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Released June 13, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Canada estimates total crude oil exports increased year-over-year in 2024, with much of that coming from the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline to British Colombia.
Supported by the vast deposits of the more viscous form of crude oil (dubbed "oil sands") in Alberta, Canada is among the top oil producers in the world. The government reported that exports last year averaged 4.2 million barrels per day (BBL/d), with nearly 80% of that in the form of heavier crude slates.
Much of that oil heads to the U.S., as the nation's refinery sector is largely geared to process heavier oil, rather than the light, sweet oil found in shale basins. Over the four-week period ending June 6, the U.S. Department of Energy reported Canada delivered an average of 3.7 million BBL/d.
Disputes over U.S.-imposed tariffs, however, have upended bilateral relations, prompting Canadian leaders to seek export alternatives outside of North America. Addressing attendees at a Calgary energy forum, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said it's time to unleash the full energy potential of her province.
"The federal government should act now to remove production caps and join us in supporting an oil pipeline to the west coast, increasing access to tidewater and ensuring we can continue to provide Alberta-made energy for our valued partners around the world," she said Wednesday.
Alternatives already are present in the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline to British Columbia. The expansion started operations last year, increasing the capacity on the network from 300,000 BBL/d to 890,000 BBL/d.
"As a result of the Trans Mountain expansion project starting up in May 2024, 75% of the increase in Canadian exports were shipped by marine vessels and 70% of the increase in exports were to non-U.S. international markets," the federal government reported.
Alberta's government, meanwhile, added that it was using US$14.5 million in funding to support a drilling accelerator program that would back new technology, including emissions-abatement strategies.
"Alberta's drilling expertise is second to none," Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said. "The world needs energy and Alberta has the experience, geology, expertise and innovative spirit needed to deliver it."
Tapping into Alberta's oil deposits is costly and highly polluting, though the provincial government has pursued several carbon-capture and storage facilities to address the issue. IIR Energy finds that Shell plc (London, England) is already preparing site work for its Polaris carbon capture, storage and utilization (CCUS) facility at the Scotford industrial complex in Alberta.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can learn more about the Polaris development in a detailed project report.
Apart from the energy conference, Alberta is hosting delegates to the G7 group of advanced economies this weekend, all while coping with wildfires raging across the Canadian Rockies. Early in the annual wildfire season, IIR Energy found that around 344,000 BBL/d in Alberta oil production have been impacted so far.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Supported by the vast deposits of the more viscous form of crude oil (dubbed "oil sands") in Alberta, Canada is among the top oil producers in the world. The government reported that exports last year averaged 4.2 million barrels per day (BBL/d), with nearly 80% of that in the form of heavier crude slates.
Much of that oil heads to the U.S., as the nation's refinery sector is largely geared to process heavier oil, rather than the light, sweet oil found in shale basins. Over the four-week period ending June 6, the U.S. Department of Energy reported Canada delivered an average of 3.7 million BBL/d.
Disputes over U.S.-imposed tariffs, however, have upended bilateral relations, prompting Canadian leaders to seek export alternatives outside of North America. Addressing attendees at a Calgary energy forum, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said it's time to unleash the full energy potential of her province.
"The federal government should act now to remove production caps and join us in supporting an oil pipeline to the west coast, increasing access to tidewater and ensuring we can continue to provide Alberta-made energy for our valued partners around the world," she said Wednesday.
Alternatives already are present in the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline to British Columbia. The expansion started operations last year, increasing the capacity on the network from 300,000 BBL/d to 890,000 BBL/d.
"As a result of the Trans Mountain expansion project starting up in May 2024, 75% of the increase in Canadian exports were shipped by marine vessels and 70% of the increase in exports were to non-U.S. international markets," the federal government reported.
Alberta's government, meanwhile, added that it was using US$14.5 million in funding to support a drilling accelerator program that would back new technology, including emissions-abatement strategies.
"Alberta's drilling expertise is second to none," Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said. "The world needs energy and Alberta has the experience, geology, expertise and innovative spirit needed to deliver it."
Tapping into Alberta's oil deposits is costly and highly polluting, though the provincial government has pursued several carbon-capture and storage facilities to address the issue. IIR Energy finds that Shell plc (London, England) is already preparing site work for its Polaris carbon capture, storage and utilization (CCUS) facility at the Scotford industrial complex in Alberta.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can learn more about the Polaris development in a detailed project report.
Apart from the energy conference, Alberta is hosting delegates to the G7 group of advanced economies this weekend, all while coping with wildfires raging across the Canadian Rockies. Early in the annual wildfire season, IIR Energy found that around 344,000 BBL/d in Alberta oil production have been impacted so far.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
