbl/d of NGLs) with an average CGR of 180 Bbl/MMcf.[(1) ] Likewise, production at the five well 5-16 West pad that came onstream in November 2020 continues to exhibit higher initial production rates than predicted by the type well. This performance, along with higher than anticipated production from the two well 16-4 pad, post-workover, combined to increase first quarter production above prior projections.
Three new Montney wells on the 4-28 pad were brought onstream in late April. Pressure data collected pre-completion from the pad confirms the northeast portion of Karr is in the over-pressured window of the Montney. This new data has resulted in an adjustment of the over-pressured boundary to the east of Karr and has increased the potential well inventory.
Additional gas lift compression was recently installed to support base and incremental production in the area. The Company anticipates base production up-lift at a number of pads that had been impacted by insufficient lift gas supply.
Per unit operating costs trended lower as a result of higher production volumes combined with a continued focus on cost reduction initiatives. The Company achieved per unit operating costs of $10.67/Boe in the first quarter of 2021 and anticipates operating costs of approximately $10.00/Boe at plateau production levels.
Paramount continues to focus on driving DCET costs lower while maintaining well performance and in the first quarter realized cost improvements relative to the most recent pacesetting results. All-in DCET costs at the six well 3-10 pad averaged a pacesetting $6.8 million per well, $0.2 million lower per well than prior
(1) Production measured at the wellhead. Natural gas sales volumes are lower by approximately 7% and liquids sales volumes are lower by approximately 7% due to shrinkage. Excludes days when the wells did not produce. The production rates and volumes stated are over a short period of time and, therefore, are not necessarily indicative of average daily production, long-term performance or of ultimate recovery from the wells. CGR means condensate to gas ratio and is calculated by dividing raw wellhead liquids volumes by raw wellhead natural gas volumes. See Oil and Gas Measures and Definitions in the Advisories section.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
5
estimates and representing a 12% reduction relative to average DCET costs for Karr wells in 2020. Preliminary DCET costs at the three well 4-28 pad averaged $6.9 million per well.
Drilling operations at the five well 7-18 pad were completed in the first quarter under budget and included one new pacesetter well, drilling an average 313 meters per day. Paramount plans to complete, tie-in and bring on production all five wells on the 7-18 pad by the third quarter. Drilling of the five well 5-16 East pad recently commenced, and the Company plans to complete, tie-in and bring on production all five wells by the fourth quarter. Paramount anticipates commencing drilling operations on the ten well 16-17 pad in the fourth quarter and expects that seven wells will be drilled by year end.
Production in the second quarter will be impacted by scheduled curtailments at the third-party Karr 6-18 facility related to inlet separation and liquids handling optimization. The curtailments are anticipated to reduce sales volumes by approximately 50% for seven days in May.
WAPITI AREA
Wapiti sales volumes and netbacks are summarized below:
| Q1 | 2021 | 2021 | Q4 | 2020 | % Change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales volumes | ||||||||
| Natural gas (MMcf/d) | 32.1 | 23.3 | 38 | |||||
| Condensate and oil (Bbl/d) | 7,884 | 6,286 | 25 | |||||
| Other NGLs (Bbl/d) | 867 | 589 | 47 | |||||
| Total (Boe/d) | 14,107 | 10,764 | 31 | |||||
| % liquids | 62% | 64% | ||||||
| % Change in $ | ||||||||
| Netback | ($ millions) | ($/Boe) | ($ millions) | ($/Boe) | millions | |||
| Petroleum and natural gas sales | 61.4 | 48.42 | 38.9 | 39.30 | 58 | |||
| Royalties | (2.9) | (2.32) | (1.6) | (1.58) | 81 | |||
| Operating expense | (16.8) | (13.25) | (14.2) | (14.36) | 18 | |||
| Transportation and NGLs processing | (6.0) | (4.73) | (3.6) |
(3.62) | 67 | |||
| 35.7 | 28.12 | 19.5 | 19.74 | 83 |
First quarter sales volumes at Wapiti averaged 14,107 Boe/d (62% liquids), 3,343 Boe/d higher than in the fourth quarter of 2020 primarily due to new well production from the 5-3 West pad that was brought onstream partway through the fourth quarter.
Drilling operations were completed at the seven well 6-4 pad in the first quarter, $4.4 million under budget for the pad. A pilot project to test the viability of monobore drilling techniques on two wells on the 6-4 pad was successful. Lower drilling and completion costs and higher frac fluid pumping rates in the wellbore compared to conventional multiple casing wellbores are anticipated to further enhance the economics and productivity of these wells. The Company anticipates completing and bringing on production all seven wells by the third quarter.
In the first quarter Paramount tied its Wapiti gas lift infrastructure into the high-pressure gas gathering system managed by the third-party operator of the Wapiti natural gas processing plant. This new connection provides Wapiti area wells with a more reliable source of lift gas which is anticipated to reduce the time required to re-start wells after turnarounds, workovers and other disruptions.
The 2021 capital program at Wapiti is being expanded to bring forward activities by approximately six months to advance the next major phase of development. Activities include drilling, completing and bringing onstream the seven well 9-22 pad, the tie-in of a pre-existing well from the 10-22 pad and the installation of associated infrastructure. Initial production from these activities is anticipated to come onstream in December 2021.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
6
KAYBOB REGION
Kaybob Region sales volumes averaged 24,938 Boe/d (28% liquids) in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 27,056 Boe/d (27% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Production in the Kaybob Region was relatively flat after adjusting for the impact of non-core asset dispositions in the first quarter. The Company completed and recently brought on production one Montney oil well in Ante Creek that was drilled in 2020.
Paramount holds material positions in Duvernay and Montney resource plays in the Kaybob Region that will compete for capital in the medium term.
CENTRAL ALBERTA AND OTHER REGION
Central Alberta and Other Region sales volumes averaged 8,217 Boe/d (14% liquids) in the first quarter compared to 8,622 (15% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The Company holds a material, contiguous Duvernay position at Willesden Green and continues to actively evaluate longer-term full field development plans for this asset. Drilling operations are ongoing at a two well, liquids rich Duvernay pad in the Willesden Green area and Paramount plans to complete, tie-in and bring on production both wells in the second half of the year.
HEDGING
The Company’s commodity hedging position at March 31, 2021 is summarized below:
- Natural Gas:
April – December 2021 60,000 MMBtu/d at US$2.71/MMBtu April – October 2021 50,000 GJ/d at CDN$2.52/GJ April – December 2021 50,000 GJ/d at CDN$2.51/GJ
- Oil:
April – June 2021 23,000 Bbl/d at US$46.93/Bbl July – September 2021 15,000 Bbl/d at US$45.87/Bbl October – December 2021 10,000 Bbl/d at US$45.82/Bbl April – September 2021 3,000 Bbl/d at CDN$65.29/Bbl
The Company has also hedged the differential on 4,000 Bbl/d of condensate at Edmonton for the second quarter at WTI plus US$0.06/Bbl.
Further details of Paramount’s commodity hedging position are provided in its first quarter 2021 Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Consolidated Financial Statements.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
7
ABOUT PARAMOUNT
Paramount is an independent, publicly traded, liquids-focused Canadian energy company that explores for and develops both conventional and unconventional petroleum and natural gas reserves and resources, including longer-term strategic exploration and pre-development plays, and holds a portfolio of investments in other entities. The Company’s principal properties are located in Alberta and British Columbia. " " Paramount’s class A common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol POU .
Paramount’s first quarter 2021 results, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements will be made available through Paramount’s website at www.paramountres.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. A summary of historical financial and - operating results is also available on Paramount’s website at http://www.paramountres.com/investor relations/financial-reports#2021.
For further information, please contact:
Paramount Resources Ltd.
J.H.T. (Jim) Riddell, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Paul R. Kinvig, Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo (Rod) Sousa, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Planning www.paramountres.com Phone: (403) 290-3600
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
8
(1)
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
($ millions, except as noted)
| Q1 2021 | Q4 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net income (loss) | (82.5) | 311.5 | |
| per share – basic and diluted ($/share) | (0.62) | 2.35 | |
| Cash from operating activities | 81.3 | 53.2 | |
| per share – basic and diluted ($/share) | 0.61 | 0.40 | |
| Adjusted funds flow | 90.9 | 67.9 | |
| per share – basic and diluted ($/share) | 0.69 | 0.51 | |
| Total assets | 3,583.1 | 3,497.0 | |
| Long-term debt | 712.7 | 813.5 | |
| Net debt | 761.7 | 854.1 | |
| Common shares outstanding(thousands)(2) | 132,754 | 132,284 | |
| Sales volumes | |||
| Natural gas(MMcf/d) | 273.1 | 256.3 | |
| Condensate and oil(Bbl/d) | 29,854 | 25,752 | |
| Other NGLs(Bbl/d) (3) | 5,170 | 4,987 | |
| Total(Boe/d) | 80,540 | 73,460 | |
| % liquids | 43% | 42% | |
| Grande Prairie Region(Boe/d) | 47,385 | 37,782 | |
| Kaybob Region(Boe/d) | 24,938 | 27,056 | |
| Central Alberta and Other Region(Boe/d) | 8,217 | 8,622 | |
| Total(Boe/d) | 80,540 | 73,460 | |
| Netback |
$/Boe(4) | $/Boe(4) | |
| Natural gas revenue |
77.3 3.14 |
66.7 | 2.83 |
| Condensate and oil revenue |
185.9 69.20 |
123.3 | 52.03 |
| Other NGLs revenue(3) |
15.0 32.29 |
9.5 | 20.61 |
| Royaltyand other revenue | 1.7 ─ |
2.5 | ─ |
| Petroleum and natural gas sales |
279.9 38.61 |
202.0 | 29.89 |
| Royalties | (18.6) (2.57) |
(11.7) | (1.73) |
| Operating expense | (84.3) (11.63) |
(79.8) | (11.80) |
| Transportation and NGLsprocessing (5) | (27.9) (3.84) |
(24.6) | (3.63) |
| Netback |
149.1 20.57 |
85.9 | 12.73 |
| Financial commoditycontract settlements | (32.7) (4.51) |
7.9 | 1.18 |
| Netback including financial commodity contract settlements | 116.4 16.06 |
93.8 | 13.91 |
| Total Capital Expenditures | |||
| Grande Prairie Region | 51.3 | 64.3 | |
| Kaybob Region | 5.0 | 1.8 | |
| Central Alberta and Other Region | 1.2 | 0.8 | |
| Corporate(6) | 1.8 | (1.8) | |
| Total capital expenditures | 59.3 | 65.1 | |
| Asset retirement obligation settlements | 8.4 | 0.1 |
(1) Readers are referred to the advisories concerning Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Oil and Gas Measures and Definitions in the Advisories section of this document. This table contains the following Non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted funds flow, Net debt, Netback and Total capital expenditures. Readers are referred to the Product Type Information section of this document for a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by specific product types.
(2) Common shares are presented net of shares held in trust under the Company’s restricted share unit plan (000’s of common shares): Q1 2021: 1,914 and Q4 2020: 1,914.
(3) Other NGLs means ethane, propane and butane.
(4) Natural gas revenue presented as $/Mcf.
(5) Includes downstream transportation costs and NGLs fractionation costs.
(6) Includes transfers between regions.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 9
PRODUCT TYPE INFORMATION
This press release refers to sales volumes of "liquids", "natural gas", "condensate and oil" and "other NGLs". "Liquids" means NGLs (including condensate) and oil combined, "natural gas" refers to conventional natural gas and shale gas combined, "condensate and oil" refers to condensate, light and medium crude oil and tight oil combined and "other NGLs" refers to ethane, propane and butane combined. Below is a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
| Total | Grande Prairie Region |
Kabob Region |
Central Alberta and Other Region |
|
| Q1 2021 Q4 2020 |
Q1 2021 Q4 2020 |
Q1 2021 Q4 2020 |
Q1 2021 Q4 2020 |
|
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
197.8 170.7 75.3 85.6 |
120.6 92.7 2.0 1.6 |
42.1 41.9 65.8 76.3 |
35.1 36.1 7.5 7.7 |
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 273.1 256.3 |
122.6 94.3 |
107.9 118.2 |
42.6 43.8 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
27,017 22,782 5,170 4,987 |
23,974 19,635 2,984 2,429 |
2,611 2,631 1,677 1,953 |
433 515 509 605 |
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 32,187 27,769 |
26,958 22,064 |
4,288 4,584 |
942 1,120 |
| Tight oil (Bbl/d) Light and Medium crude oil(Bbl/d) |
479 437 2,358 2,533 |
– – – – |
342 299 2,321 2,480 |
136 138 37 54 |
| Crude oil(Bbl/d) | 2,837 2,970 |
– – |
2,663 2,779 |
173 192 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 80,540 73,460 |
47,385 37,782 |
24,938 27,056 |
8,217 8,622 |
| Karr | Wapiti | |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2021 Q4 2020 |
Q1 2021 Q4 2020 |
|
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
89.169.6 1.10.9 |
31.5 22.8 0.6 0.5 |
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 90.270.5 | 32.1 23.3 |
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 18,20315,165 | 8,751 6,875 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 33,23026,914 | 14,107 10,764 |
The Company forecasts that 2021 sales volumes will average between 80,000 Boe/d and 82,000 Boe/d (56% shale gas and conventional natural gas combined, 38% light and medium crude oil, tight oil and condensate combined and 6% other NGLs). Second quarter 2021 sales volumes are expected to average between 77,000 Boe/d and 78,000 Boe/d (58% shale gas and conventional natural gas combined, 36% light and medium crude oil, tight oil and condensate combined and 6% other NGLs). Second half 2021 sales volumes are expected to average between 80,000 Boe/d and 84,000 Boe/d (55% shale gas and conventional natural gas combined, 39% light and medium crude oil, tight oil and condensate combined and 6% other NGLs).
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 10
ADVISORIES
Forward-looking Information
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "will", "expect", "plan", "schedule", "intend", "propose", or similar words suggesting future outcomes or an outlook. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to:
-
the estimated number of wells required per year to maintain plateau production at Karr;
-
illustrative asset level free cash flow at Karr at plateau production;
-
anticipated cost savings in the Company’s 2021 capital program;
-
the anticipated closing of the Birch Disposition;
-
forecast sales volumes for 2021 and certain periods therein;
-
forecast free cash flow in 2021;
-
planned capital expenditures in 2021;
-
planned abandonment and reclamation expenditures in 2021;
-
the Company’s expectation that 2021 free cash flow will be directed towards debt reduction;
-
forecast 2021 year-end net debt to annual adjusted funds flow;
-
preliminary anticipated capital expenditures in 2022 and the resulting expected 2022 average sales volumes, free cash flow and yearend net debt to adjusted funds flow;
-
planned exploration, development and production activities, including the expected timing of completing and bringing new wells on production;
-
scheduled facility curtailments at Karr and the anticipated impact thereof;
-
anticipated operating costs;
-
the expected benefits of monobore drilling techniques; and
-
the expected benefits of additional gas lift compression at Karr and new gas lift infrastructure at Wapiti.
Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made with respect to the following matters, in addition to any other assumptions identified in this press release:
-
future commodity prices and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic thereon;
-
the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations;
-
the satisfaction of the conditions to closing of the Birch Disposition;
-
the ability to realize expected cost savings;
-
royalty rates, taxes and capital, operating, processing, transportation, general & administrative and other costs;
-
foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates;
-
general business, economic and market conditions;
-
the ability of Paramount to obtain the required capital to finance its exploration, development and other operations and meet its commitments and financial obligations;
-
the ability of Paramount to obtain equipment, services, supplies and personnel in a timely manner and at an acceptable cost to carry out its activities;
-
the ability of Paramount to secure adequate product processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms and the capacity and reliability of facilities;
-
the ability of Paramount to market its production successfully to current and new customers;
-
the ability of Paramount and its industry partners to obtain drilling success (including in respect of anticipated production volumes, reserves additions, product yields and resource recoveries) and operational improvements, efficiencies and results consistent with expectations;
-
the timely receipt of required governmental and regulatory approvals;
-
the receipt of benefits under government programs;
-
the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation; and
-
anticipated timelines and budgets being met in respect of drilling programs and other operations (including well completions and tieins, the construction, commissioning and start-up of new and expanded facilities, including third-party facilities, and facility turnarounds and maintenance).
Although Paramount believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable based on the information available at the time of this press release, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information as Paramount can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. There are no assurances that the Birch Disposition will close at the anticipated time or at all. Forward-looking information is based on expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Paramount and described in the forward-looking information. The material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 11
-
fluctuations in commodity prices, including in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
-
the failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Birch Disposition;
-
changes in capital spending plans and planned exploration and development activities;
-
the potential for changes to preliminary anticipated 2022 capital expenditures prior to finalization and changes to the resulting expected 2022 average sales volumes, free cash flow and year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow;
-
changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates;
-
the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future revenue, free cash flow, production, reserve additions, product yields (including condensate to natural gas ratios), resource recoveries, royalty rates, taxes and costs and expenses;
-
the ability to secure adequate product processing, transportation, fractionation, and storage capacity on acceptable terms;
-
operational risks in exploring for, developing, producing and transporting natural gas and liquids, including the risk of spills, leaks or blowouts;
-
the ability to obtain equipment, services, supplies and personnel in a timely manner and at an acceptable cost;
-
potential disruptions, delays or unexpected technical or other difficulties in designing, developing, expanding or operating new, expanded or existing facilities (including third-party facilities);
-
processing, pipeline, and fractionation infrastructure outages, disruptions and constraints;
-
risks and uncertainties involving the geology of oil and gas deposits;
-
the uncertainty of reserves estimates;
-
general business, economic and market conditions;
-
the ability to generate sufficient cash from operating activities and obtain financing to fund planned exploration, development and operational activities and meet current and future commitments and obligations (including product processing, transportation, fractionation and similar commitments and obligations);
-
changes in, or in the interpretation of, laws, regulations or policies (including environmental laws);
-
the ability to obtain required governmental or regulatory approvals in a timely manner, and to enter into and maintain leases and licenses;
-
the effects of weather and other factors including wildlife and environmental restrictions which affect field operations and access;
-
the timing and cost of future abandonment and reclamation obligations and potential liabilities for environmental damage and contamination;
-
uncertainties regarding aboriginal claims and in maintaining relationships with local populations and other stakeholders;
-
the outcome of existing and potential lawsuits, insurance claims, regulatory actions, audits and assessments; and
-
other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this document and in Paramount’s other filings with Canadian securities authorities.
The foregoing list of risks is not exhaustive. For more information relating to risks, see the sections titled " Risk Factors " in Paramount's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities law, Paramount undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Certain forward-looking information in this press release, including forecast free cash flow in 2021 and forecast 2021 year-end net debt to annual adjusted funds flow, may also constitute a "financial outlook" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. A financial outlook involves statements about Paramount’s prospective financial performance or position and is based on and subject to the assumptions and risk factors described above in respect of forward-looking information generally as well as any other specific assumptions and risk factors in relation to such financial outlook noted in this press release. Such assumptions are based on management's assessment of the relevant information currently available and any financial outlook included in this press release is provided for the purpose of helping readers understand Paramount’s current expectations and plans for the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on any financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes or in other circumstances and that the risk factors described above or other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any financial outlook.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this press release, "adjusted funds flow", "asset level free cash flow", "free cash flow", "netback", "net debt", "net debt to adjusted funds flow" and "total capital expenditures", together the "Non-GAAP financial measures", are used and do not have any standardized meanings as prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards. Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current years’ presentation.
"Adjusted funds flow" refers to cash from operating activities before net changes in non-cash working capital, geological and geophysical expenses, asset retirement obligation settlements and provision. Adjusted funds flow is used to assist management and investors in measuring the Company’s ability to fund capital programs and meet financial obligations, including the settlement of asset retirement obligations. Asset retirement obligation settlements are excluded from the calculation of adjusted funds flow because such expenditures are not directly linked to the revenue generating activities of the Company. Paramount manages the timing of expenditures related to asset retirement obligation settlements in accordance with regulatory requirements and its overall approach to managing its asset retirement obligations and, as a result, amounts incurred may vary significantly from period to period. Adjusted funds flow is not intended to represent cash from operating activities, net loss or any other GAAP measure and should not be construed as being an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash flow from operating
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 12
activities as determined in accordance with IFRS. The following are the calculations of adjusted funds flow from the nearest GAAP measure for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 (MM$) Dec 31, 2020 (MM$) |
Three months ended March 31, 2021 (MM$) Dec 31, 2020 (MM$) |
Three months ended March 31, 2021 (MM$) Dec 31, 2020 (MM$) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash from operating activities Change in non-cash working capital Geological and geophysical expenses Asset retirement obligations settled Provision |
81.3 53.2 (7.9) 12.5 1.6 2.1 8.4 0.1 7.5 – |
|
| Adjusted funds flow | 90.9 67.9 |
"Asset level free cash flow" refers to aggregate netback from an asset during the period less capital expenditures with respect to such asset for the period. Asset level free cash flow is used by management and investors to assess the cash generating capacity of an asset.
"Free cash flow" refers to adjusted funds flow less total capital expenditures and asset retirement obligation settlements. Free cash flow is used by management and investors to assess the amount of internally generated cash available to repay debt, reinvest in the business or return to shareholders. The following is the calculation of free cash flow from the nearest GAAP measure for the three months ended March 31, 2021:
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 (MM$) |
Three months ended March 31, 2021 (MM$) |
Three months ended March 31, 2021 (MM$) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash from operating activities Change in non-cash working capital Geological and geophysical expenses Asset retirement obligations settled Provision |
81.3 | |
| (7.9) | ||
| 1.6 | ||
| 8.4 | ||
| 7.5 | ||
| Adjusted funds flow | 90.9 | |
| Total capital expenditures Asset retirement obligation settlements |
(59.3) | |
| (8.4) | ||
| Free cash flow | 23.2 |
"Netback" equals petroleum and natural gas sales less royalties, operating expense and transportation and NGLs processing costs. Netback is commonly used by management and investors to compare the results of the Company’s oil and gas operations between periods. Refer to the tables under the headings "Review of Operations" and "Financial and Operating Results" for the calculation thereof.
"Net debt" is a measure of the Company’s overall debt position after adjusting for certain working capital and other amounts and is used by management to assess the Company’s overall leverage position. Refer to the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (the "MD&A") for the calculation of net debt.
"Net debt to adjusted funds flow" is a ratio calculated as the period end net debt divided by the sum of adjusted funds flow for the trailing four quarters. The ratio of net debt to adjusted funds flow is commonly used by management and investors to assess the Company’s overall debt position and to measure the strength of the Company's balance sheet.
"Total capital expenditures" refers to the Company’s property, plant and equipment and exploration expenditures. Refer to the Property, Plant and Equipment and Exploration Expenditures section of the MD&A for the calculation thereof.
Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to their most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Non-GAAP financial measures are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 13
Oil and Gas Measures and Definitions
Abbreviations
Liquids Bbl Barrels Bbl/d Barrels per day MBbl Thousands of barrels NGLs Natural gas liquids Condensate Pentane and heavier hydrocarbons WTI West Texas Intermediate
Natural Gas
GJ Gigajoules GJ/d Gigajoules per day Mcf Thousands of cubic feet MMcf Millions of cubic feet MMcf/d Millions of cubic feet per day AECO AECO-C reference price NYMEX New York Mercantile Exchange
Oil Equivalent Boe Barrels of oil equivalent MBoe Thousands of barrels of oil equivalent MMBoe Millions of barrels of oil equivalent Boe/d Barrels of oil equivalent per day
This press release contains disclosures expressed as "Boe", "$/Boe" and "Boe/d". Natural gas equivalency volumes have been derived using the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil when converting natural gas to Boe. Equivalency measures may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the well head. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the value ratio between crude oil and natural gas was approximately 25:1. This value ratio is significantly different from the energy equivalency ratio of 6:1. Using a 6:1 ratio would be misleading as an indication of value.
This press release refers to "CGR", a metric commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry. "CGR" means condensate to gas ratio and is calculated by dividing wellhead raw liquids volumes by wellhead raw natural gas volumes. This metric does not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. As such, it should not be used to make comparisons. Management uses oil and gas metrics for its own performance measurements and to provide shareholders with measures to compare the Company's performance over time; however, such measures are not reliable indicators of the Company's future performance and future performance may not compare to the performance in previous periods and therefore should not be unduly relied upon.
Additional information respecting the Company’s oil and gas properties and operations is provided in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 14
==> picture [175 x 72] intentionally omitted <==
Management’s Discussion and Analysis For the three months ended March 31, 2021
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 15
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), dated May 4, 2021 should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Paramount Resources Ltd. ("Paramount" or the "Company") as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (the "Interim Financial Statements") and Paramount’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "Annual Financial Statements"). Financial data included in this MD&A has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS" or "GAAP") and is stated in millions of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. The Company’s accounting policies have been applied consistently to all periods presented.
The disclosures in this document include forward-looking information and financial outlooks, Non-GAAP financial measures and certain oil and gas measures. Readers are referred to the Advisories section of this document concerning such matters. Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current years’ presentation. Additional information concerning Paramount, including its Annual Information Form, can be found on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
ABOUT PARAMOUNT
Paramount is an independent, publicly traded, liquids-focused Canadian energy company that explores for and develops both conventional and unconventional petroleum and natural gas reserves and resources. Paramount’s principal properties are located in Alberta and British Columbia. Paramount commenced operations as a public company in 1978 and has adapted to a multitude of operating and economic climates over the years. The Company’s Class A common shares ("Common Shares") are listed on the Toronto " " Stock Exchange under the symbol POU .
Paramount’s operations are organized into the following three regions:
-
the Grande Prairie Region, located in the Peace River Arch area of Alberta, which is focused on Montney developments at Karr and Wapiti;
-
the Kaybob Region, located in west-central Alberta, which includes the Kaybob North and Ante Creek Montney oil developments, Duvernay developments at Kaybob Smoky, Kaybob North and Kaybob South and other shale gas and conventional natural gas producing properties; and
-
the Central Alberta and Other Region, which includes the Willesden Green Duvernay development in central Alberta and shale gas producing properties in the Horn River Basin and at Birch in northeast British Columbia.
The Company’s assets include: (i) strategic investments in exploration and pre-development stage assets, including prospective shale gas acreage in the Liard Basin, prospective natural gas and oil acreage in the Mackenzie Delta and Central Mackenzie and interests held by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Cavalier Energy Inc. prospective for in-situ thermal oil recovery and heavy oil production; (ii) drilling rigs owned by the Company’s wholly-owned limited partnership Fox Drilling Limited Partnership; and (iii) investments in other entities.
NOTE REGARDING PRODUCT TYPES
" " " " " " This MD&A includes references to sales volumes of natural gas , condensate and oil and Other NGLs . "Natural gas" refers to conventional natural gas and shale gas combined. "Condensate and oil" refers to condensate, light and medium crude oil and tight oil combined. "Other NGLs" refers to ethane, propane and butane combined. Readers are referred to the Product Type Information section of this document for a
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 16
complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS[(1)(2) ]
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | **% Change ** |
|---|---|---|---|
| FINANCIAL | |||
| Petroleum and natural gas sales | 279.9 | 172.1 | 63 |
| Net loss | (82.5) | (235.1) | (65) |
| Per share – basic & diluted ($/share) | (0.62) | (1.76) | |
| Cash from operating activities | 81.3 | 30.5 | 167 |
| Per share – basic & diluted ($/share) | 0.61 | 0.23 | |
| Adjusted funds flow | 90.9 | 33.5 | 171 |
| Per share – basic & diluted ($/share) | 0.69 | 0.25 | |
| Total assets | 3,583.1 | 3,009.5 | 19 |
| Long-term debt | 712.7 | 651.5 | 9 |
| Net debt | 761.7 | 771.9 | (1) |
| Total liabilities | 1,548.1 | 1,293.1 | 20 |
| Common shares outstanding (thousands)(3) | 132,754 | 133,346 | – |
| OPERATIONAL | |||
| Sales volumes | |||
| Natural gas (MMcf/d) | 273.1 | 261.5 | 4 |
| Condensate and oil (Bbl/d) | 29,854 | 21,898 | 36 |
| Other NGLs (Bbl/d) | 5,170 | 4,539 | 14 |
| Total (Boe/d) | 80,540 | 70,022 | 15 |
| % Liquids | 43% | 38% | |
| Realized prices | |||
| Natural gas ($/Mcf) | 3.14 | 2.25 | 40 |
| Condensate and oil ($/Bbl) | 69.20 | 55.92 | 24 |
| Other NGLs ($/Bbl) | 32.29 | 10.75 | 200 |
| Petroleum and natural gas sales ($/Boe) | 38.61 | 27.01 | 43 |
| Total capital expenditures | 59.3 | 63.8 | (7) |
(1) Readers are referred to the advisories concerning Non-GAAP financial measures and Oil and Gas Measures and Definitions in the Advisories section and to the reconciliations of such Non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable measure under GAAP in the applicable sections of this document. This table contains the following Non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted funds flow, Net debt and Total capital expenditures.
(2) "Natural gas" refers to conventional natural gas and shale gas combined. "Condensate and oil" refers to condensate, light and medium crude oil and tight oil combined. "Other NGLs" refers to ethane, propane and butane combined. Readers are referred to the Product Type Information section of this document for a complete breakdown of sales volumes and revenues for all applicable periods by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil.
(3) Common Shares are presented net of shares held in trust under the Company’s restricted share unit plan (000’s of Common Shares): 2021: 1,914 and 2020: 852.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 17
Q1 2021 OVERVIEW
Paramount’s financial and operating results in the first quarter of 2021 reflect the Company’s continuing success at its Karr and Wapiti developments, where higher sales volumes, lower per unit operating costs and sustained capital cost savings are being achieved, as well as the strengthening of crude oil and condensate prices.
Sales volumes averaged 80,540 Boe/d (43% liquids) in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 73,460 Boe/d (42% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Sales volumes at Karr averaged 33,230 Boe/d (55% liquids) in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 26,914 Boe/d (56% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase in sales volumes at Karr was driven by strong performance from six Montney wells brought onstream in the first quarter of 2021, five Montney wells brought onstream in the fourth quarter of 2020, as well as by workovers that were completed on two wells in the fourth quarter of 2020. Sales volumes at Wapiti averaged 14,107 Boe/d (62% liquids) compared to 10,764 Boe/d (64% liquids) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase in sales volumes at Wapiti was primarily due to new production from five Montney wells brought onstream partway through the fourth quarter of 2020.
