The government of Alberta eased crude oil production curtailments for August on Thursday, setting the limit at 3.74 million barrels per day, compared with 3.71 million bpd in July.
Alberta introduced mandatory curtailments effective Jan. 1 this year to tackle pipeline congestion that left crude stranded in storage tanks in the province and widened the discount on Canadian oil versus U.S. crude to record levels. The Alberta government said letters have been sent to the 29 producers subject to the production limits. The first 10,000 bpd produced by any of Alberta's more than 300 oil companies are exempt from curtailments. "The province is easing the oil production limit for August due to the private sector growing its crude-by-rail capacity, declining inventory levels and improved efficiencies in export pipelines," the statement said. Curtailments have eased gradually since they were first introduced and are intended to last only until the end of 2019, although Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said this month they may have to be extended into 2020. Canada holds the world's third-largest crude reserves, the vast majority of which are in northern Alberta's oil sands. A delay in building new export pipelines because of environmental opposition and regulatory hurdles has slowed development of the energy sector.View more info on the Alberta government’s site here.