Insight
Canada's oil sands: infrastructure woes weigh on Q4 2017
*Please note that this report only includes an Excel data file if this is indicated in "What's included" below
Report summary
Project start ups at Fort Hills and Horzion Phase 3 in Q4 2017 means production is accelerating higher into 2018. SAGD project contributions from JACOS Hangingstone and the upcoming KNOC BlackGold also add pressure to an already constrained export system. Infrastructure issues and the wider Canadian price discounts were major stories in Q4 and will continue into 2018. We highlight the project news behind record production levels while also touching on lower operating costs, regulatory changes and Alberta's newest flowing refinery.
Table of contents
- Executive summary
- Benchmark prices and bitumen realisations
- In situ production
- Mining production
- Operating costs
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Other significant events
- Federal government introduces the Canadian Energy Regulator amidst provincialpipeline quarrelling
- Sturgeon refinery flows first diesel
- Alberta stimulating investment in partial upgrading
- Suncor bolsters Fort Hills and Syncrude mining ownership while filing regulatory plans for Lewis SAGD
- Suncor goesdriverless
- MEG disposes of Access
Tables and charts
This report includes the following images and tables:
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Benchmark pricingBenchmark price performanceHistoric WCS prices
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Realised bitumen prices face a wider discount to WTIIn situ projects producing >30,000 b/dIn situ projects producing <30,000 b/dMining project productionMining operating costsIn situ operating costsWestern Canada oil supply - local refinery consumption vs pipeline takeaway capacity
What's included
This report contains:
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