Capital spending in the first quarter of 2021 totaled $59.3 million, which was primarily directed to drilling and completion activities at Karr and Wapiti. All-in lease construction, drilling, completion, equip and tie-in (collectively "DCET") costs for the six wells brought on production at Karr in the quarter averaged a pacesetting $6.8 million per well, $0.2 million lower per well than prior estimates and representing a 12% reduction relative to average DCET costs for Karr wells in 2020. Preliminary DCET costs for three wells brought onstream at Karr in April 2021 were $6.9 million per well.
Paramount’s continued focus on strong execution, cost control and innovation has contributed to anticipated cost savings of $30 million in the Company’s 2021 capital program.
The Company successfully closed non-core asset dispositions for cash proceeds of $79.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 and completed a private placement of $35.0 million of senior unsecured convertible debentures.
Cash from operating activities was $81.3 million in the quarter compared to $53.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted funds flow was $90.9 million in the quarter compared to $67.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Paramount generated $23.2 million of free cash flow in the quarter that, along with the $79.6 million in cash proceeds from non-core dispositions, was directed to debt reduction.[(1)]
Subsequent to quarter end, Paramount entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its non-operated Birch asset in the Central Alberta and Other Region for total consideration of approximately $77 million (the "Birch Disposition"). Closing is subject to customary conditions and is anticipated to occur in July 2021. Estimated second half 2021 production from the asset, net to Paramount, was approximately 1,900 Boe/d.
General economic conditions and crude oil and condensate pricing continue to remain subject to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate impact remain highly uncertain. Paramount conducts its operations in accordance with its corporate pandemic response plan, which is aimed at ensuring the health and safety of its staff and contractors and the people they come in contact with, and in compliance with public health requirements and guidelines. The Company continues to proactively respond to the pandemic and the risks that it poses, including the risks described in this MD&A under "Risk Factors".
(1) "Adjusted funds flow" and "Free cash flow" are Non-GAAP financial measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 18
REVISED 2021 GUIDANCE
Paramount is increasing its 2021 sales volume forecast as a result of strong year-to-date performance. Sales volumes in 2021 are now expected to average between 80,000 Boe/d and 82,000 Boe/d (44% liquids) after taking into account the Birch Disposition. This is an increase from previous guidance of 77,000 Boe/d to 80,000 Boe/d (45% liquids).
Second quarter 2021 sales volumes are expected to average between 77,000 Boe/d and 78,000 Boe/d (42% liquids). Second half 2021 sales volumes guidance remains unchanged at between 80,000 Boe/d and 84,000 Boe/d (45% liquids) notwithstanding the Birch Disposition.
The Company will be advancing approximately $60 million of activities in the Wapiti area by six months into the second half of 2021, capitalizing on the $30 million of anticipated cost savings in its 2021 capital program, incremental cash flow generation in light of higher production guidance and the Birch Disposition. Accordingly, the Company’s capital budget for 2021 is being increased to between $265 million and $285 million, excluding land acquisitions and abandonment and reclamation activities. This is an increase of $30 million at the mid-point from the previous guidance range of between $230 million and $260 million. Additional activities at Wapiti will include drilling, completing and bringing onstream the seven well 9-22 pad, the tie-in of a pre-existing well from the 10-22 pad and the installation of associated infrastructure. Initial production from these activities is anticipated to come onstream in December 2021.
Inclusive of the increased capital at Wapiti, Paramount forecasts 2021 free cash flow of approximately $140 million. This is based on the following assumptions for 2021: (i) the midpoint of forecast capital spending and production, (ii) $25 million in abandonment and reclamation costs, (iii) realized pricing of $39.50/Boe (US$60.84/Bbl WTI, US$2.84/MMBtu NYMEX, $2.78/GJ AECO), (iv) royalties of $2.60/Boe, (v) operating costs of $11.30/Boe and (vi) transportation and processing costs of $3.85/Boe.
Approximately 52% of forecast midpoint production is hedged over the final three quarters of 2021. After taking such hedging into account, 2021 forecast free cash flow would still be approximately $60 million at an average WTI oil price of US$40.00/Bbl over the final three quarters of the year and would rise to $155 million at an average WTI oil price of US$65.00/Bbl over the final three quarters of the year.
The Company targets net debt to adjusted funds flow of between 1.0x and 2.0x. Free cash flow in 2021 is expected to be directed towards debt reduction, with anticipated year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow of less than 1.5x.[ (1)] The Company currently prioritizes the allocation of free cash flow to: (i) achieving the targeted range of net debt to adjusted funds flow; (ii) shareholder returns; and (iii) incremental growth.
(1) "Net debt to adjusted funds flow" is a Non-GAAP financial measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 19
PRELIMINARY 2022 GUIDANCE
Paramount expects to finalize its 2022 capital budget and related guidance in the first quarter of 2022. Based on preliminary planning and current market conditions, Paramount anticipates 2022 capital spending, excluding land acquisitions and abandonment and reclamation activities, to range between $325 million and $385 million, broken down as follows:
-
$250 million of sustaining capital and maintenance activities;
-
$75 million of growth capital with production benefits in 2022; and
-
$60 million of discretionary growth capital with production benefits largely in 2023.
A capital program in this range would be expected to result in 2022 annual average sales volumes of between 84,000 Boe/d and 88,000 Boe/d (45% liquids) and free cash flow of approximately $185 million. The free cash flow estimate is based on the following assumptions for 2022: (i) the midpoint of forecast capital spending and production, (ii) $30 million in abandonment and reclamation costs, (iii) realized pricing of $37.25/Boe (US$57.78/Bbl WTI, US$2.71/MMBtu NYMEX, $2.43/GJ AECO), (iv) royalties of $2.35/Boe, (v) operating costs of $11.10/Boe and (vi) transportation and processing costs of $3.75/Boe. If all expected free cash flow was directed towards debt reduction, anticipated year-end 2022 net debt to adjusted funds flow would be significantly less than 1.0x.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
Net Loss
Paramount recorded a net loss of $82.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to a net loss of $235.1 million in the same period in 2020. Significant factors contributing to the change are shown below:
| Three months ended March 31 | |
|---|---|
| Net loss – 2020 | (235.1) |
| • Lower depletion, depreciation and impairment in 2021, mainly due to impairment charges of $191.8 | 191.8 |
| million in 2020 | |
| • Income tax recovery in 2021 compared to an expense in 2020; 2020 included the derecognition of | 128.8 |
| $130.0 million of the deferred income tax asset | |
| • Higher netback in 2021, mainly due to higher commodity prices and condensate and oil sales volumes | 104.6 |
| • Higher gain on the sale of oil and gas assets in 2021 | 39.1 |
| • Expense related to changes in asset retirement obligations in 2021 compared to a recovery in 2020 | (164.3) |
| • Loss on financial commodity contracts in 2021 compared to a gain in 2020 | (123.5) |
| • Higher exploration and evaluation expense in 2021 | (9.0) |
| • Higher interest and financing expense in 2021 | (7.2) |
| • Other | (7.7) |
| Net loss – 2021 | (82.5) |
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 20
Cash From Operating Activities
Cash from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $81.3 million compared to $30.5 million in the same period in 2020. Significant factors contributing to the change are shown below:
| Three months ended March 31 | |
|---|---|
| Cash from operating activities – 2020 | 30.5 |
| • Higher netback in 2021, mainly due to higher commodity prices and condensate and oil sales volumes | 104.6 |
| • Lower asset retirement obligation settlements in 2021 | 21.9 |
| • Payments on financial commodity contract settlements in 2021 compared to receipts in 2020 | (39.7) |
| • Change in non-cash working capital | (26.4) |
| • Higher interest and financing expense in 2021 | (6.4) |
| • Other | (3.2) |
| Cash from operating activities – 2021 | 81.3 |
Adjusted Funds Flow[(1)]
The following is a reconciliation of adjusted funds flow to the nearest GAAP measure:
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash from operating activities | 81.3 | 30.5 |
| Change in non-cash working capital | (7.9) | (34.3) |
| Geological and geophysical expenses | 1.6 | 2.6 |
| Asset retirement obligations settled | 8.4 | 30.3 |
| Provisions and other | 7.5 | 4.4 |
| Adjusted funds flow | 90.9 | 33.5 |
| Adjusted funds flow($/Boe) | 12.54 | 5.26 |
(1) "Adjusted funds flow" is a Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Adjusted funds flow for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $90.9 million compared to $33.5 million in the same period in 2020. Significant factors contributing to the change are shown below:
| Three months ended March 31 | |
|---|---|
| Adjusted funds flow – 2020 | 33.5 |
| • Higher netback in 2021, mainly due to higher commodity prices and condensate and oil sales volumes | 104.6 |
| • Payments on financial commodity contract settlements in 2021 compared to receipts in 2020 | (39.7) |
| • Higher interest and financing expense in 2021 | (6.4) |
| • Other | (1.1) |
| Adjusted funds flow – 2021 | 90.9 |
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 21
OPERATING RESULTS
Netback[(1) ]
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($/Boe)(2) | ($/Boe) (2) | |||
| Natural gas revenue | 77.3 | 3.14 | 53.6 | 2.25 |
| Condensate and oil revenue | 185.9 | 69.20 | 111.4 | 55.92 |
| Other NGLs revenue | 15.0 | 32.29 | 4.4 | 10.75 |
| Royalty and other revenue | 1.7 |
– | 2.7 | – |
| Petroleum and natural gas sales | 279.9 | 38.61 | 172.1 | 27.01 |
| Royalties | (18.6) | (2.57) | (11.7) | (1.84) |
| Operating expense | (84.3) | (11.63) | (92.3) | (14.49) |
| Transportation and NGLs processing(3) | (27.9) | (3.84) | (23.6) | (3.70) |
| Netback | 149.1 | 20.57 | 44.5 | 6.98 |
| Financial commodity contract settlements | (32.7) | (4.51) | 7.0 | 1.10 |
| Netback including financial commodity contract settlements | 116.4 |
16.06 | 51.5 | 8.08 |
(1) "Netback" is a Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
(2) Natural gas revenue presented per Mcf.
(3) Includes downstream transportation costs and NGLs fractionation costs.
Petroleum and natural gas sales were $279.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of $107.8 million from the same period in the prior year mainly due to higher commodity prices and condensate and oil sales volumes.
The impact of changes in sales volumes and prices on petroleum and natural gas sales are as follows:
| Natural | Condensate |
Other | Royalty and |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gas | and oil |
NGLs | other |
Total | |
| Three months ended March 31, 2020 | 53.6 | 111.4 |
4.4 | 2.7 | 172.1 |
| Effect of changes in sales volumes | 1.8 | 38.8 |
0.6 | – | 41.2 |
| Effect of changes in prices | 21.9 | 35.7 |
10.0 | – | 67.6 |
| Change in royalty and other revenue | – | – |
– | (1.0) | (1.0) |
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 | 77.3 | 185.9 |
15.0 | 1.7 | 279.9 |
Sales Volumes[(1)]
| Three months ended March 31 | Three months ended March 31 | Three months ended March 31 | Three months ended March 31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas (MMcf/d) |
Condensate and oil (Bbl/d) |
Other NGLs (Bbl/d) |
Total (Boe/d) |
| 2021 2020 % _Change _ |
2021 2020 % _Change _ |
2021 2020 % Change |
2021 2020 % _Change _ |
| Grande Prairie 122.6 74.6 64 Kaybob 107.9 140.2_(23) Central Alberta & Other 42.6 46.7 (9)_ |
23,974 14,097 70 |
2,984 1,680 78 |
47,385 28,214 68 24,938 32,700 (24) 8,217 9,108 (10) |
5,274 7,123 (26) |
1,677 2,218 (24) |
||
| 606 678 (11) |
509 641 (21) |
||
| Total 273.1 261.5 4 |
29,854 21,898 36 |
5,170 4,539_14_ |
80,540 70,022 15 |
(1) Readers are referred to the Product Type Information section of this document for more information respecting the composition of sales volumes by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil.
Sales volumes were 80,540 Boe/d (43% liquids) in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 70,022 Boe/d (38% liquids) in the same period in 2020. The Company focused its capital program in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 on its developments at Karr and Wapiti, which resulted in higher 2021 sales volumes in the liquids
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 22
rich Grande Prairie Region and lower sales volumes in the Kaybob and Central Alberta & Other Regions due to declines. First quarter 2021 sales volumes in the Kaybob and Central Alberta & Other Regions were also lower by approximately 2,000 Boe/d (11.4 MMcf/d of conventional gas and 98 Bbl/d of NGLs) compared to the first quarter of 2020 due to non-core dispositions completed in the first quarter of 2021.
At Karr, first quarter 2021 sales volumes were 33,230 Boe/d (55% liquids) compared to 20,885 Boe/d (53% liquids) in the same period in 2020. The increase resulted from development activities where Paramount brought six wells on production in the first quarter of 2021 in addition to the 15 wells brought onstream in the second half of 2020. In the third quarter of 2020, Paramount also completed a debottlenecking project at Karr which enabled the Company to increase production previously impacted by gathering system constraints. The strong performance at Karr has contributed to the upward revision of the Company’s forecasted sales volume guidance for 2021 as discussed under "Revised 2021 Guidance" in this MD&A.
Sales volumes at Wapiti increased to 14,107 Boe/d (62% liquids) in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 7,209 Boe/d (66% liquids) in the first quarter of 2020. The increase was mainly due to two factors: (i) first quarter 2020 sales volumes were impacted by approximately 4,300 Boe/d due to downtime at the thirdparty Wapiti natural gas processing plant; and (ii) five wells were brought onstream in the fourth quarter of 2020 at Wapiti.
Commodity Prices
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas | |||
| Paramount realized price ($/Mcf) | 3.14 | 2.25 | 40 |
| AECO daily spot ($/GJ) | 2.99 | 1.93 | 55 |
| AECO monthly index ($/GJ) | 2.77 | 2.03 | 36 |
| Dawn ($/MMbtu) | 3.72 | 2.35 | 58 |
| NYMEX (US$/MMbtu) | 2.73 | 1.87 | 46 |
| Malin – monthly index (US$/MMbtu) | 2.70 | 2.27 | 19 |
| Condensate and Oil | |||
| Paramount realized condensate & oil price ($/Bbl) | 69.20 | 55.92 | 24 |
| Edmonton light sweet crude oil($/Bbl) | 68.62 | 52.02 | 32 |
| West Texas Intermediate (US$/Bbl) | 57.84 | 46.17 | 25 |
| Other NGLs(1) | |||
| Paramount realized Other NGLs price ($/Bbl) | 32.29 | 10.75 | 200 |
| Conway – propane ($/Bbl) | 48.77 | 19.19 | 154 |
| Belvieu – butane ($/Bbl) | 50.35 | 31.82 | 58 |
| Foreign Exchange | |||
| $CDN / 1$US | 1.27 | 1.34 | (5) |
(1) Other NGLs means ethane, propane and butane.
Paramount’s natural gas portfolio primarily consists of sales priced at Alberta, British Columbia, California, Chicago, Ventura and Eastern Canada markets, which are sold in a combination of daily, monthly, seasonal and fixed-priced physical contracts. The Company’s natural gas portfolio includes arrangements to sell approximately 60,000 GJ/d of natural gas at Dawn, approximately 22,000 GJ/d of natural gas at Malin and 40,000 GJ/d of natural gas sales priced at the US Midwest.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 23
The Company had the following AECO fixed-price physical contracts to sell natural gas at March 31, 2021:
| Quantity | Location | Average fixedprice | Remaining term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 GJ/d | AECO | CDN$2.52/GJ | April 2021–October 2021 |
| 50,000 GJ/d | AECO | CDN$2.51/GJ | April 2021–December 2021 |
Paramount ships a portion of its condensate and crude oil production on third-party pipelines for sale in Edmonton, Alberta, where volumes generally receive higher prices due to the greater diversity of potential purchasers. A limited portion of the Company’s production continues to be sold at truck terminals or at the lease when warranted by economic or operational factors. Sales prices for condensate and oil are based on West Texas Intermediate reference prices, adjusted for transportation, quality and density differentials.
