Ovintiv Takes Immediate and Significant Action; Reduces Second Quarter 2020 Capital Investments by $300 Million; Full-Year Cash Costs to Drop by $100 Million

Company dropping 10 operated rigs immediately and an additional six rigs in May

DENVER, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE, TSX: OVV) today announced plans to immediately reduce second quarter 2020 capital investments by $300 million and full year cash costs by $100 million. This is the first step in response to the recent large drop in oil prices. The Company has no long-term service commitments to fulfill and intends to use its operational flexibility to maintain balance sheet strength. Ovintiv is fully prepared to further reduce capital investments and activity levels as market conditions dictate.

"We are moving quickly and decisively in response to these volatile and challenging times. It is imperative to take immediate action and we are dropping roughly two-thirds of our operated rigs and reducing our cash costs by $100 million," said CEO Doug Suttles. "Market conditions are changing rapidly, and we have full operational flexibility to further adjust activity to maintain our balance sheet strength."

The Company is immediately dropping 10 operated drilling rigs and plans to drop an additional six operated rigs in May 2020. Following these rig count reductions, Ovintiv will have three operated rigs in the Permian, two in the Anadarko and two in the Montney.

Beyond the immediate spending cuts announced today, Ovintiv is prepared to further reduce capital investments throughout the year to ensure free cash neutrality and balance sheet strength. The Company expects to provide an update to its 2020 guidance in conjunction with first-quarter reporting.

Strong Balance Sheet & Robust Liquidity Through Mid-2024:

    --  The credit facilities are fixed at $4 billion until their maturity in
        July 2024 and commodity prices have zero impact on availability. They
        have no reserve-based, cash flow or EBITDA lending covenants or minimum
        credit rating requirements. The facilities are based on book value only
        (not market capitalization) with a maximum ratio of 60% debt-to-adjusted
        capitalization (at year-end 2019, ratio was 28%). The capitalization
        calculation adjustment includes a fixed $7.7 billion add back to
        capitalization. Full terms of the credit facilities can be found as an
        exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K. In addition, a table can be found in
        this release.


    --  Current liquidity is approximately $3.5 billion, which represents the $4
        billion credit facilities plus cash-on-hand, less the Company's current
        commercial paper balance.


    --  OVV is rated investment grade at BBB.


    --  Approximately 80% of total long-term debt is due in 2024, or beyond,
        with a weighted average bond maturity of approximately 10 years.

    --  The Company has significant flexibility to manage the late 2021 and 2022
        maturities, including the use of the credit facilities.

Strong Hedging Position Protects Cash Flow:

    --  More than 70% of 2020 crude oil and condensate production and 2020
        natural gas production is hedged at prices significantly above the
        current market. The Company utilizes more than a dozen "A" credit rated
        hedge counterparties. See hedge table in this release.

Recent U.S. Shelf Registration Filing:

    --  A recent U.S. shelf registration filing was made on March 6, 2020. This
        shelf was part of a normal course renewal and the Company has no current
        intentions of issuing any debt or equity under the shelf.

Debt to Adjusted Capitalization at December 31, 2019:



       
              ($ MM)                     2019 
     
            Credit Facility
                                                       Covenant

    ---

        Long-Term Debt, including current
         portion                            $6,974



       Total Shareholders' Equity           9,930


        Equity adjustment for impairments
         at December 31, 2011                7,746



                   Adjusted Capitalization $24,650


        Debt to Adjusted Capitalization        28%                        60%


               Note: Please refer to the Non-GAAP
                Definitions and Reconciliations on
                the Company's website. Debt to
                Adjusted Capitalization is a proxy
                for Ovintiv's financial covenant
                under the Company's credit
                facilities which require debt to
                adjusted capitalization to be less
                than 60 percent. Adjusted
                Capitalization includes debt, total
                shareholders' equity and an equity
                adjustment for cumulative historical
                ceiling test impairments recorded as
                of December 31, 2011 in conjunction
                with the Company's January 1, 2012
                adoption of U.S. GAAP.

