Shell Annoinces fourth quarter 2021 update note
The remaining $5.5 billion of proceeds from the Permian divestment will be distributed in the form of share buybacks at pace. This decision was taken on December 31, 2021, at the first Board meeting held in the UK following the decision to implement the simplification of the company’s share structure.
The Permian related distributions are in addition to the distributions of 20-30% of cash flow from operations as per our existing capital allocation framework. Further details of the amount and pace of total shareholder distributions will be disclosed at the fourth quarter results announcement.
Integrated Gas
Adjusted EBITDA
- Production is expected to be between 910 and 950 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.
- LNG liquefaction volumes are expected to be between 7.7 and 8.3 million tonnes.
- Production and liquefaction volumes were impacted by unplanned maintenance, mainly in Australia.
- Trading and optimisation results in Integrated Gas are expected to be significantly higher compared to the third quarter 2021, overcoming ongoing supply issues and capturing unique optimisation opportunities generated through the large scale and scope of our LNG trading portfolio in the prevailing high LNG spot price environment.
- Underlying Opex is expected to be between $1.6 and $1.8 billion.
Adjusted Earnings
- Pre-tax depreciation is expected to be between $1.2 and $1.4 billion.
- Taxation charge is expected to be between $600 and $1,000 million.
Cash flow from operations
- CFFO excluding working capital is expected to have significant outflows from variation margin impacts on the back of the prevailing gas and electricity price environment, including the unprecedented gas price volatility at the end of the fourth quarter.
- Tax paid is expected to be between $200 and $300 million.
Upstream
Adjusted EBITDA
- Production is expected to be between 2,150 and 2,250 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.
- Underlying Opex is expected to be between $2.7 and $3.0 billion.
Adjusted Earnings
- Pre-tax depreciation is expected to be between $2.8 and $3.1 billion.
- Taxation charge is expected to be between $2.4 and $2.8 billion.
Cash flow from operations
- Tax paid is expected to be between $1.1 and $1.4 billion.
Oil Products
Adjusted EBITDA
- Marketing results are expected to be in line with the fourth quarter 2020 but lower compared with the third quarter 2021 due to seasonal trends, the demand impact due to the Omicron virus and foreign exchange impacts in Turkey.
- The indicative refining margin is around $6.55/bbl, compared to $5.7/bbl in the third quarter 2021.
- Refinery utilisation is expected to be between 69% and 73%, in line with the third quarter 2021. However, the realised refining margins are expected to be adversely impacted by the extended turnaround in Scotford and Hurricane Ida recovery efforts in Norco.
- Oil Products Trading and optimisation results are expected to be significantly lower than the third quarter 2021.
- Underlying Opex is expected to be between $3.4 and $3.8 billion.
- Oil Products sales volumes are expected to be between 4.0 and 5.0 million barrels per day.
Adjusted Earnings
- Pre-tax depreciation is expected to be between $800 and $1,000 million.
- Taxation charge is expected to be up to $300 million.
- Refining and Trading Adjusted Earnings are expected to be negative despite higher indicative refining margins.
Cash flow from operations
- Tax paid is expected to be between $250 and $400 million.
- CFFO excluding working capital is expected to be impacted by around $1 billion of outflows due to the timing of payments relating to emission schemes¹ on product sales in Europe and North America.
- Working capital is expected to have outflows of about $1 billion due to annual payments of the German Mineral Oil Tax in the fourth quarter. Working capital is expected to be additionally impacted by movements between the quarter opening and closing price of crude along with changes in inventory volumes.
Chemicals
Adjusted EBITDA
- Chemicals margins as well as associated JV earnings are expected to be significantly lower than the third quarter 2021, primarily due to weaker base chemicals margins.
- Chemical sales volumes are expected to be between 3,300 and 3,600 thousand tonnes.
- Chemicals manufacturing plant utilisation is expected to be between 74% and 78%, lower compared to third quarter 2021 due to Hurricane Ida recovery efforts in US Gulf Coast and extended turnaround in Scotford.
- Underlying Opex is expected to be between $800 and $1,000 million.
Adjusted Earnings
- Pre-tax depreciation is expected to be between $250 and $300 million.
- Taxation charge is expected to be a credit of up to $100 million.
- Consequently Chemicals Adjusted Earnings are expected to be around break-even in the fourth quarter, reflecting the weak base chemicals margins and lower utilisation.
Cash flow from operations
- CFFO is expected to be positively impacted by $50 to $150 million, compared to third quarter 2021, due to timing impact of dividends from Joint Venture and Associates.
- Tax paid is expected to be up to $50 million.
Corporate
- Corporate segment Adjusted Earnings are expected to be a net expense of $900 to $1,000 million for the fourth quarter. This excludes the impact of currency exchange rate effects.
- The fourth quarter corporate segment Adjusted Earnings includes additional charges of around $150 million associated with early redemption of $4.5 billion debt and an expected deferred tax charge of up to $100 million.
¹ Details of previous year emissions schemes available in Note 29 (pages 263-264) of the Shell Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Full-year price and margin sensitivities
The Adjusted Earnings and CFFO price and margin sensitivities are indicative and subject to change. These are in relation to the full-year results and exclude short-term impacts from working capital movements, production seasonality, cost-of-sales adjustments and derivatives. Sensitivity accuracy is subject to trading and optimisation performance, including short-term opportunities, depending on market conditions. These sensitivities are reviewed and updated annually.
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