The Company’s butane and propane volumes are generally sold under contracts that are renewed annually in April each year. The Company’s propane and butane contracts in place in the first quarter of 2021 had more favorable differentials to West Texas Intermediate reference prices than the same period in 2020.
Financial Commodity Contracts
From time-to-time Paramount uses financial commodity contracts to manage exposure to commodity price volatility. Changes in the fair value of the Company’s financial commodity contracts are as follows:
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||
| Fair value, beginning of period | (22.7) | 6.1 | |
| Changes in fair value | (81.2) | 8.8 | |
| Settlements paid (received) | 32.7 | (37.6) | |
| Fair value, end ofperiod | (71.2) | (22.7) |
For further details on the Company’s financial commodity contracts, refer to Note 11 of the Interim Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Company’s financial commodity contracts and fixed-price physical contracts for the remainder of 2021:
| Type (1) | Q2 2021 | Q3 2021 | Q4 2021 | Average Price(2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil –WTI Swaps (Sale) (Bbl/d) | Financial | 23,000 |
15,000 | 10,000 | US$46.37/Bbl |
| Oil – WTI Swap (Sale) (Bbl/d) | Financial | 3,000 |
3,000 | – | C$65.29/Bbl |
| Condensate – Basis Swap (Sale) (Bbl/d) | Financial | 4,000 |
– | – | WTI + US$0.06/Bbl |
| Gas – NYMEX Swaps (Sale) (MMbtu/d) | Financial | 60,000 |
60,000 | 60,000 | US$2.71/MMbtu |
| Gas – AECO fixedprice(GJ/d) | Physical | 100,000 |
100,000 | 66,848 | C$2.51/GJ |
(1) Financial, refers to financial commodity contracts. Physical, refers to fixed-priced physical contracts.
(2) Average price is calculated using a weighted average of notional volumes and prices.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 24
Royalties
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | Rate | 2020 | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalties | 18.6 | 6.7% | 11.7 | 6.9% |
| $/Boe | 2.57 | 1.84 |
Royalties were $18.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, $6.9 million higher than the same period in 2020. Royalties increased in 2021 primarily as a result of higher petroleum and natural gas sales revenues, partially offset by lower average royalty rates at Karr due to new wells that qualify for royalty incentive programs in Alberta being brought onstream.
Operating Expense
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating expense | 84.3 | 92.3 |
(9) |
| $/Boe | 11.63 | 14.49 |
(20) |
Operating expense was $84.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, $8.0 million lower compared to the same period in 2020, primarily as a result of the Company’s prior cost reduction initiatives, including lowering costs related to maintenance, labour and water disposal as well as supplier cost savings. Lower production in the Kaybob Region also contributed to the decrease in operating expense. The decreases in operating expense in the first quarter of 2021 were partially offset by higher processing fees in the Grande Prairie Region.
Operating expense was $11.63 per Boe in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $14.49 per Boe in the same period of 2020, mainly due to the impact of higher production and the cost reductions described above.
Transportation and NGLs Processing
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and NGLsprocessing | 27.9 | 23.6 |
18 |
| $/Boe | 3.84 | 3.70 |
4 |
Transportation and NGLs processing expense was $27.9 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $23.6 million in the same period in 2020. Transportation and NGLs processing costs increased in the first quarter of 2021 mainly as a result of higher contracted capacity for Karr and Wapiti, partially offset by lower production in the Kaybob Region.
Other Operating Items
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Depletion and depreciation (excluding impairment) | (73.1) | (73.1) |
| Impairment of petroleum and natural gas assets | – | (191.8) |
| Gain on sale of oil and gas assets | 41.4 | 2.3 |
| Exploration and evaluation expense | (20.9) | (11.9) |
Depletion and depreciation expense was $73.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, unchanged compared to the same period in 2020, with the impact of higher sales volumes being offset by lower depletion rates in the Grande Prairie Region.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 25
At March 31, 2020, the Company recorded impairments of $188.3 million and $3.5 million related to petroleum and natural gas assets in the Kaybob and Northern cash-generating units ("CGUs"), respectively. At December 31, 2020, the Company recorded aggregate impairment reversals of $333.7 million from previously recorded impairment charges, comprised of $287.7 million, $30.6 million and $15.4 million related to petroleum and natural gas assets in the Kaybob, Northern and Central Alberta CGUs, respectively. For additional information on impairments and impairment reversals in 2020, refer to Note 5 of the Annual Financial Statements.
In the first quarter of 2021, the Company sold certain non-core properties in the Kaybob and Central Alberta CGUs for aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $80 million. These assets had average sales volumes of approximately 2,700 Boe/d (15.4 MMcf/d of conventional natural gas and 142 Bbl/d of NGLs) and a netback of approximately $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, representing the last full quarter prior to sale. A gain of $41.4 million was recognized on these sales.
Exploration and Evaluation ("E&E") expense was $20.9 million in 2021, an increase of $9.0 million compared to 2020, primarily due to higher expenses for expired mineral leases.
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Level one fair value hierarchy securities (ʺLevel One Securitiesʺ) | 110.0 | 48.4 |
| Level three fair value hierarchy securities (ʺLevel Three Securitiesʺ) | 19.9 | 11.1 |
| 129.9 | 59.5 |
Paramount holds investments in a number of publicly-traded and private corporations as part of its portfolio of investments. Investments that are categorized as Level One Securities are carried at their period-end trading prices. Estimates of fair values for investments that are categorized as Level Three Securities are based on valuation techniques that incorporate unobservable inputs. The valuation techniques utilize market-based metrics of comparable companies and transactions, indications of value based on equity transactions of the entities and other indicators of value including financial and operating results of the entities. Fair value estimates of Level Three Securities are updated at each balance sheet date to confirm whether the carrying value of the investment continues to fall within a range of possible fair values indicated by such techniques.
For the three months ended, March 31, 2021, the Company recorded $70.2 million of other comprehensive income ("OCI") as a result of changes in the fair value estimates of Level One Securities and Level Three Securities.
Changes in the fair value of investments in securities are as follows:
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended |
|
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021(1) | December 31, 2020 | |
| Investments in securities, beginning of period | 59.5 | 156.9 |
| Changes in fair value of Level One Securities – recorded in OCI | 61.6 | (50.6) |
| Changes in fair value of Level Three Securities – recorded in OCI | 8.6 | 32.5 |
| Transfer to dissent payment entitlement | – | (89.3) |
| Changes in fair value of warrants – recorded in earnings | 0.1 | (1.7) |
| Acquired–cash | – | 11.7 |
| Investments in securities, end ofperiod | 129.9 | 59.5 |
(1) Column does not add due to rounding.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 26
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The area-based closure program introduced by the Alberta Energy Regulator in September 2018 allows companies to approach abandonment and reclamation activities in an efficient and cost-effective manner by targeting efforts in a concentrated area. Paramount’s strategy is to utilize the advantages of the areabased closure program by focusing its abandonment and reclamation activities on the Hawkeye property, which was shut-in in 2018, and the Zama property, which was shut-in in 2019.
Abandonment and reclamation expenditures in the first quarter of 2021 totaled $8.4 million, net of approximately $1.7 million in funding under the Alberta Site Rehabilitation Program (the "ASRP"). Activities in the first quarter of 2021 included the abandonment of 120 wells, 119 of which were abandoned under the Company’s ongoing area-based closure program at Zama.
The Company’s budget for abandonment and reclamation activities in 2021 remains unchanged at approximately $31 million. Approximately $6 million is to be funded directly under the ASRP, resulting in approximately $25 million net to Paramount. The majority of 2021 closure activities will be performed at the Zama property.
As at March 31, 2021, estimated undiscounted, uninflated asset retirement obligations were $1,307.8 million (December 31, 2020 – $1,351.7 million). As at March 31, 2021, the Company’s discounted asset retirement obligations were $542.8 million (discounted at 8.25 percent and using an inflation rate of 2.0 percent) compared to $419.5 million as at December 31, 2020 (discounted at 11.0 percent and using an inflation rate of 2.0 percent). For further details concerning the Company’s asset retirement obligations, refer to the Interim Financial Statements.
CORPORATE
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| General and administrative | (8.7) | (10.2) |
| Share-based compensation | (6.0) | – |
| Interest and financing | (16.7) | (9.5) |
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | (10.8) | (10.5) |
| Change in asset retirement obligations | (69.5) | 94.8 |
| Deferred income tax recovery (expense) | 22.1 | (106.7) |
General and administrative expenses were lower in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 primarily due to cost reduction initiatives implemented in 2020.
Share-based compensation expense was higher in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 mainly due to incentive compensation programs that had been suspended in the first quarter of 2020 as part of cost reduction initiatives.
Interest and financing expense was $16.7 million in 2021, an increase of $7.2 million compared to 2020, as a result of higher average debt balances and interest rates under the Paramount Facility.
In the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a charge of $69.5 million (three months ended March 31, 2020 - $94.8 million recovery) to earnings mainly related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value ascribed to property, plant and equipment. The changes mainly resulted from a revision in the credit-adjusted risk-free rate used to discount asset retirement obligations.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 27
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AND EXPLORATION EXPENDITURES
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling, completion and tie-ins | 55.7 | 53.3 |
| Facilities and gathering | 1.8 | 9.4 |
| Corporate | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| Total capital expenditures(1) | 59.3 | 63.8 |
| Grande Prairie Region | 51.3 | 49.8 |
| Kaybob Region | 5.0 | 10.1 |
| Central Alberta and Other Region | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| Corporate | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| Total capital expenditures(1) | 59.3 | 63.8 |
(1) "Total Capital Expenditures" is a Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Total capital expenditures were $59.3 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $63.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. Expenditures in the first quarter of 2021 were mainly directed to drilling and completion programs in the Grande Prairie Region. Significant capital program activities undertaken in the first quarter of 2021 are described below:
-
At Karr, the Company drilled 9 (9.0 net) wells, commenced drilling operations on 4 (4.0 net) wells, commenced completion activities on 3 (3.0 net) wells and completed and brought on production 6 (6.0 net) wells.
-
At Wapiti, Paramount drilled 4 (4.0 net) wells.
-
In the Kaybob Region, the Company completed 1 (1.0 net) oil well at Ante Creek.
-
In the Central Alberta & Other region, the Company commenced drilling of 1 (1.0 net) well at Willesden Green.
Paramount has continued to realize capital cost savings to date in 2021, with DCET costs at Karr averaging lower than prior estimates and below average 2020 DCET costs as described in this MD&A under "Q1 2021 Overview".
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 28
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Paramount’s primary objectives in managing its capital structure are to:
-
i. maintain a flexible capital structure which optimizes the cost of capital at an acceptable level of risk;
-
ii. maintain sufficient liquidity to support ongoing operations, capital expenditure programs, strategic initiatives and the settlement of obligations when due; and
iii. maximize shareholder returns.
Paramount targets net debt to adjusted funds flow of between 1.0x (during periods of higher commodity prices) and 2.0x (during periods of lower commodity prices), with anticipated 2021 year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow of less than 1.5x.
Paramount manages its capital structure to support current and future business plans and periodically adjusts the structure in response to changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the Company’s underlying assets and operations. Paramount may adjust its capital structure through a number of means, including by issuing or repurchasing shares, altering debt levels, modifying capital spending programs, acquiring or disposing of assets, and participating in joint ventures, the availability of any such means being dependent upon market conditions.
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | (7.4) | (4.6) |
| Accounts receivable(1) | (117.7) | (97.7) |
| Prepaid expenses and other | (8.0) | (9.9) |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 182.1 | 152.8 |
| Adjusted working capital deficit(1) (2) | 49.0 | 40.6 |
| Long-term debt | 712.7 | 813.5 |
| Net debt(2) | 761.7 | 854.1 |
| Share capital | 2,212.2 | 2,207.4 |
| Accumulated deficit | (317.5) | (235.1) |
| Equity component of convertible debentures | 1.7 | – |
| Reserves | 138.7 | 65.4 |
| Total Capital | 2,796.8 | 2,891.8 |
(1) Adjusted working capital excludes risk management assets and liabilities, accounts receivable relating to subleases (March 31, 2021 – $2.4 million, December 31, 2020 – $2.3 million) and the current portion of asset retirement obligations and other.
(2) "Net Debt" is a Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Advisories section.
Paramount’s operations are capital intensive and adequate sources of liquidity are required to fund ongoing exploration and development activities, discharge asset retirement obligations and satisfy contractual commitments. Paramount’s available capital resources include cash from operating activities and available capacity under its senior secured revolving bank credit facility (the "Paramount Facility"), the terms of which are described further below.
Based on the forecasts of 2021 sales volumes and the pricing assumptions set out in this MD&A under "Revised 2021 Guidance", Paramount expects to fully fund budgeted 2021 capital expenditures of between $265 million and $285 million and net budgeted expenditures for abandonment and reclamation activities of $25 million with cash from operating activities. Paramount may utilize borrowing capacity under the Paramount Facility for liquidity from time to time to fund operations during periods of the year in which expenditures exceed cash from operating activities.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 29
The ability of cash from operating activities to satisfy the Company’s funding requirements in 2021 and future years is dependent on a number of factors, including commodity prices, sales volumes, royalties, operating and transportation costs, general and administrative and interest expenses and foreign exchange rates.
Paramount may also determine to divest of assets or investments in securities from time to time to reduce indebtedness or fund operations. In the first quarter of 2021, the Company sold non-core properties for aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $80 million and used such proceeds to reduce indebtedness under the Paramount Facility.
Subject to market conditions and availability, proceeds from new debt and/or equity financings may also provide additional sources of capital from time to time. In January 2021, as described below under "Convertible Debentures", the Company issued $35.0 million of senior unsecured convertible debentures and used the proceeds to reduce indebtedness under the Paramount Facility.
Paramount Facility
Paramount was in compliance with the financial covenants under its $1.0 billion financial-covenant based Paramount Facility at March 31, 2021.
The Company had undrawn letters of credit outstanding under the Paramount Facility totaling $1.3 million at March 31, 2021 that reduce the amount available to be drawn on the Paramount Facility.
For additional information on the Paramount Facility, refer to Note 8 of the Annual Financial Statements.
Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility
The Company has a $70 million unsecured demand revolving letter of credit facility (the "LC Facility") with a Canadian bank. Paramount’s obligations under the LC Facility are supported by a performance security guarantee ("PSG") from Export Development Canada ("EDC"). The PSG is valid to June 30, 2021 and may be extended at the option of Paramount and with the agreement of EDC.
At March 31, 2021, $40.7 million in undrawn letters of credit were outstanding under the LC Facility (December 31, 2020 – $40.7 million).
