Canada oil output to rise 9 pct in 2007: regulator

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) – Canadian oil production will grow 9 percent this year, the country’s national energy regulator said on Thursday, due to growing output from the Alberta oil sands and offshore oil projects.

In its 2007 production estimate, posted on its Web site, the National Energy Board said Canadian oil output should climb to about 2.89 million barrels a day, 9.1 percent more than the 2.61 million barrel a day average in 2006.

The board said the biggest gains are expected in the production of synthetic and heavy oils from the oil sands of Northern Alberta.

Synthetic crude output from oil sands upgraders owned by Suncor Energy Inc., Shell Canada Ltd. and others should rise to more than 716,000 barrels a day this year from about 646,500.

Reuters