Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE: CNQ) reported Q2 EPS of $1.04, versus $0.49 reported last year.

Canadian Natural's President, Tim McKay, added, "In the second quarter of 2018, operations were strong and cost control remained a focus, specifically at our Oil Sands Mining and Upgrading assets, where costs continue to come down. Operating costs of $22.94/bbl (US$17.77/bbl) of Synthetic Crude Oil ("SCO") were impressive given the successfully completed turnaround and pit stop activities in the quarter.

Canadian Natural's ability to effectively allocate capital was demonstrated in the quarter as we have made strategic and proactive decisions to take advantage of our large, balanced and diverse asset base due to changing market conditions. Our asset base is a key competitive advantage providing significant capital flexibility and as a result, to maximize value, we are shifting capital from primary heavy crude oil to light crude oil.

At Kirby North, top tier execution and strong productivity have resulted in accelerating the projects time line, bringing forward targeted first oil of the project's 40,000 bbl/d, by three months into Q4/19, one quarter earlier than originally planned.

At Horizon, the Company has identified opportunities to increase reliability, lower costs and add production growth of between 75,000 bbl/d and 95,000 bbl/d in the near and long term. The near term opportunities are targeted to add production growth of 35,000 bbl/d to 45,000 bbl/d of SCO. High grading of these near term opportunities and further defining of substantial long term growth opportunities is ongoing and is targeted to be completed by the end of the year. Additionally, early results from engineering and design specification work at the potential Paraffinic Froth Treatment expansion has indicated that the optimal production range for the expansion has increased by 10,000 bbl/d and is now targeted to add 40,000 bbl/d to 50,000 bbl/d. All of the these identified production growth opportunities at Horizon are over and above the previously disclosed annual corporate growth target of approximately 4% or 45,000 BOE/d of organic production over the next few years. These Horizon opportunities will be executed in a disciplined and step wise manner which preserves Canadian Natural's capital flexibility."

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