Convertible Debentures
In January 2021, the Company completed a private placement of $35.0 million of senior unsecured convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures"). An entity controlled by Paramount’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman purchased $25.0 million of the Convertible Debentures. An entity controlled by the Company’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Planning, purchased $0.1 million of the Convertible Debentures. The Convertible Debentures mature on January 31, 2024 (the "Maturity Date"), bear interest at 7.50 percent per annum payable monthly in arrears and are convertible by the holder into Common Shares at any time prior to the Maturity Date at a conversion price of $6.72 per Common Share prior to January 31, 2022, $7.33 per Common Share on or after January 31, 2022 and prior to January 31, 2023 and $7.94 per Common Share on or after January 31, 2023.
The Convertible Debentures are redeemable by Paramount, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the Maturity Date, at a redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to 107.50 percent prior to January 31, 2022, 103.75 percent on or after January 31, 2022 and prior to January 31, 2023 and 101.875 percent on or after January 31, 2023.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 30
The Convertible Debentures are treated as a compound financial instrument that contain a liability and an equity component and were initially recognized at fair value, net of issue costs of $0.1 million. The fair value of the liability component was initially recognized at the date of issuance using the effective interest method, discounted using the estimated interest rate of a debt instrument having similar terms but without a conversion feature. The fair value of the conversion feature was determined at the date of issuance as the difference between the principal amount and the fair value of the liability component at the date of issue, which has been classified within shareholders’ equity.
The liability component of the Convertible Debentures is carried at amortized cost and is accreted over the term of the Convertible Debentures to the original principal amount using the effective interest method. This accretion, along with interest on the Convertible Debentures, is recorded as interest and financing expense. The equity component is not remeasured subsequent to initial recognition. The equity component and the accreted liability component will be reclassified to share capital should the Convertible Debentures be converted into Common Shares.
As at March 31, 2021, there were $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures outstanding.
Cash Flow Hedges
The Company had the following floating-to-fixed interest rate and electricity swaps at March 31, 2021:
| Aggregate | Average fixed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract type | notional | Remaining term | contract rate | Reference | Fair value |
| Interest Rate Swaps | $250 million | April 2021–January 2023 |
2.3% | CDOR(1) | (7.8) |
| Interest Rate Swaps | $250 million | April 2021–January 2026 |
2.4% | CDOR(1) | (12.2) |
| Electricity Swaps | 5 MWh/d(2) | April 2021–December 2021 | $51.68/MWh | AESO Pool Price(3) | 0.5 |
| (19.5) |
(1) Canadian Dollar Offered Rate.
(2) "MWh" means MegaWatt hour.
(3) Floating hourly rate established by the Alberta Electric System Operator.
The Company classified its floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps and electricity swaps as cash flow hedges and has applied hedge accounting. As at March 31, 2021, there were no changes to the critical terms of the hedging relationship and no hedge ineffectiveness was identified.
Share Capital
At April 30, 2021, Paramount had 133,166,380 Common Shares outstanding (net of 1,553,017 Common Shares held in trust under the Company’s restricted share unit plan) and 9,089,915 options to acquire Common Shares outstanding, of which 1,884,390 options are exercisable.
At April 30, 2021, $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures were issued and outstanding. A total maximum of 5.2 million Common Shares are issuable upon conversion of the outstanding Convertible Debentures at the current conversion price of $6.72 per Common Share.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 31
QUARTERLY INFORMATION
| 2021 2020 2019 |
2021 2020 2019 |
2021 2020 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 |
Q4 Q3 Q2 |
| Petroleum and natural gas sales 279.9 Net income (loss) (82.5) Per share – basic & diluted ($/share) (0.62) Cash from (used in) operating activities 81.3 Per share – basic & diluted ($/share) 0.61 Adjusted funds flow 90.9 Per share – basic & diluted ($/share) 0.69 Sales volumes (1) Natural gas (MMcf/d) 273.1 Condensate and oil (Bbl/d) 29,854 Other NGLs (Bbl/d) 5,170 Total (Boe/d) 80,540 Realized prices Natural gas ($/Mcf) 3.14 Condensate and oil ($/Bbl) 69.20 Other NGLs ($/Bbl) 32.29 Total($/Boe) 38.61 |
202.0 138.8 113.2 172.1 311.5 (23.3) (75.7) (235.1) 2.35 (0.17) (0.57) (1.76) 53.2 11.4 (14.2) 30.5 0.40 0.09 (0.11) 0.23 67.9 29.5 19.0 33.5 0.51 0.22 0.14 0.25 256.3 224.0 253.2 261.5 25,752 19,782 22,823 21,898 4,987 3,952 3,817 4,539 73,460 61,064 68,839 70,022 2.83 1.94 1.94 2.25 52.03 48.74 29.05 55.92 20.61 18.10 12.28 10.75 29.89 24.70 18.07 27.01 |
259.9 199.8 209.2 (31.1) 141.0 (121.0) (0.24) 1.08 (0.93) 70.5 48.6 48.1 0.54 0.37 0.37 93.5 50.9 54.2 0.71 0.39 0.41 299.0 296.6 309.7 28,516 24,761 23,312 7,064 6,851 6,859 85,411 81,046 81,793 2.73 1.58 1.76 66.70 65.73 71.02 13.03 9.78 11.01 33.08 26.80 28.10 |
(1) Readers are referred to the Product Type Information section of this document for more information respecting the composition of sales volumes by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil.
Significant Items Impacting Quarterly Results
Quarterly earnings variances include the impacts of changing production volumes and market prices.
-
The first quarter 2021 loss includes an $81.2 million loss on financial commodity contracts, a charge of $69.5 million mainly related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value and a $41.4 million gain on the sale of oil and gas assets.
-
Fourth quarter 2020 earnings include aggregate impairment reversals of $333.7 million from previously recorded impairment charges of petroleum and natural gas assets and a deferred income tax recovery of $64.4 million, partially offset by a charge of $29.7 million related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value.
-
The third quarter 2020 loss includes a recovery of $25.6 million related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value.
-
The second quarter 2020 loss includes a recovery of $13.6 million related to deferred income tax.
-
• The first quarter 2020 loss includes a $191.8 million impairment of petroleum and natural gas assets, and a derecognition of $130.0 million of the deferred income tax asset, partially offset by a recovery of $94.8 million related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value ascribed to property, plant and equipment.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 32
-
The fourth quarter 2019 loss includes a recovery of $33.8 million related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value ascribed to property, plant and equipment.
-
Third quarter 2019 earnings include a $157.3 million gain on the sale of oil and gas assets, primarily related to the sale of the Karr 6-18 natural gas facility and related midstream assets and a recovery of $73.5 million related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value ascribed to property, plant and equipment.
-
The second quarter 2019 loss includes $102.1 million of deferred income tax expense, primarily related to a reduction in Alberta income tax rates and a $27.6 million gain on financial commodity contracts.
OTHER INFORMATION
Contingencies
In the normal course of Paramount’s operations, the Company may become involved in, named as a party to, or be the subject of, various legal proceedings, including regulatory proceedings, tax proceedings and legal actions. The outcome of outstanding, pending or future proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Paramount does not anticipate that these claims will have a material impact on its financial position.
Tax and royalty legislation and regulations, and government interpretation and administration thereof, continually change. As a result, there are often tax and royalty matters under review by relevant government authorities. All tax and royalty filings are subject to subsequent government audit and potential reassessments. Accordingly, the final amounts may differ materially from amounts estimated and recorded.
Provision
In the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a provision of $7.5 million with respect to arrangements with a service provider. The Company has unsettled claims against the same service provider for significantly larger amounts with respect to certain related matters which have not been recognized. The outcome of all of these matters remains uncertain.
ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Financial Instruments
Effective January 1, 2021, the Company adopted the phase two amendments to IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments, IAS 39 – Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement , IFRS 7 – Financial Instruments: Disclosures, IFRS 4 – Insurance Contracts and IFRS 16 – Leases . These amendments provide guidance in applying IFRS when changes are made to contractual cash flows or hedging relationships arising from the replacement of an interest rate benchmark with an alternative benchmark rate from the Interbank Offered Rate ("IBOR") reform. There has been no impact on the recognized assets, liabilities or comprehensive loss of the Company resulting from the adoption of these amendments. The Company’s floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, which are described in Note 11 of the Interim Financial Statements, may be impacted by these amendments in the future as hedge accounting is applied to these instruments and hedging relationships may be impacted by the IBOR reform.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 33
INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting ("ICFR") that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s ICFR. Paramount does not believe that process changes put in place in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic have materially affected ICFR.
Internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
RISK FACTORS
Readers should, in conjunction with their review of this MD&A, carefully review the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The course of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate impact remain highly uncertain. The ultimate impact of the pandemic on Paramount’s future operations and financial performance is unknown and is dependent on a number of unpredictable factors outside of the knowledge and control of Management, including: (i) the duration and severity of the pandemic; (ii) the impact of the pandemic on economic growth, commodity prices and financial and capital markets; and (iii) governmental responses and restrictions. These uncertainties may continue to persist beyond the point where the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has subsided. See "Risk Factors – COVID 19 Pandemic" in the Annual Information Form.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The timely preparation of financial statements requires Management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosures regarding contingent assets and liabilities. Estimates and assumptions are regularly evaluated and are based on Management’s experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Changes in judgments, estimates and assumptions based on new information could result in a material change to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities and have a material impact on assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses recognized in future periods.
The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been considered by Management in making judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Interim Financial Statements, but the inherent risks and uncertainties resulting from the pandemic may result in material changes to such judgments, estimates and assumptions in future periods as additional information becomes available.
PRODUCT TYPE INFORMATION
This MD&A includes references to sales volumes of "natural gas", "condensate and oil" and "Other NGLs" and revenues therefrom. "Natural gas" refers to conventional natural gas and shale gas combined. "Condensate and oil" refers to condensate, light and medium crude oil and tight oil combined. "Other NGLs" refers to ethane, propane and butane combined. Below is a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by the specific product types of shale gas, conventional natural gas, NGLs, tight oil and light and medium crude oil. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 34
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | **Annual ** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 |
Q4 Q3 Q2 |
2020 2019 |
|
| SALES VOLUMES - BY PRODUCT TYPE | ||||
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
197.8 | 170.7 141.0 156.0 158.9 85.6 83.0 97.2 102.6 |
176.6 159.3 164.1 122.4 137.3 145.6 |
156.7 166.0 92.0 137.3 |
| 75.3 | ||||
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 273.1 | 256.3 224.0 253.2 261.5 |
299.0 296.6 309.7 |
248.7 303.3 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
27,017 | 22,782 17,020 19,615 17,908 4,987 3,952 3,817 4,539 |
23,956 20,230 17,781 7,064 6,851 6,859 |
19,334 19,746 4,325 6,767 |
| 5,170 | ||||
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 32,187 | 27,769 20,972 23,432 22,447 |
31,020 27,081 24,640 |
23,659 26,513 |
| Tight oil (Bbl/d) Light and Medium crude oil(Bbl/d) |
479 | 437 457 381 575 2,533 2,305 2,827 3,416 |
745 523 603 3,815 4,008 4,928 |
462 631 2,768 4,703 |
| 2,358 | ||||
| Crude oil(Bbl/d) | 2,837 | 2,970 2,762 3,208 3,991 |
4,560 4,531 5,531 |
3,230 5,334 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 80,540 | 73,460 61,064 68,839 70,022 |
85,411 81,046 81,793 |
68,340 82,394 |
| SALES VOLUMES – BY REGION BY PRODUCT TYPE | SALES VOLUMES – BY REGION BY PRODUCT TYPE | SALES VOLUMES – BY REGION BY PRODUCT TYPE | SALES VOLUMES – BY REGION BY PRODUCT TYPE | SALES VOLUMES – BY REGION BY PRODUCT TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRANDE PRAIRIE REGION | ||||
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
120.6 | 92.7 66.0 76.8 73.1 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.5 |
91.5 70.5 73.4 1.9 1.6 1.2 |
77.2 78.0 1.4 1.5 |
| 2.0 | ||||
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 122.6 | 94.3 67.3 78.3 74.6 |
93.4 72.1 74.6 |
78.6 79.5 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
23,974 | 19,635 13,959 16,292 14,058 2,429 2,060 1,680 1,680 |
18,760 14,269 11,678 2,376 1,587 1,686 |
15,991 13,920 1,964 1,814 |
| 2,984 | ||||
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 26,958 | 22,064 16,019 17,972 15,738 |
21,136 15,856 13,364 |
17,955 15,734 |
| Tight oil (Bbl/d) Light and medium crude oil (Bbl/d) |
– | – – – – – 1 17 39 |
– – – 91 61 13 |
– – 14 53 |
| – | ||||
| Crude oil(Bbl/d) | – | – 1 17 39 |
91 61 13 |
14 53 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 47,385 | 37,782 27,237 31,039 28,214 |
36,789 27,927 25,804 |
31,076 29,040 |
| KAYBOB REGION | ||||
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
42.1 | 41.9 40.4 44.4 48.6 76.3 73.4 87.1 91.6 |
48.3 52.4 51.6 89.1 91.8 101.5 |
43.8 50.3 82.1 95.9 |
| 65.8 | ||||
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 107.9 | 118.2 113.8 131.5 140.2 |
137.4 144.2 153.1 |
125.9 146.2 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
2,611 | 2,631 2,577 2,954 3,385 1,953 1,363 1,718 2,218 |
3,899 4,411 4,526 2,504 2,450 2,622 |
2,885 4,361 1,812 2,476 |
| 1,677 | ||||
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 4,288 | 4,584 3,940 4,672 5,603 |
6,403 6,861 7,148 |
4,697 6,837 |
| Tight oil (Bbl/d) Light and medium crude oil(Bbl/d) |
342 | 299 308 203 394 2,480 2,257 2,762 3,343 |
541 329 286 3,331 3,391 4,182 |
301 360 2,709 3,929 |
| 2,321 | ||||
| Crude oil(Bbl/d) | 2,663 | 2,779 2,565 2,965 3,737 |
3,872 3,720 4,468 |
3,010 4,289 |
| Total (Boe/d) | 24,938 | 27,056 25,477 29,561 32,700 |
33,167 34,615 37,127 |
28,685 35,500 |
| CENTRAL ALBERTA & OTHER REGION | ||||
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
35.1 | 36.1 34.6 34.8 37.1 7.7 8.3 8.6 9.6 |
36.8 36.4 39.1 31.4 43.9 42.9 |
35.7 37.7 8.5 39.9 |
| 7.5 | ||||
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 42.6 | 43.8 42.9 43.4 46.7 |
68.2 80.3 82.0 |
44.2 77.6 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
433 | 515 484 369 465 605 529 419 641 |
1,298 1,551 1,577 2,184 2,814 2,551 |
458 1,464 549 2,477 |
| 509 | ||||
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 942 | 1,120 1,013 788 1,106 |
3,482 4,365 4,128 |
1,007 3,941 |
| Tight oil (Bbl/d) Light and Medium crude oil (Bbl/d) |
136 | 138 149 178 180 54 47 48 33 |
203 194 317 393 556 733 |
161 271 46 721 |
| 37 | ||||
| Crude oil(Bbl/d) | 173 | 192 196 226 213 |
596 750 1,050 |
207 992 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 8,217 | 8,622 8,350 8,239 9,108 |
15,455 18,504 18,862 |
8,579 17,854 |
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 35
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | Annual | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 |
Q4 Q3 Q2 |
2020 2019 |
|
| SALES VOLUMES – KARR BY PRODUCT TYPE | ||||
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
89.1 | 69.6 48.6 45.5 58.7 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.7 |
68.6 57.9 68.0 0.5 0.4 0.5 |
55.6 67.2 0.7 0.5 |
| 1.1 | ||||
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 90.2 | 70.5 49.2 46.1 59.4 |
69.1 58.3 68.5 |
56.3 67.7 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
16,095 | 13,348 9,541 7,501 9,691 1,817 1,503 829 1,290 |
11,816 8,712 8,858 1,614 1,117 1,505 |
10,028 10,024 1,361 1,453 |
| 2,108 | ||||
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 18,203 | 15,165 11,044 8,330 10,981 |
13,430 9,829 10,363 |
11,389 11,477 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 33,230 | 26,914 19,246 16,009 20,885 |
24,943 19,542 21,782 |
20,777 22,755 |
| SALES VOLUMES – WAPITI BY PRODUCT TYPE | ||||
| Shale gas (MMcf/d) Conventional naturalgas(MMcf/d) |
31.5 | 22.8 17.4 31.3 14.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.3 |
22.9 12.6 5.3 0.7 0.4 0.2 |
21.5 10.8 0.4 0.3 |
| 0.6 | ||||
| Naturalgas(MMcf/d) | 32.1 | 23.3 17.8 31.9 14.8 |
23.6 13.0 5.5 |
21.9 11.1 |
| Condensate (Bbl/d) Other NGLs(Bbl/d) |
7,884 | 6,286 4,414 8,786 4,364 589 548 841 386 |
6,865 5,548 2,814 706 454 168 |
5,959 3,879 591 344 |
| 867 | ||||
| NGLs(Bbl/d) | 8,751 | 6,875 4,962 9,627 4,750 |
7,571 6,002 2,982 |
6,550 4,223 |
| Total(Boe/d) | 14,107 | 10,764 7,925 14,940 7,209 |
11,498 8,163 3,903 |
10,207 6,082 |
The Company forecasts that 2021 sales volumes will average between 80,000 Boe/d and 82,000 Boe/d (56% shale gas and conventional natural gas combined, 38% light and medium crude oil, tight oil and condensate combined and 6% other NGLs). Second quarter 2021 sales volumes are expected to average between 77,000 Boe/d and 78,000 Boe/d (58% shale gas and conventional natural gas combined, 36% light and medium crude oil, tight oil and condensate combined and 6% other NGLs). Second half 2021 sales volumes are expected to average between 80,000 Boe/d and 84,000 Boe/d (55% shale gas and conventional natural gas combined, 39% light and medium crude oil, tight oil and condensate combined and 6% other NGLs).
