CN-served rail rack part of Gibson Energy, Statoil infrastructure pact in Canada

Gibson Energy Inc. on Monday announced it signed a long-term contract with Statoil Canada Ltd. to build infrastructure at a crude oil terminal in Edmonton, Alberta.

Subject to pipeline connection agreements, Gibson Energy plans to construct a new rail loading rack that would be served by CN, pipeline and connection infrastructure to multiple major pipelines in the Edmonton area, and a crude oil storage tank.

To be completed in first-half 2015, the new infrastructure would provide Statoil multiple delivery options for its produced crude to points across North America, Gibson Energy officials said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Statoil on July 1 assumed all operations for its crude activities in the eastern part of the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas.

In 2010, Statoil entered the Eagle Ford via a 50/50 joint venture with Talisman Energy USA Inc. Talisman initially acted as operator for jointly owned acreage, but the two companies last year agreed that Statoil, through a phased transition, would assume responsibility for operations in the eastern half. Talisman will continue to manage all western acreage.

Statoil already has assumed operations of three drilling rigs in the Eagle Ford. The company has been active in U.S. shale plays since 2008, and continues to maintain operations in the Bakken and Marcellus shales.