U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For December 16, 2014
Commission File Number: 1-15226
ENCANA
CORPORATION
(Translation of registrants name into English)
Suite 4400, 500 Centre Street SE
PO Box 2850
Calgary,
Alberta, Canada T2P 2S5
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form
20-F ¨ Form 40-F þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T
Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THIS FORM 6-K
See the Exhibit Index to this Form 6-K.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 16, 2014
|
|
|
|
|
ENCANA CORPORATION |
(Registrant) |
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Dawna I. Gibb |
|
|
Name: |
|
Dawna I. Gibb |
|
|
Title: |
|
Assistant Corporate Secretary |
Form 6-K Exhibit Index
|
|
|
Exhibit No. |
|
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
News release dated December 16, 2014:
Encana Focuses 2015 Capital Program on Four Strategic Growth Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
news release |
ENCANA FOCUSES 2015 CAPITAL PROGRAM ON FOUR STRATEGIC GROWTH ASSETS
Calgary, Alberta (December 16, 2014) TSX, NYSE: ECA. Encana today announced a highly focused 2015 capital program of between
$2.7 billion and $2.9 billion, with approximately 80 percent directed to four of its highest margin growth plays; the Montney, Duvernay, Eagle Ford and Permian.
Following the launch of our new strategy, we took aggressive action and transformed our portfolio, significantly reduced our cost base and built a culture that
drives efficiencies throughout our business, says Doug Suttles, Encana President & CEO. We enter 2015 focused on our long-term strategy, increasing liquids production, capturing new efficiencies throughout the business and
protecting our balance sheet. Were well positioned as the steps weve taken have given us the resilient portfolio, organizational agility and operational expertise needed to thrive throughout the commodity price cycle. Built into our 2015
plan is the flexibility to respond to the challenges and act on potential opportunities presented in this volatile price environment.
Encana expects to
generate approximately 75 percent of its 2015 cash flow from oil and liquids production. The company estimates total liquids production will grow approximately 70 percent compared to 2014 to between 140,000 and 160,000 barrels per day (bbls/d) and
anticipates overall production of between 405,000 and 440,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Encana expects total cash flow between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion, reflecting the impact of higher margin production and continued cost
efficiencies, partially offset by anticipated lower commodity prices.
In 2015, we plan to continue to execute our strategy and capitalize on the portfolio we
have built by investing in our highest margin plays and highest impact projects to keep us on track to reach our long-term strategic goals, adds Suttles. Operational excellence will continue to lie at the heart of all we do and we
believe the current lower commodity price environment will create opportunities to drive further cost efficiencies throughout the supply chain.
Encana is
committed to protecting its balance sheet through a prudent capital investment program. The companys 2015 capital program is based on assumptions of $70 WTI oil prices and NYMEX natural gas prices of $4 per million British thermal units
(MMBtu). In addition, the company expects to generate net proceeds of around $800 million in the first quarter of 2015 through the completion of the previously announced divestiture of the majority of its Clearwater assets and other anticipated
transactions.
2015 Key Deliverables
|
|
|
Invest approximately 80 percent of capital into four of the companys highest margin assets |
|
|
|
Deliver an approximate 70 percent year-over-year growth in liquids production |
|
|
|
Continue to realize capital and cost efficiency improvements |
|
|
|
Protect balance sheet and maintain financial flexibility to respond to market dynamics |
|
|
|
Optimize and enhance cash flow from base assets |
Encanas complete 2015 Guidance can be downloaded from the
Companys website at
http://www.encana.com/investors/financial/corporate-guidance.html.
2015 objectives for Encanas growth plays
Approximately 80 percent of
the companys 2015 capital program will be invested in four of its highest margin assets, the Montney, Duvernay, Eagle Ford and Permian. These strategic assets have low supply costs averaging about $35 to $55 per boe and are capable of
delivering quality returns in a lower commodity price environment. The company expects them to contribute about 60 percent of total production and 70 percent of total upstream operating cash flow in 2015.
Montney: The Montney gives Encana a more than 25-year drilling inventory and large contiguous land positions with
the potential of more than 2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and 50,000 bbls/d of natural gas and liquids production. In 2015, the company plans to invest between $250 million and $350 million and expects to run two to three rigs and drill
between 20 and 30 net wells. An additional $350 million is expected to be invested through Encanas Cutbank Ridge Partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation, representing a total gross investment of between $600 million and $700 million. Liquids
production is expected to grow five percent to between 19,000 and 20,500 bbls/d while low-cost, high rate of return natural gas production is expected to range between 580 and 620 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d).