ADVISORIES
Forward-looking Information
Certain statements in this MD&A constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "will", "expect", "plan", "schedule", "intend", "propose", or similar words suggesting future outcomes or an outlook. Forward-looking information in this document includes, but is not limited to:
-
the anticipated closing of the Birch Disposition;
-
forecast sales volumes for 2021 and certain periods therein;
-
forecast free cash flow in 2021;
-
anticipated cost savings in the Company’s 2021 capital program;
-
planned capital expenditures in 2021;
-
the Company’s expectation that 2021 free cash flow will be directed towards debt reduction;
-
forecast 2021 year-end net debt to annual adjusted funds flow;
-
preliminary anticipated capital expenditures in 2022 and the resulting expected 2022 average sales volumes, free cash flow and year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow;
-
planned exploration, development and production activities, including the expected timing of drilling, completing and bringing new wells on production;
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 36
-
planned abandonment and reclamation expenditures and activities in 2021 and anticipated funding under the ASRP;
-
the expectation that the Company will be able to fund budgeted capital expenditures and budgeted expenditures for abandonment and reclamation activities from cash from operating activities;
-
the anticipation that legal proceedings will not have a material impact on Paramount’s financial position; and
-
COVID-19 pandemic response measures and the potential impacts of the pandemic.
Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made with respect to the following matters, in addition to any other assumptions identified in this document:
-
future commodity prices and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic thereon;
-
the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations;
-
the satisfaction of the conditions to closing of the Birch Disposition;
-
the ability to realize expected cost savings;
-
royalty rates, taxes and capital, operating, general & administrative and other costs;
-
foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates;
-
general business, economic and market conditions;
-
the ability of Paramount to obtain the required capital to finance its exploration, development and other operations and meet its commitments and financial obligations;
-
the ability of Paramount to obtain equipment, services, supplies and personnel in a timely manner and at an acceptable cost to carry out its activities;
-
the ability of Paramount to secure adequate product processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms;
-
the ability of Paramount to market its production successfully to current and new customers;
-
the ability of Paramount and its industry partners to obtain drilling success (including in respect of anticipated production volumes, reserves additions, product yields and resource recoveries) and operational improvements, efficiencies and results consistent with expectations;
-
the timely receipt of required governmental and regulatory approvals;
-
the receipt of benefits under government programs;
-
the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation;
-
the merits of outstanding and pending legal proceedings; and
-
anticipated timelines and budgets being met in respect of drilling programs and other operations (including well completions and tie-ins, the construction, commissioning and start-up of new and expanded facilities, including third-party facilities and facility turnarounds and maintenance).
Although Paramount believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable based on the information available at the time of this MD&A, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information as Paramount can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. There are no assurances that the Birch Disposition will close at the anticipated time or at all. Forward-looking information is based on expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Paramount and described in the forward-looking information. The material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
-
those risks set out in this MD&A under "Risk Factors";
-
fluctuations in commodity prices, including in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
-
• the failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Birch Disposition;
-
changes in capital spending plans and planned exploration and development activities;
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 37
-
the potential for changes to preliminary anticipated 2022 capital expenditures prior to finalization and changes to the resulting expected 2022 average sales volumes, free cash flow and year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow;
-
changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates;
-
the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future revenue, free cash flow, production, reserves additions, product yields (including condensate to natural gas ratios), resource recoveries, royalty rates, taxes and costs and expenses;
-
the ability to secure adequate product processing, transportation, fractionation, and storage capacity on acceptable terms;
-
operational risks in exploring for, developing, producing and transporting sales volumes, including the risk of spills, leaks or blowouts;
-
the ability to obtain equipment, services, supplies and personnel in a timely manner and at an acceptable cost;
-
potential disruptions, delays or unexpected technical or other difficulties in designing, developing, expanding or operating new, expanded or existing facilities (including third-party facilities);
-
processing, pipeline and fractionation infrastructure outages, disruptions and constraints;
-
risks and uncertainties involving the geology of oil and gas deposits;
-
the uncertainty of reserves estimates;
-
general business, economic and market conditions;
-
the ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities and obtain financing to fund planned exploration, development and operational activities and meet current and future commitments and obligations (including product processing, transportation, fractionation and similar commitments and obligations);
-
changes in, or in the interpretation of, laws, regulations or policies (including environmental laws);
-
the ability to obtain required governmental or regulatory approvals in a timely manner, and to enter into and maintain leases and licenses;
-
the effects of weather and other factors including wildlife and environmental restrictions which affect field operations and access;
-
the timing and cost of future abandonment and reclamation obligations and potential liabilities for environmental damage and contamination;
-
uncertainties regarding aboriginal claims and in maintaining relationships with local populations and other stakeholders;
-
the outcome of existing and potential lawsuits, regulatory actions, audits and assessments; and
-
other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this document and in Paramount’s other filings with Canadian securities authorities.
The foregoing list of risks is not exhaustive. For more information relating to risks, see the section titled "Risk Factors" in Paramount's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this document is made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities law, Paramount undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Certain forward-looking information in this MD&A, including forecast free cash flow in 2021 and forecast 2021 year-end net debt to adjusted funds flow, may also constitute a "financial outlook" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. A financial outlook involves statements about Paramount’s prospective financial performance or position and is based on and subject to the assumptions and risk factors described above in respect of forward-looking information generally as well as any other specific assumptions and risk factors in relation to such financial outlook noted in this MD&A. Such assumptions are based on management's assessment of the relevant information currently available and any financial outlook included
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 38
in this MD&A is provided for the purpose of helping readers understand Paramount’s current expectations and plans for the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on any financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes or in other circumstances and that the risk factors described above or other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any financial outlook.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this document, "adjusted funds flow", "free cash flow", "netback", "net debt", "adjusted working capital" "net debt to adjusted funds flow" and "total capital expenditures", collectively the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures", are used and do not have any standardized meanings as prescribed by IFRS.
"Adjusted funds flow" refers to cash from (used in) operating activities before net changes in non-cash working capital, geological and geophysical expenses, asset retirement obligation settlements, closure costs, transaction and reorganization costs, provisions and other and dispute settlements. Adjusted funds flow is used to assist Management and investors in measuring the Company’s ability to fund capital programs and meet financial obligations, including the settlement of asset retirement obligations. Asset retirement obligation settlements are excluded from the calculation of adjusted funds flow because such expenditures are not directly linked to the revenue generating activities of the Company. Paramount manages the timing of expenditures related to asset retirement obligation settlements in accordance with regulatory requirements and its overall approach to managing its asset retirement obligations and, as a result, amounts incurred may vary significantly from period to period. Adjusted funds flow is not intended to represent cash from operating activities, net loss or any other GAAP measure and should not be construed as being an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS. Refer to the Consolidated Results section of this MD&A for the calculation thereof.
"Free cash flow" refers to adjusted funds flow less total capital expenditures and asset retirement obligation settlements. Free cash flow is used by Management and investors to assess the amount of internally generated cash available to repay debt, reinvest in the business or return to shareholders.
The following is the calculation of free cash flow from the nearest GAAP measure for the three months ended March 31, 2021:
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 ($Millions) |
Three months ended March 31, 2021 ($Millions) |
Three months ended March 31, 2021 ($Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash from operating activities Change in non-cash working capital Geological and geophysical expenses Asset retirement obligations settled Provisions and other |
81.3 | |
| (7.9) | ||
| 1.6 | ||
| 8.4 | ||
| 7.5 | ||
| Adjusted funds flow | 90.9 | |
| Total capital expenditures Asset retirement obligation settlements |
(59.3) | |
| (8.4) | ||
| Free cash flow | 23.2 |
"Netback" equals petroleum and natural gas sales less royalties, operating expense and transportation and NGLs processing costs. Netback is commonly used by Management and investors to compare the results of the Company’s oil and gas operations between periods. Refer to the Operating Results section of this MD&A for the calculation thereof.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 39
"Net debt" is a measure of the Company’s overall debt position after adjusting for certain working capital and other amounts and is used by Management to assess the Company’s overall leverage position. Refer to the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this MD&A for the calculation of “Net debt” and “Adjusted working capital”.
"Net debt to adjusted funds flow" is a ratio calculated as the period end net debt divided by the sum of adjusted funds flow for the trailing four quarters. The ratio of net debt to adjusted funds flow is commonly used by management and investors to assess the Company’s overall debt position and to measure the strength of the Company's balance sheet.
"Total capital expenditures" refers to the Company’s property, plant and equipment and exploration expenditures. Refer to the Property, Plant and Equipment and Exploration Expenditures section of this MD&A for the calculation thereof.
The Non-GAAP Financial Measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to their most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Non-GAAP Financial Measures are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
Oil and Gas Measures and Definitions
The term "liquids" includes oil, condensate and Other NGLs (ethane, propane and butane). NGLs consist of condensate and Other NGLs.
Abbreviations
| Liquids Bbl Barrels Bbl/d Barrels per day NGLs Natural gas liquids Condensate Pentane and heavier hydrocarbons WTI West Texas Intermediate Oil Equivalent Boe Barrels of oil equivalent Boe/d Barrels of oil equivalent per day |
Natural Gas |
|---|---|
| Mcf Thousands of cubic feet MMcf/d Millions of cubic feet per day GJ Gigajoule GJ/d Gigajoule per day MMbtu Millions of British thermal units MMbtu/d Millions of British thermal units per day NYMEX New York Mercantile Exchange AECO AECO-C reference price |
This MD&A contains disclosures expressed as "Boe", "$/Boe" and "Boe/d". Natural gas equivalency volumes have been derived using the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil when converting natural gas to Boe. Equivalency measures may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the well head. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the value ratio between crude oil and natural gas was approximately 25:1. This value ratio is significantly different from the energy equivalency ratio of 6:1. Using a 6:1 ratio would be misleading as an indication of value.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 40
==> picture [175 x 73] intentionally omitted <==
Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) As at and for the three months ended March 31, 2021
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 41
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
($ thousands)
| March 31 | December 31 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| As at | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
| ASSETS | |||
| Current assets | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 14 | 7,421 | 4,590 |
| Accounts receivable | 120,076 | 99,986 | |
| Risk management – current | 11 | 547 | 408 |
| Prepaid expenses and other | 7,971 | 9,931 | |
| 136,015 | 114,915 | ||
| Lease receivable | 6 | 2,149 | 2,758 |
| Dissent payment entitlement | 89,250 | 89,250 | |
| Investments in securities | 4 | 129,900 | 59,529 |
| Exploration and evaluation | 2 | 563,187 | 612,129 |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 3 | 1,988,602 | 1,959,603 |
| Deferred income tax | 10 | 674,029 | 658,811 |
| 3,583,132 | 3,496,995 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||
| Current liabilities | |||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 182,139 | 152,756 | |
| Risk management – current | 11 | 80,753 | 32,281 |
| Asset retirement obligations and other–current | 6 | 35,490 | 32,229 |
| 298,382 | 217,266 | ||
| Long-term debt | 5 | 712,652 | 813,491 |
| Risk management – long-term | 11 | 10,446 | 19,441 |
| Asset retirement obligations and other– long-term | 6 | 526,626 | 409,016 |
| 1,548,106 | 1,459,214 | ||
| Commitments and contingencies | 15 | ||
| Shareholders’ equity | |||
| Share capital | 7 | 2,212,178 | 2,207,408 |
| Accumulated deficit | (317,538) | (235,061) | |
| Equity component of convertible debentures | 5 | 1,673 | – |
| Reserves | 8 | 138,713 | 65,434 |
| 2,035,026 | 2,037,781 | ||
| 3,583,132 | 3,496,995 |
See the accompanying notes to these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 42
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited)
($ thousands, except as noted)
| Three months ended March 31 | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and natural gas sales | 279,865 | 172,090 | |
| Royalties | (18,619) | (11,683) | |
| Revenue | 12 | 261,246 |
160,407 |
| Gain (loss) on financial commodity contracts | 11 | (81,179) |
42,324 |
| 180,067 | 202,731 | ||
| Expenses | |||
| Operating expense | 84,299 | 92,336 | |
| Transportation and NGLs processing | 27,864 | 23,603 | |
| General and administrative | 8,708 | 10,183 | |
| Share-based compensation | 9 | 5,973 |
14 |
| Depletion, depreciation and impairment | 3 | 73,143 |
264,933 |
| Exploration and evaluation | 2 | 20,892 |
11,930 |
| Gain on sale of oil and gas assets | (41,395) | (2,306) | |
| Interest and financing | 16,711 | 9,482 | |
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 6 | 10,776 |
10,470 |
| Change in asset retirement obligations | 6 | 69,533 |
(94,828) |
| Foreign exchange | 274 | (753) | |
| 276,778 | 325,064 | ||
| Other loss | 13 | (7,891) |
(6,033) |
| Loss before tax | (104,602) | (128,366) | |
| Income tax expense (recovery) | |||
| Deferred | 10 | (22,125) |
106,716 |
| (22,125) | 106,716 | ||
| Net loss | (82,477) | (235,082) | |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 8 | ||
| Items that will be reclassified to net income (loss) | |||
| Change in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax | 5,464 | (18,363) | |
| Reclassification to net income (loss), net of tax | 1,574 | 467 | |
| Items that will not be reclassified to net income (loss) | |||
| Change in fair value of securities, net of tax | 4 | 65,977 |
(115,666) |
| Comprehensive loss | (9,462) | (368,644) | |
| Net loss per common share($/share) | 7 | ||
| Basic and diluted | (0.62) | (1.76) |
See the accompanying notes to these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 43
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
($ thousands, except as noted)
| Three months ended March 31 | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | |||
| Net loss | (82,477) | (235,082) | |
| Add (deduct): | |||
| Items not involving cash | 14 | 164,217 | 261,575 |
| Asset retirement obligations settled | 6 | (8,351) | (30,255) |
| Change in non-cash working capital | 7,892 | 34,293 | |
| Cash from operating activities | 81,281 | 30,531 | |
| Financing activities | |||
| Net draw (repayment) of revolving long-term debt | 5 | (134,378) | 19,185 |
| Lease liabilities - principal repayments | 6 | (1,898) | (1,876) |
| Convertible debentures issued, net of issue costs | 5 | 34,919 | – |
| Common shares issued, net of issue costs | 3,274 | 16 | |
| Cash from (used in) financing activities | (98,083) | 17,325 | |
| Investing activities | |||
| Property, plant and equipment and exploration | (59,264) | (63,849) | |
| Sale of oil and gas assets | 79,638 | 1,488 | |
| Investments | (12) | (900) | |
| Change in non-cash working capital | (839) | 15,019 | |
| Cash from (used in) investing activities | 19,523 | (48,242) | |
| Net increase (decrease) | 2,721 | (386) | |
| Foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents | 110 | 38 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 4,590 | 6,016 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end ofperiod | 7,421 | 5,668 | |
| Supplemental cash flow information | 14 |
See the accompanying notes to these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 44
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
($ thousands, except as noted)
| Three months ended March 31 Note |
2021 2020 |
|---|---|
| Share capital Balance, beginning of period Issued Change in Common Shares for restricted share unit plan 9 |
Shares (000’s) Shares (000’s) 132,284 2,207,408 133,337 2,207,485 470 4,192 2 19 – 578 7 (180) |
| Balance, end of period | 132,754 2,212,178 133,346 2,207,324 |
| Accumulated deficit Balance, beginning of period Net loss Reclassification of accumulated losses on securities |
(235,061) (128,487) (82,477) (235,082) – (14,000) |
| Balance, end of period | (317,538) (377,569) |
| Equity component of convertible debentures 5 Balance, beginning of period Issued |
– – 1,673 – |
| Balance, end of period | 1,673 – |
| Reserves 8 Balance, beginning of period Other comprehensive income (loss) Contributed surplus Reclassification of accumulated losses on securities |
65,434 4,182 73,015 (133,562) 264 2,055 – 14,000 |
| Balance, end of period | 138,713 (113,325) |
| Total Shareholders’ Equity | 2,035,026 1,716,430 |
See the accompanying notes to these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 45
1. Basis of Presentation
Paramount Resources Ltd. ("Paramount" or the "Company") is an independent, publicly traded, liquidsfocused Canadian energy company that explores for and develops both conventional and unconventional petroleum and natural gas reserves and resources. The Company also pursues longer-term strategic exploration and pre-development plays and holds a portfolio of investments in other entities. Paramount’s principal properties are located in Alberta and British Columbia.
