Syncrude Canada and Shell Canada have cut May deliveries to customers after wildfires in northern Alberta took oil sands production offline, according to traders.
Syncrude during the week ending 6 May shut 350,000 b/d of production at its Aurora and Mildred Lake facilities. Syncrude produced 297,887 b/d of synthetic crude oil (SCO) in January, the most recent month for which Alberta Energy Regulator data are available.
Shell began restarting production at reduced rates on 9 May at its Albian Sands mining operation, which supplies the company's 255,000 b/d Scotford upgrader, after shutting production on 3 May. The Scotford upgrader produced 276,514 b/d of SCO in January.
Syncrude climbed today to a premium of $1/bl to June CMA Nymex WTI from a premium of 65¢/bl yesterday. The grade's premium reached $2.50/bl on 6 May.
Canadian light synthetic grades are between 31.0-37.9° API and 0.06-0.20pc sulphur.
Husky Energy's 170,000 b/d refinery in Lima, Ohio, took 49,975 b/d of Canadian crude above 32° API and below 0.20pc sulphur during the twelve months through February.
PBF's 170,000 b/d refinery in Toledo, Ohio, took 47,282 b/d. The facility remains dependent on Syncrude, chief executive Tom Nimbley said during the company's first quarter earnings call on 28 April.
BP's 157,000 b/d refinery in Toledo took 16,685 b/d. BP operates the refinery in a joint venture with Husky.
BP's 410,000 b/d refinery in Whiting, Indiana, took 11,419 b/d.
