Alberta

Authored by Nick Cunningham via OilPrice.com,

Oil from Canada’s oil sands is now selling at a $27-per-barrel discount relative to WTI, the sharpest difference in more than four years.

Western Canada Select (WCS), a benchmark for oil from Alberta’s oil sands, has plunged in December, falling to just $30 per barrel at the end of this past week. WCS typically trades at a discount to WTI, reflecting the differences in quality from lighter forms of oil, as well as the extra transportation costs to move oil hundreds of miles out of Alberta.

Authored by Stuart Parnell via OilPrice.com,

Every once in a while, I will realize that I have spent way too much time talking about oil, complaining about pipelines, Permania, free money and the impending “End of Big Oil because of Electric Vehicles”. And it’s on those days that my attention turns to oil and coal’s neglected stepsister who we know as natural gas. And in the spirit of American Thanksgiving, I would like to say that I, for one, am thankful for natural gas, the current turkey of the energy sector.

Earlier today, Canada's Globe and Mail released the following helicopter flyover showing the extent of Fort McMurray destruction in the heart of Canada's oilsands region, in the aftermath of the massive wildfire which continues to spread in Canada's Alberta province and until earlier today was threatening to enter neighboring Saskatchewan province.

Russia has offered to send fire-fighting aircraft to assist Canada in dealing with the Alberta wildfire. Communications Adviser for Public Safety Canada, spokesperson Mylene Croteau, told domestic Russian-language news agency RIA Novosti on Friday, that Ottawa will review Moscow’s offer in due course. Sputnik reports: “We can confirm that we have received a letter from the Russian Federation offering their assistance,” Croteau said.

The entire population of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Canada, were forced to flee a raging wildfire engulfing their city. Dash-cam captures the experience of one driver having to flee with 80,000 other residents as the fire moved from the outskirts into populated neighborhoods on Tuesday. The Mirror reports: The haunting video shows trees engulfed in flame, creating a towering wall of fire as the vehicles carefully edge forward seeking safety.