Ovintiv faces test of staying power
The Canadian firm has rebranded and joined the US shale revolution. But the oil price crisis is raising doubts about whether recent acquisitions will be economically viable
Reinventing Canadian energy company Encana as Ovintiv has been a long battle for survival, CEO Doug Suttles tells Petroleum Economist. Encana became primarily a natural gas producer in November 2009, when it spun off its upstream oil and refining assets into a new company called Cenovus Energy, just as the US shale gas revolution was gaining momentum. Since taking over the formerly Calgary-based company in June 2013, Suttles has rebalanced its production portfolio primarily through a series of acquisitions and asset sales, streamlined company operations and re-domiciled its headquarters to Denver, Colorado under its new name to gain access to greater pools of capital in the US. “Ovinti
Also in this section
29 April 2026
The UAE’s exit from the alliance marks a decisive step towards a world in which oil markets are shaped less by collective management and more by national strategy
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
