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Western Canadian oil prices holding their own as production cuts kick in

Jan 3, 2019 | 8:24 AM

CALGARY – Crude oil prices in Western Canada remain elevated as Alberta’s government-mandated oil production curtailments come into force.

Calgary oil brokerage Net Energy says the difference between Western Canadian Select bitumen-blend heavy oil and New York-traded West Texas Intermediate oil prices was about US$12.50 per barrel on Wednesday afternoon.

That is an improvement over the US$17.52 per barrel average for spot contracts signed last month for January delivery.

The WCS-WTI discount peaked at more than US$52 a barrel in October but recovered to traditional norms or better after Premier Rachel Notley announced Dec. 2 that the province would impose curtailments of 325,000 barrels per day as of Jan. 1 on larger producers to relieve a glut of oil in Western Canada and free up export pipeline space.

Tom McMillan, a spokesman for oilsands producer Pengrowth Energy, says his company is complying with curtailments it was asked to make after using unspecified “options” provided by the government to reduce the impact.

He says better prices are helping Pengrowth and the province has been “responsive” in addressing his firm’s concerns but he still hopes the cutbacks end as soon as possible.

CEO Andrew Phillips of PrairieSky Royalty, says the recovery in price has had a “huge impact” on his firm’s bottom line and negative impacts have been negligible.

(The Canadian Press)