Paramount is the ultimate parent company of a consolidated group of companies and is incorporated and domiciled in Canada. The address of its registered office is 2800, 421 – 7[th] Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 4K9. The consolidated group includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Fox Drilling Limited Partnership, Cavalier Energy Inc. and MGM Energy. The financial statements of Paramount’s subsidiaries and partnerships are prepared for the same reporting periods as the parent in accordance with the Company’s accounting policies. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
These unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (the "Interim Financial Statements"), were authorized for issuance by the Audit Committee of Paramount’s Board of Directors on May 4, 2021.
These Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 – Interim Financial Reporting on a basis consistent with the accounting, estimation and valuation policies described in the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "Annual Financial Statements"). Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current years’ presentation.
These Interim Financial Statements are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted, and have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments which are stated at fair value. Certain information and disclosures normally required to be included in the notes to the Annual Financial Statements have been condensed or omitted. These Interim Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Financial Statements.
Adoption of Accounting Standards
Financial Instruments
Effective January 1, 2021, the Company adopted the phase two amendments to IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments, IAS 39 – Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement , IFRS 7 – Financial Instruments: Disclosures, IFRS 4 – Insurance Contracts and IFRS 16 – Leases . These amendments provide guidance in applying IFRS when changes are made to contractual cash flows or hedging relationships arising from the replacement of an interest rate benchmark with an alternative benchmark rate from the Interbank Offered Rate ("IBOR") reform. There has been no impact on the recognized assets, liabilities or comprehensive loss of the Company resulting from the adoption of these amendments. The Company’s floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, which are described in Note 11, may be impacted by these amendments in the future as hedge accounting is applied to these instruments and hedging relationships may be impacted by the IBOR reform.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 46
Significant Accounting Estimates, Assumptions & Judgments
The timely preparation of financial statements requires Management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosures regarding contingent assets and liabilities. Estimates and assumptions are regularly evaluated and are based on Management’s experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Changes in judgments, estimates and assumptions based on new information could result in a material change to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities and have a material impact on assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses recognized in future periods.
The course of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate impact remain highly uncertain. The ultimate impact of the pandemic on Paramount’s future operations and financial performance is unknown and will be dependent on a number of unpredictable factors outside of the knowledge and control of Management, including: (i) the duration and severity of the pandemic; (ii) the impact of the pandemic on economic growth, commodity prices and financial and capital markets; and (iii) governmental responses and restrictions. These uncertainties may continue to persist beyond the point where the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has subsided. The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been considered by Management in making judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of these Interim Financial Statements, but the inherent risks and uncertainties resulting from the pandemic may result in material changes to such judgments, estimates and assumptions in future financial periods as additional information becomes available.
2. Exploration and Evaluation
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 612,129 | 650,414 |
| Additions | 4,626 | 3,294 |
| Change in asset retirement provision | 738 | (724) |
| Transfers to property, plant and equipment | – | (8,735) |
| Expired lease costs | (19,113) | (25,585) |
| Dispositions (see Note 3) | (35,193) | (6,535) |
| Balance, end ofperiod | 563,187 | 612,129 |
Exploration and Evaluation Expense
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Geological and geophysical | 1,779 | 2,605 |
| Expired lease costs | 19,113 | 9,325 |
| 20,892 | 11,930 |
At March 31, 2021, the Company assessed its exploration and evaluation assets for indicators of potential impairment or impairment reversal and none were identified.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 47
3. Property, Plant and Equipment
| Petroleum | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| and natural | Drilling | Right-of-use | |||
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 | gas assets | rigs | assets | Other | Total |
| Cost | |||||
| Balance, beginning of period | 4,125,044 | 162,476 | 15,459 | 48,053 | 4,351,032 |
| Additions | 59,022 | 658 | 108 | 537 | 60,325 |
| Dispositions | (35,291) | – |
– | – | (35,291) |
| Change in asset retirement provision | 52,463 | – | – | – | 52,463 |
| Cost, end of period | 4,201,238 | 163,134 | 15,567 | 48,590 | 4,428,529 |
| Accumulated depletion, depreciation and | |||||
| impairment | |||||
| Balance, beginning of period | (2,245,733) | (99,902) |
(8,670) | (37,124) | (2,391,429) |
| Depletion and depreciation | (70,395) | (2,319) |
(851) | (803) | (74,368) |
| Dispositions | 25,870 | – | – | – | 25,870 |
| Accumulated depletion, depreciation and | (2,290,258) |
(102,221) |
(9,521) | (37,927) | (2,439,927) |
| impairment, end of period | |||||
| Net book value, December 31, 2020 | 1,879,311 | 62,574 | 6,789 | 10,929 | 1,959,603 |
| Net book value, March 31, 2021 | 1,910,980 | 60,913 | 6,046 | 10,663 | 1,988,602 |
Depletion, Depreciation and Impairment
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Depletion and depreciation | 73,143 | 73,137 |
| Impairment of petroleum and natural gas assets | – | 191,796 |
| 73,143 | 264,933 |
In the first quarter of 2021, the Company sold certain non-core properties in the Kaybob and Central Alberta cash-generating units ("CGUs") for gross cash proceeds of approximately $80 million. A gain of $41.4 million was recognized on these sales.
At December 31, 2020, the Company recorded aggregate impairment reversals of $333.7 million from previously recorded impairment charges, comprised of $287.7 million, $30.6 million and $15.4 million related to petroleum and natural gas assets in the Kaybob, Northern and Central Alberta CGUs, respectively. The impairment reversals resulted from an increase in the estimated recoverable amount of such CGUs compared to the prior impairment assessment performed at March 31, 2020. The increase in the estimated recoverable amount of these CGUs was mainly due to lower operating and capital costs than previously forecasted and changes to the development plan.
At March 31, 2020, the Company recorded impairments of $188.3 million and $3.5 million related to petroleum and natural gas assets in the Kaybob and Northern CGUs, respectively. The impairments were recorded because the carrying value of the CGUs exceeded their estimated recoverable amounts, which were estimated based on expected net cash flows from the production of proved plus probable reserves ascribed to each CGU. The impairments resulted from decreases in estimated future net revenues, mainly due to lower forecasted oil and natural gas prices.
For additional information on impairments and impairment reversals in 2020, refer to Note 5 of the Annual Financial Statements.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 48
4. Investments in Securities
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Level one fair value hierarchy securities (ʺLevel One Securitiesʺ) | 110,034 | 48,425 |
| Level three fair value hierarchy securities (ʺLevel Three Securitiesʺ) | 19,866 | 11,104 |
| 129,900 | 59,529 |
Paramount holds investments in a number of publicly-traded and private corporations as part of its portfolio of investments. Investments that are categorized as Level One Securities are carried at their period-end trading prices. Estimates of fair values for investments that are categorized as Level Three Securities are based on valuation techniques that incorporate unobservable inputs. The valuation techniques utilize market-based metrics of comparable companies and transactions, indications of value based on equity transactions of the entities and other indicators of value including financial and operating results of the entities. Fair value estimates of Level Three Securities are updated at each balance sheet date to confirm whether the carrying value of the investment continues to fall within a range of possible fair values indicated by such techniques.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded $70.2 million of other comprehensive income ("OCI") as a result of changes in the fair value estimates of Level One Securities and Level Three Securities.
Changes in the fair value of investments in securities are as follows:
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |
| Investments in securities, beginning of period | 59,529 | 156,889 |
| Changes in fair value of Level One Securities – recorded in OCI | 61,609 | (50,632) |
| Changes in fair value of Level Three Securities – recorded in OCI | 8,638 | 32,547 |
| Transfer to Dissent payment entitlement | – | (89,250) |
| Changes in fair value of warrants(1)– recorded in earnings | 112 | (1,692) |
| Acquired–cash | 12 | 11,667 |
| Investments in securities, end ofperiod | 129,900 | 59,529 |
(1) Strathcona Resources Ltd. warrants (previously the Strath Resources Ltd. warrants).
5. Long-Term Debt
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Paramount Facility(1) | 679,789 | 813,491 |
| Convertible Debentures | 32,863 | – |
| Long-term debt | 712,652 | 813,491 |
(1) Paramount Facility presented net of $2.4 million in unamortized transaction costs (December 31, 2020 - $2.2 million).
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 49
Paramount Facility
Paramount was in compliance with the financial covenants under its $1.0 billion financial-covenant based senior secured revolving bank credit facility (the "Paramount Facility") at March 31, 2021.
The Company had undrawn letters of credit outstanding under the Paramount Facility totaling $1.3 million at March 31, 2021 that reduce the amount available to be drawn on the Paramount Facility.
For additional information on the Paramount Facility, refer to Note 8 of the Annual Financial Statements.
Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility
The Company has a $70 million unsecured demand revolving letter of credit facility (the "LC Facility") with a Canadian bank. Paramount’s obligations under the LC Facility are supported by a performance security guarantee ("PSG") from Export Development Canada ("EDC"). The PSG is valid to June 30, 2021 and may be extended at the option of Paramount and with the agreement of EDC.
At March 31, 2021, $40.7 million in undrawn letters of credit were outstanding under the LC Facility (December 31, 2020 – $40.7 million).
Convertible Debentures
| Liability | Equity | |
|---|---|---|
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 | Component(1) | Component |
| Balance, beginning of period | – | – |
| Issued, net of issue costs | 32,746 | 2,176 |
| Deferred taxes | – | (503) |
| Accretion | 117 | – |
| Balance, end ofperiod | 32,863 | 1,673 |
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2021, total interest payments made in respect of the Convertible Debentures was $0.5 million.
In January 2021, the Company completed a private placement of $35.0 million of senior unsecured convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures"). An entity controlled by Paramount’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman purchased $25.0 million of the Convertible Debentures. An entity controlled by the Company’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Planning, purchased $0.1 million of the Convertible Debentures. The Convertible Debentures mature on January 31, 2024 (the "Maturity Date"), bear interest at 7.50 percent per annum payable monthly in arrears and are convertible by the holder into Common Shares at any time prior to the Maturity Date at a conversion price of $6.72 per Common Share prior to January 31, 2022, $7.33 per Common Share on or after January 31, 2022 and prior to January 31, 2023 and $7.94 per Common Share on or after January 31, 2023.
The Convertible Debentures are redeemable by Paramount, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the Maturity Date, at a redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to 107.50 percent prior to January 31, 2022, 103.75 percent on or after January 31, 2022 and prior to January 31, 2023 and 101.875 percent on or after January 31, 2023.
The Convertible Debentures are treated as a compound financial instrument that contain a liability and an equity component and were initially recognized at fair value, net of issue costs of $0.1 million. The fair value of the liability component was initially recognized at the date of issuance using the effective interest method,
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 50
discounted using the estimated interest rate of a debt instrument having similar terms but without a conversion feature. The fair value of the conversion feature was determined at the date of issuance as the difference between the principal amount and the fair value of the liability component at the date of issue, which has been classified within shareholders’ equity.
The liability component of the Convertible Debentures is carried at amortized cost and is accreted over the term of the Convertible Debentures to the original principal amount using the effective interest method. This accretion, along with interest on the Convertible Debentures, is recorded as interest and financing expense. The equity component is not remeasured subsequent to initial recognition. The equity component and the accreted liability component will be reclassified to share capital should the debentures be converted into Common Shares.
As at March 31, 2021, there were $35.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures outstanding.
