Production

• There are 173 billion bbls of proven oil reserves in Canada.
• The oil sands hold 167 billion bbls .
• Canadian crude oil production is expected to increase to 6.4 million bpd to 2030.
• Oil sands production is expected to increase to 4.8 million bpd by 2030.
• The bitumen upgrading is not likely to increase with production due to economic challenges.
• There are currently five bitumen upgraders in Alberta.

graphic courtesy: Colombia Reports

Refining

• Last year, Canadian refineries processed 905 000 bpd of crude oil from Western Canada.
• Canadian refineries have a total crude oil processing capacity of 1.9 million bpd.

Exports

• Canada is the top foreign supplier of crude oil to the US.
• Oil producing regions in Western Canada have limited access to global crude oil markets.
• Asia and Europe are showing interest in Canadian crude oil.
• It was reported that in May 2014, the first shipment of oil sands crude was sent to Spain for processing in Spanish refineries.

Transportation

• Pipelines are the main mode of transportation for crude oil in Canada.
• There are currently four major pipelines.
• Rail is increasingly becoming a popular choice for crude oil transportation.
• By 2016, CAPP forecast that approximately 700 000 bpd of crude oil could be transported to markets by rail.

(source: Energy Global & Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers)