EnviroStats: Canada's shifting sands: Oil production, distribution and implications, 2005 to 2014
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Released: 2016-07-12
In 2014, crude oil accounted for the largest proportion of primary energy production in Canada for the fifth consecutive year. Crude oil production increased over 50% from 2005 to 207 million cubic metres in 2014.
From 2005 to 2014, crude bitumen and synthetic crude oil accounted for virtually all (97%) of the growth in crude oil production. With the overall growth in production, exports of Canadian crude oil rose 80% from 2005 to 165 million cubic metres in 2014.
Chart 1
Total crude oil production in Canada, 2005 to 2014
The growth in output has altered the ways in which oil is delivered to refineries and export markets. Total net pipeline deliveries of crude oil and pentanes plus increased 58%, or about 117 million cubic metres, from 2005 to 2014.
This increase in pipeline deliveries was attributable to a combination of newly constructed pipeline segments, along with selected line conversions from natural gas to oil, line reversals or changing the direction of flow, and higher pipeline throughput with more powerful pumps.
With an upsurge in production since 2010, the shipping of oil by rail became a viable option. The number of tank cars loaded with fuel oils and crude petroleum shipped by Canadian railways more than tripled from 2005 to 2014, with most of the growth occurring after 2011.
Chart 2
Railway carloadings of fuel oils and crude petroleum, Canada, 2005 to 2014
The study examines two environmental implications arising from the growing volume of oil production and its delivery to markets: a risk of accidents during transport and higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The number of accidents involving crude oil products fell after the 2008 economic downturn, but has increased steadily since then and now exceeds those involving all other dangerous goods. About 70% of accidents involving dangerous goods occurred in facilities rather than in transit.
The increase in production has also had an impact on GHG emissions. By 2014, the oil and gas sector accounted for over one-quarter (26%) of Canada's 732 megatonnes of GHG emissions.
Note to readers
Data in this study are from the environment, energy and transportation statistics programs at Statistics Canada. Other data sources include Transport Canada's Dangerous Goods Accidents Information System, the Transportation Safety Board's pipeline and rail occurrence database systems, and Environment and Climate Change Canada's (2016) National Inventory Report of GHG Sources and Sinks, 1990 to 2014.
One US barrel of oil is equivalent to 0.15891 cubic metres. The 165 million cubic metres of Canadian crude oil exported in 2014 would be equivalent to filling approximately 515 of the world's largest supertankers or so-called very large crude carriers.
Products
The article, "Canada's shifting sands: Oil production, distribution and implications, 2005 to 2014," is now available in EnviroStats, Vol. 10, no. 2 (16-002-X), from the Browse by key resource module of our website, under Publications.
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).
For analytical information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Michael Scrim (613-951-3197; michael.scrim@canada.ca), Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division.
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