Jim Warren: Differential differences: How online oil price publishers come up with vastly different WCS crude prices and why it matters
Over the past few weeks several online publishers of oil prices have been reporting vastly different prices for Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude. The price differences reflect significantly inconsistent values for the differential fees or discounts that reduce the value of WCS relative to the benchmark price of West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI). I’ve been searching for information to explain the price confusion since first noticing it on October 7.
Ep. 47 Did my SUV cause the ice sheets to melt? Dr. Joseph Fournier on climate change on the Pipeline Online Podcast
Dr. Joseph Fournier has a PhD in physical chemistry and has worked in the oilsands. He’s worked in the broad space of energy and environment, and is a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. We delve into something few media talk about – the giant ice sheets that have covered most of Canada 26x over the last 2.6 million years. Was it my gas guzzling SUV, or the two coal-fired power plants six miles from my house that caused all that ice to melt? Perhaps it was something else…
Rawhide Energy Ltd, first startup drilling rig company in Saskatchewan in over a decade
While on an energy tour in mid-October, Pipeline Online told Saskatchewan’s ministers of energy and environment that no one has built and deployed a new drilling rig in Saskatchewan since 2015. It turns out, that is no longer the case. Derrick Big Eagle, founder of Eagle Drilling Services, and Jason Geysen are back in the drilling game, and are about to start up a new drilling company in this province.
The wind is always blowing somewhere, right? Not really
One of the arguments proponents of wide-scale wind power generation is that if it’s not blowing here, it’s blowing somewhere. So if you build enough transmission lines, there should be enough wind power, right? Not really
Cameco excited, but cautious, about power demand from Big Tech
The chief executive of uranium miner Cameco Corp. says the boom in artificial intelligence has the potential to provide an uplift to the nuclear industry, but he says the company isn’t putting too much stock in it being its main growth driver.
- 0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness
- 0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube
- 0121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 20260121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 2026
- 0134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 20260134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 2026
- 0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
Grain, fuel shipments boost CN Rail profits amid more ‘positive’ climate: CEO
Canadian National Railway Co. rode a surge in grain and fuel shipments to higher profits amid Canada’s more “positive” investment milieu, its CEO says.
Imperial Oil CEO optimistic on progress toward firming up Pathways agreement
The chief executive of Imperial Oil Ltd. says he’s encouraged by progress made toward pinning down a final agreement with the federal and Alberta governments to advance the Pathways carbon storage project, which is a condition for the Pacific Link crude pipeline to the West Coast moving ahead.
Saskatchewan making bank when Alberta’s wind output bottoms out, again
Once again low renewable power generation output has resulted in high electricity spot prices in Alberta, which has an unregulated electricity market. The pool price for electricity hit the stratosphere the evening of Oct. 29 just as wind output collapsed to one...
Whitecap plans 141 wells in Saskatchewan in 2027
Whitecap Resources Inc., one of Saskatachewan’s largest oil producers, announced its third quarter results and capital budget for next year on Oct. 28. That budget includes 141 wells expected to be drilled in Saskatchewan in 2027.
Liberals vote to keep B.C. tanker ban in place
The Liberal government voted to keep the B.C. coastal oil tanker ban in place Wednesday, defeating a Conservative bill that would have repealed it.
- 0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness
- 0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube
- 0121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 20260121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 2026
- 0134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 20260134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 2026
- 0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
North American Helium’s new Stewart Valley plant paving the way for liquefaction facility
On building a liquifier to move up the next step on the helium value chain: “I’m saying we are actually going to be building one. We are not making the official announcement today, but stay tuned on that.” – Nick Snyder, CEO, North American Helium
Cameco urges Ottawa’s neutrality as demand for clean energy soars
By Catherine Morrison A major firm is calling for Ottawa to remain impartial as it rolls out its nuclear strategy and the demand for clean energy soars. Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel told a House of Commons committee on Wednesday that Ottawa needs to remain "technology...
