“Driven by a strong business environment, Suncor generated record adjusted funds from operations of approximately $5.3 billion, or $3.80 per common share, in the second quarter of 2022, as we executed planned maintenance across our asset base,” said Kris Smith, interim president and chief executive officer. “Our confidence in our business and expected annual cash flows enabled us to return approximately $3.2 billion of value to our shareholders, which includes both the highest dividend per share and highest rate of share repurchases in the company’s history.” 

• Adjusted funds from operations increased to $5.345 billion ($3.80 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $2.362 billion ($1.57 per common share) in the prior year quarter. This was the highest in the company’s history, exceeding the prior per share quarterly record, from the first quarter of 2022, by 33%. Cash flow provided by operating activities, which includes
• changes in non-cash working capital, was $4.235 billion ($3.01 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $2.086 billion ($1.39 per common share) in the prior year quarter.
• Adjusted operating earnings increased to $3.814 billion ($2.71 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $722 million ($0.48 per common share) in the prior year quarter. The company’s net earnings increased to $3.996 billion ($2.84 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $868 million ($0.58 per common share) in the prior year quarter.
• For the second consecutive quarter, Oil Sands delivered record adjusted funds from operations of $4.231 billion in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $1.844 billion in the prior year quarter, driven by significantly higher price realizations. Production from the company’s Oil Sands assets increased to 641,500 barrels per day (bbls/d) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 615,700 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, due to increased production at Syncrude and Fort Hills in the current period, partially offset by the impact of maintenance activities at Oil Sands operations, including the largest turnaround in Firebag history, which was completed subsequent to the quarter.
• Refining and Marketing (R&M) generated record adjusted funds from operations of $2.127 billion in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $677 million in the prior year quarter. In the second quarter, refinery utilization averaged 84% and crude throughput was 389,300 bbls/d, compared to 70% and 325,300 bbls/d respectively in the prior year quarter. Solid utilizations in the current quarter outside of planned turnaround activities allowed the company to capture significant benchmark crack spreads and refining margins. Following the completion of planned turnaround activities, the company’s refineries exited the quarter with an average refinery utilization of over 100%. 
• In the second quarter of 2022, Suncor continued to deliver on its strategy of growing shareholder returns, returning record value to its shareholders of approximately $3.2 billion, through approximately $2.6 billion in share repurchases and the payment of $657 million of dividends. Both the dividend per common share and the rate of common share repurchases during the quarter are the highest in the company’s history. As at August 2, 2022, since the start of the year, the company has repurchased approximately $3.9 billion of Suncor’s common shares, representing approximately 88.5 million common shares at an average share price of $44.40 per common share, or the equivalent of 6.1% of its common shares as at December 31, 2021.
• In the second quarter of 2022, the company completed an early redemption of its outstanding US$450 million 2.80% notes and US$550 million 3.10% notes originally due in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The company expects to achieve the lower end of its 2025 targeted net debt range during the second half of 2022.
• In the second quarter of 2022, Suncor and the joint venture owners announced the decision to restart the West White Rose Project offshore the east coast of Canada, which is expected to extend the production life of the White Rose field, providing long-term value for the company.
• Subsequent to the second quarter of 2022, the company reached an agreement for the sale of its Exploration and Production (E&P) assets in Norway, pending regulatory approval, for gross proceeds of approximately $410 million (Canadian dollar equivalent), before closing adjustments and other closing costs. The sale is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, with an effective date of March 1, 2022. 

Adjusted Operating Earnings

Suncor’s adjusted operating earnings increased to $3.814 billion ($2.71 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $722 million ($0.48 per common share) in the prior year quarter, primarily due to significantly higher crude oil and refined product realizations reflecting the improved business environment in the current quarter, combined with higher upstream production and refinery throughput. The increase in adjusted operating earnings was partially offset by an increase in royalties and income taxes and increased operating expenses primarily related to a significant increase in commodity input costs in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter.

