Q: Canadian pipelines have suffered along with most of the market during this correction. My understanding is that they are protected by take or pay contracts with the producers. In other words you either take the capacity you agreed to or pay for it. The obvious concern here is that the producers opt to do neither, not having the money and facing bankruptcy. My first question is whether this is even true to any extent. Secondly, what would the response of the pipelines likely be? Do they ultimately become owners of non-producing oilfields?
Secondly my understanding is that shipping by pipeline is cheaper than shipping by rail. Given this scenario the remaining product should shift over time from the rail lines to the pipelines, keeping the pipelines full. The loser becomes the rail lines. Do you consider this to be true?
Secondly my understanding is that shipping by pipeline is cheaper than shipping by rail. Given this scenario the remaining product should shift over time from the rail lines to the pipelines, keeping the pipelines full. The loser becomes the rail lines. Do you consider this to be true?