The oil sands dig in
Alberta's unconventional output will keep rising - for now. Derek Brower reports
Across the US unconventional oil sector, the steep fall in rig counts suggests that Saudi oil minister Ali Naimi's strategy to force what he calls 'inefficient' producers offline will soon yield fruit.In Canada, the picture is more complex. As in the US, rigs targeting tight oil in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan's section of the Bakken shale are coming off line and companies are scaling back drilling plans - a reaction to the collapsing price of WTI, which as Petroleum Economist went to press was trading just above $43 a barrel and threatening to fall farther. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (Capp) predicts conventional output from the Western Canada Sedimentary b

Also in this section
25 July 2025
KRG, Iraq’s central government and Turkey are all working to get exports flowing from the key port, but complications remain
25 July 2025
Mozambique’s insurgency continues, but the security situation near the LNG site has significantly improved, with TotalEnergies aiming to lift its force majeure within months
25 July 2025
There is a bifurcation in the global oil market as China’s stockpiling contrasts with reduced inventories elsewhere
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats