Pricey business
Cost inflation has replaced market access as the biggest worry for operations in Canada's oil sands
In rail cars, through new and expanded pipelines, and even aboard Mississippi river barges, Alberta's bitumen is crossing the continent. With or without Keystone XL (KXL), Canadian oil sands producers are finding new markets.Buyers beyond North America, long the prize for the developments' land-locked producers, are in sight too. Progress on two pipelines to the Pacific Coast remains slow. But soon Alberta's oil should at least begin flowing east, to Canada's maritime provinces. Supplies to that region will force out West African imports and then some: much of this Canadian oil will be shipped onwards, ending up in the Gulf of Mexico. Other barrels may reach southern Europe or India. Execut
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