Everything energy-related in the Speech from the Throne
REGINA - The first fifth of the 2026 Speech from the Throne focused largely on energy, electricity, resources and industry. It included data centres in a big way. While there’s a lot of talk about the significance of the energy industry, there’s no...
Federal Conservatives propose bill that would end B.C.’s tanker ban
OTTAWA —Conservative members of Parliament are calling on Ottawa to repeal the West Coast oil tanker ban, arguing it's hurting Canada's prosperity. They pushed for the repeal during debate Monday in the House of Commons on a private member's bill...
Tzeporah Berman’s reaction to BC election. It’s a doozey
Tzeporah Berman, Chair and Founder at Fossil Fuel Treaty & Co-founder Stand.earth, had a few things to say about British Columbia’s election of its first Conservative government in a century, and it’s renewed focus on energy and resource development.
- 0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness
- 0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube
- 0121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 20260121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 2026
- 0134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 20260134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 2026
- 0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
One step forward, two steps back for Nova Scotia offshore oil and gas
Nova Scotia’s government in recent years has done a complete turnabout when it comes to oil and gas. From removing the ban on fracking to actively seeking offshore oil and gas exploration, the Conservative government under Premier Tim Houston was actively seeking to make his province a notable hydrocarbon energy producer again.
Saskatchewan’s large and small nuclear: SaskPower Minister Jeremy Harrison on Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 46
On Sept 29, Premier Scott Moe announced Saskatchewan’s large-scale nuclear power ambitions. Here we dig down with Minister of Crown Investments Corp. and Minister Responsible for SaskPower Jeremy Harrison on nuclear power, coal refurbishments, natural gas and more.
Weekend Watch: Peter Zeihan takes on oil price differentials and the Iran War
Intrepid Pipeline Online columnist Jim Warren is currently working on trying to figure out just what the actual price is for Western Canadian Select, because in recent weeks, we’ve found that’s not as simple as you might think. He’s found so far this is a pretty deep rabbit hole, deeper than you might think.
Candu attitude: Carney says Canadian bid for Turkish nuclear plant has ‘good chances’
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday a Canadian company has a real shot at winning a lucrative tender to supply nuclear energy to Turkey — a prospect he said was remote a year ago.
Soaring diesel prices squeeze already tight agriculture margins: Farm Credit Canada
Record-high diesel prices are squeezing already tight margins for farmers, but the affect on products in the grocery aisle has yet to be felt, a report from Farm Credit Canada says.
- 0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness0136 CIC - SK Energy Security Awareness
- 0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube0135 SASPO-2988_Self serve_2026_YouTube
- 0121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 20260121 Ministry of Energy and Resources April 2026
- 0134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 20260134 SASPO-2956_ Safety 2026
- 0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden0133 LC Trucking hiring Class 1A Payden
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
Coal injunction dismissed by Court of Appeal, another defeat for the climate crusading counselor
A unanimous decision by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeals has dismissed the appeal seeking to shut down refurbishment of Saskatchewan’s coal-fired power generation, and, by extension, the mining that supports coal-fired power.
Exploratory licenses take off in October Crown land sale
It is exceptionally rare that more money is spent on exploration license than your run of the mill leases, but that’s exactly what happened in the Oct. 6. Crown land sale.
Jim Warren: China’s solar energy myth: Environmentalists and journalists aren’t telling the whole story
When debating with emissions cutting environmental zealots, fans of fossil fuels frequently use China as a bad example to compare against Canadian emissions. Canada’s 1.5 percent share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pales in comparison with the CO2 belched from China’s huge fleet of coal-fired electrical power plants.
Coal injunction appeal decision expected Oct. 19. Here’s how it went in court
The fate of Saskatchewan’s coal-fired power generation industry, including two mines and three power plants, comes down to one word: “justiciability.”
Hitachi announces $479M plan to build transformer insulation factory in London, Ont.
Hitachi Energy and the federal and Ontario governments have announced a $479-million plan to build a new transformer insulation factory to help meet skyrocketing demand from data centres, green energy and industrial development.