Canadian Natural Resources Limited Announces 2015 Second Quarter Results

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Aug 6, 2015) - Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSX: CNQ) (NYSE: CNQ)

Commenting on second quarter results, Steve Laut, President of Canadian Natural stated, "Canadian Natural is in a strong position. Our strong, diverse and well balanced asset base, and the effectiveness of our strategies, combined with our ability to execute these strategies, allows us to react quickly in this challenging commodity price environment.

In the second quarter, we delivered operationally, achieving record gas production at 1.779 Bcf/d, which exceeded production guidance and increased 9% over the same quarter in 2014. Oil production was strong, and we expect to deliver annual oil production at the midpoint of guidance despite the forest fire impact on second quarter oil production.

Canadian Natural's operations continue to be effective and efficient. We have been able to achieve significant cost savings through better effectiveness, efficiency and innovation. Both operating and capital costs were down significantly from the second quarter in 2014 to the second quarter of this year."

Canadian Natural's Chief Financial Officer, Corey Bieber, continued, "The Company has proactively reduced its development programs in the context of lower commodity prices and lower cash flow. Liquidity remains strong at

$3.3 billion. During the second quarter, absent the impact of the $579 million charge due to the 20% increase in Alberta corporate income tax rates, our earnings would have been $174 million. This charge effectively translates into lower future cash flows and therefore, lowers reinvestment in the business. Based upon third party research, this lower future capital reinvestment likely equates to about 4,100 fewer person years of direct, indirect and induced employment, with follow-on impact of higher income taxes on future income streams."

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ----------------------------------------------- ($ Millions, except per Jun 30 Mar 31 Jun 30 Jun 30 Jun 30 common share amounts) 2015 2015 2014 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings (loss) $ (405) $ (252) $ 1,070 $ (657) $ 1,692 Per common share - basic $ (0.37) $ (0.23) $ 0.98 $ (0.60) $ 1.55 - diluted $ (0.37) $ (0.23) $ 0.97 $ (0.60) $ 1.54 Adjusted net earnings from operations (1) $ 178 $ 21 $ 1,150 $ 199 $ 2,071 Per common share - basic $ 0.16 $ 0.02 $ 1.05 $ 0.18 $ 1.90 - diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.02 $ 1.04 $ 0.18 $ 1.89 Cash flow from operations (2) $ 1,503 $ 1,370 $ 2,633 $ 2,873 $ 4,779 Per common share - basic $ 1.38 $ 1.25 $ 2.41 $ 2.63 $ 4.38 - diluted $ 1.37 $ 1.25 $ 2.39 $ 2.62 $ 4.36 Capital expenditures, net of dispositions $ 1,297 $ 1,412 $ 5,456 $ 2,709 $ 7,349 Daily production, before royalties Natural gas (MMcf/d) 1,779 1,771 1,634 1,775 1,406 Crude oil and NGLs (bbl/d) 509,047 602,809 545,169 555,669 517,134 Equivalent production (BOE/d) (3) 805,547 898,053 817,471 851,545 751,426 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------