Duvernay: Encana plans to build on milestones achieved in the Duvernay throughout 2014, including significant reductions in drilling costs and cycle times as
well as increased market takeaway capacity. In 2015, the company plans to invest between $250 million and $350 million and continue to accelerate development in the Simonette area where it expects to run about three to five rigs and drill 15 to 25
net wells. An additional $800 million is expected to be invested in the play through Encanas joint venture with Brion Duvernay Gas (formerly named Phoenix Duvernay Gas), representing a gross investment of between $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion.
Net liquids production from the Duvernay is expected to grow about 200 percent to an average of 6,000 to 7,000 bbls/d.
Eagle Ford: Since entering the
substantially liquids-weighted Eagle Ford in the second quarter of 2014, Encana has leveraged its resource play expertise to increase liquids volumes while reducing drilling and completions costs. The companys largely contiguous land position
is in the core of the core, offering premium oil netbacks and good market access. Encana plans to invest between $650 million and $750 million in 2015, running three to five rigs and drilling 75 to 85 net wells. The company plans to achieve further
operational efficiencies while growing liquids production to an average of 44,000 to 49,000 bbls/d.
Permian: Since closing its acquisition of Athlon Energy
Inc. (Athlon) in the fourth quarter of 2014, Encana has begun implementing the resource play hub approach in what is widely recognized as one of North Americas top oil plays. The asset includes a more than 10-year drilling inventory with up to
11 potential productive horizons of high margin liquids. In 2015, Encana plans to invest between $850 million and $950 million in the play and run between nine and 13 rigs. The company plans to drill between 180 and 200 net wells. Projected volumes
are expected to grow to approximately 50,000 boe/d.
DJ Basin, San Juan and Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS): These three assets underline the flexibility of
Encanas portfolio and represent further high-quality investment opportunities. Collectively, the company plans to invest approximately $350 million to $450 million in these assets in 2015 with combined total liquids production expected to be
between 25,000 and 28,000 bbls/d.
Encanas subsidiaries redeem outstanding notes
Encana further announced today that its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries, Athlon Holdings LP and Athlon Finance Corp., will complete the redemption of all of their
$500 million 7.375% Senior Notes due 2021 and their $650 million 6.00% Senior Notes due 2022. These notes were assumed as part of the acquisition of Athlon. Cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2014 will be impacted by the decision to redeem
Athlons long-term debt. The company will incur a one-time outlay of about $125 million, but expects to save approximately $515 million in future interest expenses associated with these notes.
Encana updates its risk management program
At December 16, 2014, Encana
has hedged approximately 1,062 MMcf/d of expected 2015 natural gas production at an average price of $4.29 per Mcf. In addition, Encana has hedged approximately 12.3 thousands of barrels per day (Mbbls/d) of expected 2015 oil production using WTI
fixed price contracts at an average price of $92.88 per bbl. The companys hedging program helps sustain cash flow and netbacks during periods of lower prices.
Conference call for investors
Encana will host a conference call and webcast
for investors today, Tuesday, December 16, 2014, starting at 7:00 a.m. MT (9:00 a.m. ET). To participate, please dial (877) 291-4570 (toll-free in North America) or (647) 788-4919 approximately 10 minutes prior to the conference call.
An archived recording of the call will be available from approximately 10 a.m. MT on December 16 until 11:59 p.m. MT on December 23, 2014 by dialing (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642 and entering passcode 43401772. A live audio
webcast, including slides, of the conference call will also be available at www.encana.com, in the Invest in Us section under Presentations & Events. The webcast will be archived for approximately 90 days.
Media are invited to participate in the call in a listen-only mode.
Encana Corporation
Encana is a leading North American energy producer that
is focused on developing its strong portfolio of resource plays, held directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, producing natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). By partnering with employees, community organizations and other
businesses, Encana contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.
ADVISORY REGARDING OIL AND GAS INFORMATIONEncana uses the term resource play. Resource play is a term used by Encana to describe an accumulation of
hydrocarbons known to exist over a large areal expanse and/or thick vertical section, which when compared to a conventional play, typically has a lower geological and/or commercial development risk and lower average decline rate. Initial production
and short-term rates are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.
In this news release, certain natural gas volumes have been
converted to barrels of oil equivalent (boe) on the basis of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel (bbl). Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of six Mcf to one bbl is based on an energy equivalency
conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent value equivalency at the well head. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy
equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.
ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In the interests of providing Encana shareholders and potential investors with information regarding Encana, including managements assessment of its and their subsidiaries future plans and operations, certain statements
contained in this news release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news
release include, but are not limited to: the companys 2015 capital program, including its plan to invest capital into four of its highest margin growth plays (the Montney, Duvernay, Eagle Ford and Permian) and their contribution to 2015 total
production and upstream operating cash flow; the companys 2015 focus on its long-term strategy, driving growth in liquids production, capturing new efficiencies throughout the business and protecting its balance sheet; ability to thrive
throughout the commodity price cycle, as well as flexibility to respond to challenges and act on potential opportunities; expected cash flow in 2015 generated from oil and liquids production; estimated total liquids production growth and anticipated
overall production in 2015; the companys expectation to continue operational excellence and ability to drive further cost efficiencies throughout the companys supply chain; prudent capital investment program; assumptions used in 2015
capital program; anticipated net proceeds in first quarter of 2015 from announced and anticipated transactions; optimizing and enhancing cash flow from base assets; anticipated investment (including from partners), operational efficiencies, drilling
inventory, productive horizons, number of rigs, well locations and amount and type of production from certain plays; the successful implementation of Encanas resource play model; the anticipated redemption of the Athlon Holdings LP and Athlon
Finance Corp. notes; hedging of anticipated production; and anticipated oil, natural gas and NGLs prices.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause the companys actual performance and financial
results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things:
volatility of, and assumptions regarding natural gas and liquids prices, including substantial or extended decline of the same and their adverse effect on the companys operations and financial condition and the value and amount of its
reserves; risks and uncertainties associated with the announced but not completed transactions including the risk that the transactions may not be completed on a timely basis or at all; assumptions based upon the companys current guidance;
fluctuations in currency and interest rates; risk that Encana may not conclude divestitures of certain assets or other transactions or receive amounts contemplated under the transaction agreements (such transactions may include third-party capital
investments, farm-outs or partnerships, which Encana may refer to from time to time as partnerships or joint ventures and the funds received in respect thereof which Encana may refer to from time to time as
proceeds, deferred purchase price and/or carry capital, regardless of the legal form) as a result of various conditions not being met; product supply and demand; market competition; risks inherent in the
companys and its subsidiaries marketing operations, including credit risks; imprecision of reserves estimates and estimates of recoverable quantities of natural gas and liquids from resource plays and other sources not currently
classified as proved, probable or possible reserves or economic contingent resources, including future net revenue estimates; marketing margins; potential disruption or unexpected technical difficulties in developing new facilities; unexpected cost
increases or technical difficulties in constructing or modifying processing facilities; risks associated with technology; the companys ability to acquire or find additional reserves; hedging activities resulting in realized and unrealized
losses; business interruption and casualty losses; risk of not operating all of its properties and assets; counterparty risk; risk of downgrade in credit rating and its adverse effects; liability for indemnification obligations to third parties;
variability of dividends to be paid; its ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet its current and future obligations; its ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital; the timing and the costs of well and
pipeline construction; the ability to secure adequate product transportation; changes in royalty, tax, environmental, greenhouse gas, carbon, accounting and other laws or regulations or the interpretations of such laws or regulations; political and
economic conditions in the countries in which the company operates; terrorist threats; risks associated with existing and potential future lawsuits and regulatory actions made against the company; risk arising from price basis differential; risk
arising from inability to enter into attractive hedges to protect the companys capital program; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the reports and filings made with securities regulatory authorities by Encana.
Although Encana believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important
factors is not exhaustive. In addition, assumptions relating to such forward-looking statements generally include Encanas current expectations and projections made in light of, and generally consistent with, its historical experience and its
perception of historical trends, including the conversion of resources into reserves and production as well as expectations regarding rates of advancement and innovation, generally consistent with and informed by its past experience, all of which
are subject to the risk factors identified elsewhere in this news release.
Assumptions with respect to forward-looking information regarding expanding
Encanas oil and NGLs production and extraction volumes are based on existing expansion of natural gas processing facilities in areas where Encana operates and the continued expansion and development of oil and NGL production from existing
properties within its asset portfolio.
Forward-looking information respecting anticipated 2015 cash flow for Encana is based upon, among other things, achieving
average production for 2015 of between 1.60 Bcf/d and 1.70 Bcf/d of natural gas and 140,000 bbls/d to 160,000 bbls/d of liquids, commodity prices for natural gas and liquids based on NYMEX $4.00 per MMBtu, AECO C$3.67 per GJ and WTI of $70 per bbl,
an estimated U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate of $0.87 and a weighted average number of outstanding shares for Encana of approximately 741 million.
Furthermore,
the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Encana undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Further information on Encana Corporation is available on the companys website, www.encana.com, or by contacting:
|
|
|
Investor contact: |
|
Media contact: |
Brian Dutton |
|
Jay Averill |
Director, Investor Relations |
|
Director, Media Relations |
(403) 645-2285 |
|
(403) 645-4747 |
|
|
Patti Posadowski |
|
Doug McIntyre |
Sr. Advisor, Investor Relations |
|
Media Relations |
(403) 645-2252 |
|
(403) 645-6553 |
SOURCE: Encana Corporation
Encana (NYSE:ECA)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Encana (NYSE:ECA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024