OTTAWA, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Warmer temperatures and the opening of natural gas pipeline in the United States led to a modest decline in Canadian natural gas exports, data indicate.
The Canadian Natural Energy Board announced natural gas exports declined by slightly more than 7 percent from July to August to around 8.3 billion cubic feet per day.
Market sources were reported by the Platts news service as saying the decline was in part related to weather conditions and to the opening in July of the Ruby natural gas pipeline.
The Ruby pipeline stretches 678 miles from southwestern Wyoming to markets in Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington. The pipeline has a designed capacity of 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Canada is one of the primary exporters of natural resources to the United States. The U.S. Energy Information Administration ranks Canada 29th in terms of proven natural gas reserves.
The NEB this week backed an export license for the Kitimat liquefied natural gas project slated for western Canada.
Kitimat LNG President Janine McArdle said the project was a "remarkable opportunity" to gain access to Asian energy markets.
The project could produce the equivalent of 700 million cubic feet per day. A Front End Engineering and Design study is expected to be complete early next year.
