Investor interest in Canadian oil producers, primarily in the Alberta oil sands, has picked up, and not only because of expanded export capacity from the Trans Mountain pipeline. Enverus Intelligence Research says the real draw — and a major factor behind oil sands equities outperforming U.S. peers by about 40 per cent since January 2024 […]
The Trans Mountain system continues its decades-long record of zero marine spills even as oil tanker traffic has surged more than 800 per cent since the pipeline’s expansion in May 2024. The number of tankers calling at Trans Mountain’s Westridge Marine Terminal in the Port of Vancouver in one month now rivals the number that […]
For Canada, the path to a stronger economy — and stronger global influence — runs through energy. That’s the view of David Detomasi, a professor at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. Detomasi, author of Profits and Power: Navigating the Politics and Geopolitics of Oil, argues that there is a moral case for […]
A “weird and wonderful” drilling innovation in Alberta is helping producers tap more oil and gas at lower cost and with less environmental impact. With names like fishbone, fan, comb-over and stingray, “multilateral” wells turn a single wellbore from the surface into multiple horizontal legs underground. “They do look spectacular, and they are making quite […]
In Alberta’s oil patch, some companies are going beyond their obligations to clean up inactive wells. Aspenleaf Energy operates in the historic Leduc oil field, where drilling and production peaked in the 1950s. In the last seven years, the privately-held company has spent more than $40 million on abandonment and reclamation, which it reports is […]
Once priced at a steep discount to its lighter, sweeter counterparts, Canadian oil has earned growing admiration—and market share—among new customers in Asia. Canada’s oil exports are primarily “heavy” oil from the Alberta oil sands, compared to oil from more conventional “light” plays like the Permian Basin in the U.S. One way to think of […]
Alberta’s oil sands sector is one of Canada’s most important industries — and also one of its most misunderstood. Here are five common myths, and the facts behind them. Myth: Oil sands emissions are unchecked Reality: Oil sands emissions are strictly regulated and monitored. Producers are making improvements through innovation and efficiency. The sector’s average […]
In what the former Chief of the Fort McKay First Nation calls “a critical step in the right direction,” the Alberta government is moving to accelerate reclamation of more than 1.3 trillion litres of water stored in oil sands tailings ponds. On Sept. 5, the province announced it will expedite setting standards that allow for […]
More than a century after its founding, the former ghost town of Nordegg, Alta. is getting natural gas service, promising lower costs and more reliable energy for homes and businesses. “Natural gas will be a huge game changer, especially for commercial use,” said Clearwater County Reeve Michelle Swanson. The former coal mining town is no […]
The head of the National Coalition of Chiefs (NCC) is calling for the repeal of the oil tanker ban on B.C.’s north coast as Canada seeks “nation-building” projects to strengthen economic independence. With short shipping times to hungry Asian markets, ports like Prince Rupert or Kitimat offer a strong business case – but only if […]