RE:The Market Hates CJ This MorningSo... you're not entirely wrong. Given the results from Royal Dutch Shell, Baytex and other companies (who's stocks have not popped with great results) it's not surprising the market is punishing this name for luke warm results.
SECOND QUARTER OVERVIEW
The second quarter of 2021 continued to build on the momentum experienced in the prior quarter with increased oil prices. West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") oil prices averaged over US$66/bbl, a 14% increase over the first quarter average price.
During the second quarter, the Company spent $10.0 million of development capital on the drilling of two injection wells at Midale, Saskatchewan as we continue to develop our EOR CO2 injection program, upgrading our facility and pipeline infrastructure and well recompletion and workover activity. During the second half of 2021, drilling plans include the drilling of six (5.0 net) wells throughout our asset base. The second half drilling program is underway with the second of two (2.0 net) wells currently being drilled in central Alberta and the first of two (1.0 net) wells currently being drilled at Elmworth, Alberta. The remaining two wells will be drilled on our southern Alberta Bantry property, where drilling is expected to begin in early September.
During the second quarter, the Company generated $25.3 million of adjusted funds flow which, after capital and asset retirement spending, allowed Cardinal to decrease our net debt by $12.1 million. The Company continues to execute its debt reduction strategy and has decreased our net debt by over $40 million in the first six months of 2021. In the past twelve months, Cardinal has reduced its net debt by over $60 million, or 23%, to $206.3 million as of June 30, 2021. At current pricing levels, the Company forecasts our net debt to Q4 2021 annualized adjusted funds flow ratio to be below 1.0x.
Second quarter 2021 net operating expenses per boe were comparable with the prior quarter coming in at $21.56/boe. Costs are higher than historical levels as Alberta power prices have significantly increased in the first half of 2021. In the first six months of 2021, Alberta power prices have averaged over $100/MWh as compared to an average price of $46/MWh in 2020. This equated to a second quarter 2021 increase of approximately $2.90/boe in our total Alberta operating costs when comparing to the same period in 2020. The Company has a number of initiatives that it continues to evaluate to reduce our exposure to volatile power prices. Cardinal second quarter net operating expenses were also impacted by its increased workover and reactivation activity in order to bring production back on that was deferred in 2020.
Increased oil prices boosted revenue in the second quarter of 2021; however, the effect on Cardinal's adjusted funds flow was reduced due to realized hedging losses. During the last half of 2020, Cardinal hedged approximately 39% of its second quarter 2021 oil production (6,000 bbl/d) to protect a portion of our 2021 capital program. In the second half of 2021, after taking into account the acquired Venturion production and associated existing hedging contracts, approximately 17% (3,000 bbl/d) of the Company's forecasted oil production is hedged. With the current backwardation of the oil price curve, Cardinal will be selective in our hedging activity. At this time, the Company remains unhedged for 2022.
On July 15, Cardinal closed the acquisition of Venturion which added approximately 2,400 boe/d of production (~83% oil) predominantly focused adjacent to our Wainwright operating area with the issuance of 6.3 million Cardinal common shares and $27.5 million in cash. The cash portion was financed with the issuance of $12.5 million of subordinated second lien notes and $15 million from the Company's existing bank facility. All incremental bank borrowings from this acquisition are expected to be repaid with Cardinal's free cash flow by the fourth quarter of 2021. Cardinal will continue to look for synergistic acquisitions that fit within our operating areas.