A wildfire in northeastern Alberta prompted two companies to shut down major oil sands projects, halting approximately 10% of Alberta’s oil production. Via the Globe and Mail, Cenovus Energy shut down its 135,000-barrel-per-day Foster Creek oil sands development as the fires cut off road access to the site. Cenovus airlifted all 1,700 workers from the site. It is not known when production can restart, as the fire is not yet under control. Foster Creek is a 50-50 joint venture between Cenovus and ConocoPhillips.
Additionally, Canadian Natural Resources shut down 80,000 barrels per day of production from its Primrose oil sands site and evacuated some staff. The company later shut down an additional 18,000 barrels per day of production at its Kirby South thermal in situ project.
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