Net Earnings

Suncor’s net earnings increased to $3.996 billion ($2.84 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $868 million ($0.58 per common share) in the prior year quarter. In addition to the factors impacting adjusted operating earnings discussed above, net earnings for the second quarter of 2022 included a $352 million unrealized foreign exchange loss on the revaluation of U.S. dollar denominated debt recorded in financing expenses, a non-cash impairment reversal of $715 million on the company’s share of the White Rose assets, a non-cash impairment of $70 million against the company’s share of its assets in Norway, a $19 million unrealized gain on risk management activities recorded in other income (loss) and a $130 million income tax expense related to the items noted. Net earnings in the prior year quarter included a $174 million unrealized foreign exchange gain on the revaluation of U.S. dollar denominated debt recorded in financing expenses, a $13 million unrealized loss on risk management activities recorded in other income (loss) and a $15 million income tax expense related to the items noted. 

Operating Results

Suncor’s total upstream production was 720,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 699,700 boe/d in the prior year quarter.

The company’s net synthetic crude oil production increased to 483,000 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 437,200 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2021, due to increased production from Syncrude, partially offset by lower volumes from Oil Sands Base which was impacted by planned maintenance activities during the current quarter, including annual coker maintenance at Upgrader 2 and unplanned maintenance. In the prior year, annual planned maintenance activities were deferred to the third quarter to manage COVID-19-related execution risks. At Syncrude, upgrader utilization of 93% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 55% in the prior year quarter, reflected lower planned maintenance activities in the current period, including the impacts of planned hydrotreater maintenance that was advanced to the first quarter of 2022.

The company’s non-upgraded bitumen production was 158,500 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 178,500 bbls/d in the second quarter of 2021, due to decreased production from the company’s In Situ assets, which was partially offset by increased production at Fort Hills. Decreased production from the company’s In Situ assets was primarily due to the major planned turnaround at Firebag, which commenced during the quarter, and unplanned maintenance at MacKay River, which returned to normal production rates in the third quarter. Production from Fort Hills increased to 87,400 bbls/d, compared to 45,300 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, reflecting two-train operations, partially offset by planned maintenance completed early in the quarter. 

Subsequent to the second quarter of 2022, the planned maintenance activities at Oil Sands Base Upgrader 2 and Firebag were completed, and both assets have safely ramped up to normal operating rates.

E&P production during the second quarter of 2022 was 78,700 boe/d, compared to 84,000 boe/d in the prior year quarter. The decrease in production was primarily due to the sale of the company’s working interest in the Golden Eagle Area Development in the fourth quarter of 2021, and natural declines, partially offset by increased production at Buzzard in the current period, as the prior year quarter was impacted by planned turnaround activities.

Refinery crude throughput increased to 389,300 bbls/d and refinery utilization was 84% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 325,300 bbls/d and 70% in the prior year quarter, reflecting planned turnaround activities in both periods. During the second quarter of 2022, the company completed planned turnaround activities at its Edmonton, Sarnia and Montreal refineries, and unplanned maintenance at its Commerce City refinery, enabling its refineries to exit the quarter with an average refinery utilization of over 100%. Refined product sales in the second quarter of 2022 increased to 561,700 bbls/d, compared to 463,300 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, reflecting improved refined product demand in the current period compared to the prior year quarter, which was impacted by COVID-19-related restrictions. This increased refined product demand was partially met by a planned draw of refined product inventory that the company strategically built in the first quarter of 2022 in anticipation of significant planned turnaround activities in the second quarter.

“In the second quarter of 2022, we successfully executed planned maintenance activities across many of our assets in both the upstream and downstream,” said Smith. “With the annual planned maintenance program completed on our downstream assets, we expect to achieve strong refinery utilizations for the remainder of the year, allowing the company to continue to capture strong forecasted benchmark crack spreads and refining margins.”

The company’s total operating, selling and general expenses were $3.088 billion in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $2.720 billion in the prior year quarter. The increase was mainly due to a significant increase in commodity input costs, primarily natural gas prices, increased share-based compensation expenses and higher costs associated with increased Oil Sands production. The company’s exposure to higher natural gas costs is partially mitigated by revenue from power sales that is recorded in operating revenues. 

KeyFacts Energy: Suncor Energy Canada country profile