6. Asset Retirement Obligations and Other
| As at March 31, 2021 | Current | Long-term |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset retirement obligations | 25,400 | 517,360 | 542,760 |
| Lease liabilities | 10,090 | 9,266 | 19,356 |
| Asset retirement obligations and other | 35,490 | 526,626 | 562,116 |
| As at December 31, 2020 | Current | Long-term | Total |
| Asset retirement obligations | 22,250 | 397,276 | 419,526 |
| Lease liabilities | 9,979 | 11,740 | 21,719 |
| Asset retirement obligations and other | 32,229 | 409,016 | 441,245 |
Asset Retirement Obligations
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended |
|
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|
| Asset retirement obligations, beginning of period | 419,526 | 569,897 |
| Additions | 141 | 507 |
| Change in estimates | (658) | (7,605) |
| Change in discount rate | 124,943 | (145,178) |
| Obligations settled – cash | (8,351) | (34,994) |
| Obligations settled – funding under the Alberta Site Rehabilitation Program | (1,693) |
(4,423) |
| Dispositions | (1,924) | (2,036) |
| Accretion expense | 10,776 | 43,358 |
| Asset retirement obligations, end ofperiod | 542,760 | 419,526 |
As at March 31, 2021, estimated undiscounted, uninflated asset retirement obligations were $1,307.8 million (December 31, 2020 – $1,351.7 million). Asset retirement obligations have been determined using a credit-adjusted risk-free discount rate of 8.25 percent (December 31, 2020 – 11.0 percent) and an inflation rate of 2.0 percent (December 31, 2020 – 2.0 percent).
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a charge of $69.5 million (three months ended March 31, 2020 - a recovery of $94.8 million) to earnings mainly related to changes in the discounted carrying value of estimated asset retirement obligations in respect of properties that had a nil carrying value
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
51
ascribed to property, plant and equipment. The changes mainly resulted from a revision in the creditadjusted risk-free rate used to discount obligations and also included a recovery for the three months ended March 31, 2021 of $1.7 million (twelve months ended December 31, 2020 - $4.4 million) in respect of funding under the Alberta Site Rehabilitation Program.
Lease Liabilities
Paramount has lease liabilities in respect of office space and vehicles, which have been recognized at the discounted value of the remaining fixed lease payments. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, total cash payments made in respect of these lease liabilities, net of sublease arrangements, were $2.1 million, (March 31, 2020 - $2.2 million) of which $0.2 million (March 31, 2020 - $0.3 million) was recognized in interest and financing expense.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, expenses related to arrangements containing variable operating costs, short-term and low value leases which have not been included in the lease liability were approximately $0.6 million (March 31, 2020 - $1.0 million).
As at March 31, 2021, $4.5 million (December 31, 2020 - $5.1 million) was due to the Company in respect of sublease arrangements for Paramount’s office space, of which $2.4 million (December 31, 2020 - $2.3 million) was classified as current and $2.1 million (December 31, 2020 - $2.8 million) was classified as noncurrent. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, $0.6 million (March 31, 2020 - $0.6 million) was received in respect of office sublease arrangements, of which $0.1 million (March 31, 2020 - $0.1 million) was recognized in interest revenue.
7. Share Capital
As at March 31, 2021, 132,753,503 (December 31, 2020 – 132,284,323) class A common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") were outstanding, net of 1,914,394 (December 31, 2020 – 1,914,394) Common Shares held in trust under the restricted share unit plan.
Weighted Average Common Shares
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 2020 |
|---|---|
| Net loss – basic Dilutive effect of Convertible Debentures Dilutive effect of Paramount Options |
Wtd. Avg. Shares (000’s) Net loss Wtd. Avg. Shares (000’s) Net loss |
| 132,489 (82,477) 133,345 (235,082) – – – – – – – – |
|
| Net loss – diluted | 132,489 (82,477) 133,345 (235,082) |
Outstanding stock options and Convertible Debentures that can be exchanged for the Company’s Common Shares are potentially dilutive and are included in Paramount’s diluted per share calculations when they are dilutive to net income per share. At March 31, 2021 there were 9.2 million options to acquire Common Shares ("Paramount Options") outstanding (March 31, 2020 – 12.0 million) and 5.2 million Common Shares that are currently issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures, all of which were anti-dilutive.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 52
8. Reserves
| Unrealized | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gains (losses) | Unrealized | |||
| on cash flow | gains (losses) | Contributed | Total | |
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 | hedges | on securities | surplus | reserves |
| Balance, beginning of period | (22,011) | (79,638) | 167,083 | 65,434 |
| Other comprehensive income, before tax | 9,172 | 70,247 | – | 79,419 |
| Deferred tax | (2,134) | (4,270) | – | (6,404) |
| Share-based compensation | – | – | 1,182 | 1,182 |
| Paramount Options exercised | – | – | (918) | (918) |
| Balance, end ofperiod | (14,973) | (13,661) | 167,347 | 138,713 |
9. Share-Based Compensation
Paramount Options
| Three months ended | Three months ended | Twelve | months ended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||
| Weighted | Weighted | |||
| average | average | |||
| exercise | exercise | |||
| price | price | |||
| Number | ($/share) | Number | ($/share) | |
| Balance, beginning of period | 9,681,395 | 6.91 | 12,311,462 | 12.16 |
| Granted | 10,000 | 4.86 | 3,111,500 | 3.82 |
| Exercised(1) | (469,180) | 6.98 |
(2,000) | 7.28 |
| Cancelled or forfeited | (36,000) | 5.48 |
(4,366,829) | 17.97 |
| Expired | (11,800) | 8.17 |
(1,372,738) | 11.82 |
| Balance, end of period | 9,174,415 | 6.91 | 9,681,395 | 6.91 |
| Options exercisable, end ofperiod | 1,935,891 | 10.42 | 2,416,871 | 9.74 |
(1) For Paramount Options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021, the weighted average market price of Paramount’s Common Shares on the dates exercised was $10.37 per share (twelve months ended December 31, 2020 - $7.77 per share).
Restricted Share Unit Plan – Shares Held in Trust
| Three months ended March 31, 2021 Twelve months ended December 31, 2020 |
|
|---|---|
| Shares (000’s) Shares (000’s) |
|
| Balance, beginning of period | 1,915 1,484 860 1,388 |
| Shares purchased | – – 1,600 4,081 |
| Change in vested and unvested shares | – (578) (545) (3,985) |
| Balance, end ofperiod | 1,915 906 1,915 1,484 |
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 53
10. Income Tax
The following table reconciles income taxes calculated at the Canadian statutory rate to Paramount’s recorded income tax expense (recovery):
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Loss before tax | (104,602) | (128,366) |
| Effective Canadian statutory income tax rate | 23.1% | 25.1% |
| Expected income tax recovery | (24,163) | (32,220) |
| Effect on income taxes of: | ||
| Change in statutory and other rates | 1,100 | 4,495 |
| Change in value of investments | (26) | 389 |
| Change in unrecognized deferred income tax asset | (969) | 129,960 |
| Share-based compensation | 273 | 517 |
| Flow-through share renunciations | – | 3,617 |
| Non-deductible items and other | 1,660 | (42) |
| Income tax expense(recovery) | (22,125) | 106,716 |
11. Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Financial Instruments
Financial instruments at March 31, 2021 consist of accounts receivable, risk management assets and liabilities, the Dissent Payment Entitlement, investments in securities, accounts payable, the Paramount Facility and Convertible Debentures. The carrying values of these financial instruments, other than the Convertible Debentures, approximate their fair values. The Convertible Debentures are a compound financial instrument, and are described further in Note 5.
Risk Management
Assets
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity swaps–current | 547 | 408 |
| Risk management asset | 547 | 408 |
Liabilities
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate swaps – current | (9,579) | (9,616) |
| Financial commodity contracts–current | (71,174) | (22,665) |
| Risk management – current | (80,753) | (32,281) |
| Interest rate swaps–long-term | (10,446) | (19,441) |
| Risk management liability | (91,199) | (51,722) |
From time-to-time, Paramount enters into derivative financial instruments to manage commodity price, interest rate and foreign currency exchange risks.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 54
The fair values of risk management financial instruments are estimated using a market approach incorporating level two fair value hierarchy inputs, including forward market curves and price quotes for similar instruments, provided by financial institutions.
Changes in the fair value of risk management assets are as follows:
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |
| Fair value, beginning of period | 408 | 6,062 |
| Changes in fair value – financial commodity contract assets | – | 31,539 |
| Changes in fair value – electricity swaps | 612 | 408 |
| Settlements received – financial commodity contract assets | – | (37,601) |
| Settlements received–electricity swaps | (473) | – |
| Fair value, end ofperiod | 547 | 408 |
Changes in the fair value of risk management liabilities are as follows:
| Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |
| Fair value, beginning of period | (51,722) | (8,032) |
| Changes in fair value – interest rate swaps | 6,634 | (26,608) |
| Changes in fair value – financial commodity contract liabilities | (81,179) |
(22,665) |
| Settlements paid – interest rate swaps | 2,398 | 5,583 |
| Settlements paid–financial commodity contract liabilities | 32,670 | – |
| Fair value, end ofperiod | (91,199) | (51,722) |
The Company had the following financial commodity contracts as at March 31, 2021:
| Aggregate | Average | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instruments | notional | fixedprice | Fair value | Remaining term |
| Oil – NYMEX WTI Swaps (Sale) | 3,000 Bbl/d | CDN$65.93/Bbl | (2,268) | April 2021 – June 2021 |
| Oil – NYMEX WTI Swaps (Sale) | 3,000 Bbl/d | CDN$64.67/Bbl | (2,289) | July 2021 – September 2021 |
| Oil – NYMEX WTI Swaps (Sale) | 23,000 Bbl/d | US$46.93/Bbl | (31,942) | April 2021 – June 2021 |
| Oil – NYMEX WTI Swaps (Sale) | 15,000 Bbl/d | US$45.87/Bbl | (21,159) | July 2021 – September 2021 |
| Oil – NYMEX WTI Swaps (Sale) | 10,000 Bbl/d | US$45.82/Bbl | (12,598) | October 2021 – December 2021 |
| Oil – Edmonton Condensate WTI Differential Swap (Sale) |
4,000 Bbl/d | WTI+US$0.06/Bbl | (254) | April 2021 – June 2021 |
| Gas–NYMEX Swaps (Sale) | 60,000 MMBtu/d | US$2.71/MMBtu | (664) | April 2021–December 2021 |
| (71,174) |
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 55
The Company had the following floating-to-fixed interest rate and electricity swaps at March 31, 2021:
| Aggregate | Average fixed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract type | notional | Remaining term | contract rate | Reference |
Fair value |
| Interest Rate Swaps | $250 million |
April 2021 - January 2023 | 2.3% | CDOR(1) |
(7,858) |
| Interest Rate Swaps | $250 million |
April 2021 - January 2026 | 2.4% | CDOR(1) |
(12,167) |
| ElectricitySwaps | 5 MWh/d(2) | April 2021 - December 2021 | $51.68/MWh | AESO Pool Price(3) | 547 |
| (19,478) |
(1) Canadian Dollar Offered Rate.
(2) "MWh" means MegaWatt hour.
(3) Floating hourly rate established by the Alberta Electric System Operator.
The Company classified its floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps and electricity swaps as cash flow hedges and has applied hedge accounting. As at March 31, 2021, there were no changes to the critical terms of the hedging relationship and no hedge ineffectiveness was identified.
12. Revenue By Product
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 77,276 | 53,603 |
| Condensate and oil | 185,929 | 111,442 |
| Other natural gas liquids | 15,026 | 4,442 |
| Royalty and other | 1,634 | 2,603 |
| Royalties | (18,619) | (11,683) |
| 261,246 | 160,407 |
13. Other Loss
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Change in fair value of securities - warrants | 112 | (1,549) |
| Provisions | (7,500) | (4,669) |
| Other | (503) | 185 |
| (7,891) | (6,033) |
In the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a provision of $7.5 million with respect to arrangements with a service provider. The Company has unsettled claims against the same service provider for significantly larger amounts with respect to certain related matters which have not been recognized. The outcome of all of these matters remains uncertain.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 56
14. Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - Selected Information
Items Not Involving Cash
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commodity contracts | 48,509 | (35,342) |
| Share-based compensation | 5,973 | 14 |
| Depletion, depreciation and impairment | 73,143 | 264,933 |
| Exploration and evaluation | 19,113 | 9,325 |
| Gain on sale of oil and gas assets | (41,395) | (2,306) |
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 10,776 | 10,470 |
| Change in asset retirement obligations | 69,533 | (94,828) |
| Foreign exchange | (110) | (50) |
| Change in fair value of securities - warrants | (112) | 1,549 |
| Deferred income tax | (22,125) | 106,716 |
| Other | 912 | 1,094 |
| 164,217 | 261,575 |
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
| Three months ended March 31 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Interestpaid | 13,788 | 7,622 |
Components of Cash and Cash Equivalents
| As at | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 7,421 | 4,590 |
| Cash equivalents | – | – |
| 7,421 | 4,590 |
15. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments – Physical Sale Contracts
The Company had the following AECO natural gas fixed-price physical contracts at March 31, 2021:
| Quantity | Location | Average fixedprice | Remaining term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 GJ/d | AECO | CDN$2.52/GJ | April 2021 – October 2021 |
| 50,000 GJ/d | AECO | CDN$2.51/GJ | April 2021 – December 2021 |
Contingencies
In the normal course of Paramount’s operations, the Company may become involved in, named as a party to, or be the subject of, various legal proceedings, including regulatory proceedings, tax proceedings and legal actions. The outcome of outstanding, pending or future proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Paramount does not anticipate that these claims will have a material impact on its financial position.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021 57
Tax and royalty legislation and regulations, and government interpretation and administration thereof, continually change. As a result, there are often tax and royalty matters under review by relevant government authorities. All tax and royalty filings are subject to subsequent government audit and potential reassessments. Accordingly, the final amounts may differ materially from amounts estimated and recorded.
16. Subsequent Event
Subsequent to March 31, 2021, Paramount entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its nonoperated Birch asset in northeast British Columbia for total consideration of approximately $77 million. Closing is subject to customary conditions and is anticipated to occur in July 2021. The Birch asset is included in the Northern CGU.
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
58
CORPORATE INFORMATION
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
J. H. T. Riddell
President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
P. R. Kinvig Chief Financial Officer
B. K. Lee Executive Vice President, Finance
E. M. Shier
General Counsel and Vice President, Land
D. B. Reid Executive Vice President, Operations
R. R. Sousa
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Planning
J. B. Williams
Executive Vice President, Kaybob Region
DIRECTORS
J. H. T. Riddell[(2)] President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Paramount Resources Ltd. Calgary, Alberta
J. G. M. Bell[(1) (3) (4)] President and Chief Executive Officer Founders Advantage Capital Corp. Calgary, Alberta
W. A. Gobert[(3) (4) (5)] Independent Businessman Calgary, Alberta
J. C. Gorman[(1) (4) (5)] Independent Businessman Calgary, Alberta
D. Jungé C.F.A.[(2) (4)] Independent Businessman Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
R. M. MacDonald[(1) (3) (4)] Independent Businessman Oakville, Ontario
R. K. MacLeod[(2) (4) (5)] Independent Businessman Calgary, Alberta
S. L. Riddell Rose President and Chief Executive Officer Perpetual Energy Inc. Calgary, Alberta
CORPORATE OFFICE
2800 TD Canada Trust Tower 421 Seventh Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta Canada T2P 4K9 Telephone: (403) 290-3600 Facsimile: (403) 262-7994 www.paramountres.com
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare Trust Company of Canada Calgary, Alberta Toronto, Ontario
RESERVES EVALUATORS
McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. Calgary, Alberta
AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP Calgary, Alberta
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
The Toronto Stock Exchange (“POU”)
-
(1) Member of Audit Committee
-
(2) Member of Environmental, Health and Safety Committee
-
(3) Member of Compensation Committee
-
(4) Member of Corporate Governance Committee
-
(5) Member of Reserves Committee
Paramount Resources Ltd. First Quarter 2021
59