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Market Snapshot: Where does Canada’s crude oil and natural gas go?

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Release date: 2016-10-11

Canada’s Pipeline Transportation System 2016 provides Canadians with a long-term perspective on the economic functioning of major pipelines regulated by the National Energy Board. The report includes a comprehensive analysis of pipeline utilization, insights into pipeline tolls, and a summary of the financial integrity of pipeline companies regulated by the Board.

Also included in the report are supply and disposition overview maps for Canadian crude oil and natural gas. These maps summarize how oil and gas flow to and from domestic and international markets, and help provide an understanding of the production, transportation, and consumption factors underlying Canada’s energy systems.

Canadian Crude Oil Supply and Disposition Map (2015)

Source and Description Source: NEB - Canada’s Pipeline Transportation System 2016 Description: This map provides an overview of the supply and disposition of Canadian crude oil in 2015. Total Canadian production in 2015 was 621.6 thousand cubic meters per day (m³/d) or 3.91 million barrels per day (MMb/d), of which eastern Canadian production was 28.0 thousand m³/d (0.18 MMb/d) and Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) production was 593.0 thousand m³/d (3.73 MMb/d). Canadian imports totaled 90.1 thousand m³/d (57.1 Mb/d) through the East Coast. Total Canadian consumption was 267.6 thousand m³/d (1.68 MMb/d). The map shows arrows illustrating the destination markets for crude oil from the WCSB and East Coast. All export volumes are represented by arrows and are organized by letter: Arrow A shows exports of 29.0 thousand m³/d (182.4 Mb/d) from the WCSB to the northwestern United States (U.S.) (also known as Petroleum Administration for Defense District or PADD V). Arrow B shows exports of 41.3 thousand m³/d (259.9 Mb/d) from the WCSB to the Rocky Mountain states (PADD IV). Arrow C shows exports of 61.8 thousand m³/d (388.5 Mb/d) from the WCSB to the U.S. Gulf Coast (PADD III). Arrow D shows 0.5 thousand m³/d (2.9 Mb/d) of WCSB crude oil being exported to overseas markets from the U.S. Gulf Coast. Arrow E shows exports of 305.2 thousand m³/d (1 919.5 Mb/d) from the WCSB to the U.S. Midwest (PADD II). Arrow F shows exports of 18.1 thousand m³/d (114.1 Mb/d) from the WCSB to the U.S. Northeast (PADD I).

WCSB production destined for the Canadian West Coast is exported to multiple destinations via oil tankers and is represented by arrows G, H, and I. Arrow G represents 0.4 thousand m³/d (2.4 Mb/d) of oil being shipped off the West Coast to Asian markets. Arrow H shows tanker exports of 0.3 thousand m³/d (1.6 Mb/d) travelling through the Panama Canal and being imported to refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast. Arrow I shows exports of 5.0 thousand m³/d (31.4 Mb/d) being exported from the B.C. Coast to the U.S. West Coast.

Arrows J, K and L represent flows from Canadian East Coast production. Arrow J shows exports of 0.6 thousand m³/d (3.7 Mb/d) delivered via tanker to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Arrow K shows exports of 3.2 thousand m³/d (20.3 Mb/d) delivered to markets in Asia and Europe. Arrow L shows exports of 18.5 thousand m³/d (116.3 Mb/d) going to the U.S. Northeast. Lastly, two small arrows without letters illustrate small volumes of eastern Canadian produced crude oil delivered to markets in Atlantic and eastern Canada.

Canadian Natural Gas Supply and Disposition Map (2015)

Source and Description Source: NEB - Canada’s Pipeline Transportation System 2016 Description: This map provides an overview of the supply and disposition of Canadian natural gas in 2015. Total Canadian production was 424 million m³/d (15 Bcf/d), of which 419 million m³/d (14.8 Bcf/d) was produced in the WCSB and 5.64 million m³/d (0.20 Bcf/d) was produced in the offshore East Coast. Total Canadian consumption was 269 million m³/d (9.5 Bcf/d). Canada also imports 52.79 million m³/d (1.86 Bcf/d) of natural gas into Ontario and eastern Canada and 1.66 million m³/d (0.06 Bcf/d) of liquefied natural gas into New Brunswick. The map shows arrows illustrating the destination markets for natural gas from the WCSB and East Coast. All export volumes are represented by arrows and are organized by letter: Arrow A shows exports at the Huntingdon export point in British Columbia (B.C.) of 22.71 million m³/d (0.8 Bcf/d) going to the Pacific Northwest United States (U.S.). Arrow B shows exports at the Kingsgate export point in B.C. of 53.82 million m³/d (1.90 Bcf/d) going to the California market. Arrow C shows exports at the Monchy, Saskatchewan export point of 39.66 million m³/d (1.40 Bcf/d) destined for the U.S. Midwest. Arrow D shows exports at the Elmore, Saskatchewan export point of 45.32 million m³/d (1.60 Bcf/d) going to the U.S. Midwest market. Arrow E shows exports at the Emerson, Manitoba export point of 34.10 million m³/d (1.20 Bcf/d) going to the U.S. Midwest market. Arrow F shows natural gas from the WCSB going to markets in Ontario and Quebec, and also splitting off to show exports at the Iroquois, Quebec export point of 13.84 million m³ (0.49 Bcf/d) going to the U.S. Northeast.

Arrow G represents offshore Nova Scotia production and shows volumes going to the Maritimes market as well as exports at the St. Stephen, New Brunswick export point of 1.15 million m³/d (0.04 Bcf/d) going to the U.S. Northeast.