Aug 1 (Reuters) - Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) posted a rise

in second-quarter profit on Thursday, as the Canadian oil and

gas company benefited from higher throughput volumes and an

increase in production.

Brent crude averaged at $85.58 per barrel in the

second quarter, compared with $79.92 a year earlier, buoyed by

an extension of a production cut by OPEC+, forecast of strong

travel demand and interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal

Reserve.

Cenovus said its total upstream production was 800,800

barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in the quarter, up

from 729,300 boepd a year earlier.

Total downstream throughput for the quarter ended June 30

was 622,700 barrels (bbl) per day, compared with 537,800 bbl per

day a year ago.

The Calgary, Alberta-based company's net income rose to C$1

billion ($723.01 million), or 53 Canadian cents per share, in

the April-June quarter, from C$866 million, or 44 Canadian cents

per share, a year earlier.

($1 = 1.3831 Canadian dollars)