Rising production and commodity prices made an early 2000s prediction come true last year by the founders of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. that building Alberta oilsands plants would give the company “a wall of cash.”

Canada

The Calgary-based independent reported solid results in the fourth quarter and for 2021. The producer reports in Canadian dollars (C$1.00-US 80 cents).

The production crown jewel, synthetic crude from oilsands mining and upgrading complexes, grew to an annual average of 448,133 b/d in 2021 from 417,351 b/d in 2020. Lower-grade bitumen increased to 259,284 b/d from 248,971 b/d.

Natural gas production increased year/year average 1.69 Bcf/d in 2021 from 1.47 Bcf/d. Natural gas liquids output by the international production network grew to an annual average of...