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OUR GREAT MINDS
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As with other oil and gas projects that require a high crude price to break even, some oil sands projects have experienced delays and cancellations over the past 12 months. Although, the production of oil sands in Canada is set to continue its path of growth, with plans for six new oil sands projects and the expansion of 11, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.
The company’s latest report* states that this growth will be supported by the size of the resource, the well-established and developed industry in Alberta, and the relatively secure demand for heavy crude oil in the refining market of the US.
Adrian Lara, GlobalData’s Senior Upstream Analyst, points out: “There is a real opportunity for increasing oil sands refining market share in the US and Gulf of Mexico, as the decline in the production of traditional suppliers of heavy crude such as Mexico and Venezuela leaves complex refineries needing to draw the supply from other reliable sources such as Alberta.”
GlobalData estimates total capital expenditure for key planned oil sands projects to total US$82.8 billion, of which US$40.6 billion is expected to be spent between 2016 and 2025. Key oil sands planned projects are expected to contribute 715,000 barrels of oil per day (bd) of incremental supply by 2023. Among the major operators, Canadian Natural Resources Limited is expected to lead in terms of liquids production mainly due to its Horizon mining project.
Alexandra Pais, GlobalData’s Upstream Analyst, says: “Producers continue to divest and cut costs preparing for what could be the new normal for crude prices. In this context, the most viable projects are the ones that are already producing, and for which a planned phase was already sanctioned or in construction before the oil price decreased immensely.”
Cenovus Energy Inc. will lead in terms of operatorship of planned Canadian oil sands projects. The company is expected to operate five projects – Narrows Lake, Foster Creek Phase G, Foster Creek Phase H, Christina Lake Phase F, and Christina Lake Phase G. In addition, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Husky Energy Inc., Pengrowth Energy Corporation and Suncor Energy Inc., are expected to operate two projects each. GlobalData estimates an average internal rate of return for these expansion projects of about 7%. Of the oil sands projects currently on hold, Kearl Phase 3 with a capacity of 80,000 bd and Kearl Phase 4 Debottleneck with a capacity of 45,000 bd are the two major projects expected to start operation in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Lara comments: “Considering a large portion of the initial capital investment has been made, the ongoing profitability of upcoming oil sands projects depend on operators’ abilities to reduce and contain operating costs. For new projects, if targeted operating costs between $20-25 per barrel can be achieved, the internal rate of return can improve to anywhere from 10% to 15% under the current oil price.”
Pais concludes: “In mid-2016, the West Canadian Select crude price remains below US$35 per barrel. While the breakeven of a new oil sands project without prior investment varies between US$40 and US$60, the breakeven of an expansion phase already in construction such as Foster Creek phase G is around US$25 per barrel. Even with current prices still facing downward pressure, this is a relatively low breakeven that gives expansions an advantage over new projects.”
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Tina Olivero
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