Hedge Volumes as of December 31, 2019:



              
               Natural Gas Hedges                                        2020  
              
                Oil & Condensate Hedges                         2020

    ---                                                                                                                                      ---


              
               Total Benchmark Hedges                            1,188 MMcf/d 
              
                Total Benchmark Hedges             165 Mbbls/d


                                  
              
          Benchmark Hedges ($/Mcf)                                                               Benchmark Hedges ($/bbl)

                                                  ---


              
               NYMEX Swaps                                        803 MMcf/d  
              
                WTI Swaps                          70 Mbbls/d

              
             Swap Price                                                 $2.65  
              
              Swap Price                                      $57.56



              
               NYMEX 3-Way Options                                330 MMcf/d  
              
                WTI 3-Way Options                  80 Mbbls/d
    Short Call                                                                      $2.72  Short Call                                                            $61.68

              Long Put                                                             $2.60  
              Long Put                                                   $53.44

              Short Put                                                            $2.25  
              Short Put                                                  $43.44



              
               NYMEX Costless Collars                              55 MMcf/d  
              
                WTI Costless Collars               15 Mbbls/d
    Short Call                                                                      $2.88  Short Call                                                            $68.71

              Long Put                                                             $2.50  
              Long Put                                                   $50.00


                                    
              
          Basis Hedges ($/Mcf)                                                                 Basis Hedges ($/bbl)

                                                  ---


              
               AECO Basis Swaps                                   349 MMcf/d  
              
                WTI / Midland Swaps                 8 Mbbls/d

              
             Swap Price                                               ($0.88) 
              
              Swap Price                                     ($1.20)




              
               WAHA Basis Swaps                                   105 MMcf/d

              
             Swap Price                                               ($0.91)

    ---

"NEW" Price Sensitivities for Oil Hedge Gains/Losses by Quarter for 2020 ($ MM):


            Period     $20    $30  $40 $50   $60

        ---

            1Q 2020    353    276  198  73  (23)

        ---

            2Q 2020    353    276  198  73  (23)

        ---

            3Q 2020    357    279  201  74  (23)

        ---

            4Q 2020    357    279  201  74  (23)

        ---

     
     
          2020  $1,420 $1,109 $798 294 ($93)

        ---

"NEW" Price Sensitivities for Gas Hedge Gains/Losses by Quarter for 2020 ($ MM)


             Period  $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 $2.25

         ---

             1Q 2020   138   119   100    81    62    43

         ---

             2Q 2020   143   123   103    83    63    44

         ---

             3Q 2020   145   125   104    84    64    44

         ---

             4Q 2020   141   121   102    82    63    43

         ---

     
     
           2020   $566  $488  $409  $331  $252  $174

         ---


               Note: Sensitivities do not
                include gains or losses
                related to differential
                hedges.

               Note: Company has additional
                hedges on Butane and Propane
                not included.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - This news release contains certain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLS") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. FLS include: anticipated reductions in capital investment, drilling and completion activity and cash costs; maintaining free cash neutrality; strength of balance sheet; value of hedge book and quality of counterparties; ability to adjust as market conditions dictate; efficiency of operations; anticipated production; price sensitivities; impacts to guidance; ability to draw on credit facilities and other forms of liquidity; and intentions regarding issuing debt or equity under the shelf. These assumptions include: future commodity prices and differentials; data contained in key modeling statistics; enforceability of risk management program; assumptions contained in guidance; and expectations and projections made in light of the Company's historical experience. Risks and uncertainties include: ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet obligations; commodity price volatility; ability to secure adequate transportation and potential pipeline curtailments; business interruption or unexpected technical difficulties; counterparty and credit risk; impact of changes in credit rating and access to liquidity; risks in marketing operations; and other risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and as described from time to time in its other periodic filings as filed on SEDAR and EDGAR. Although the Company believes such FLS are reasonable, there can be no assurance they will prove to be correct. The above assumptions, risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. FLS are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any FLS.

Further information on Ovintiv Inc. is available on the Company's website, www.ovintiv.com, or by contacting:



     
     
                  Investor contact:                    Media contact:


     
     (888) 525-0304                   
     
     (281) 210-5253

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SOURCE Ovintiv Inc.