Canadian Natural Resources Limited announces that first steam injection was achieved on September 16, 2013 at its 100% owned and operated Kirby South steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project. The Kirby South project was completed on budget, with a forecast addition of production at approximately $30,000 per flowing barrel, and ahead of the originally targeted steam-in date of November 2013.

Kirby South is targeted to grow to approximately 40,000 bbl/d of production by the end of 2014 and is the first step in a staged expansion plan for the greater Kirby area, targeted to increase Kirby area production over time to approximately 140,000 bbl/d. Canadian Natural's current overall thermal in situ development plan targets to increase facility capacity from current levels of approximately 170,000 bbl/d to approximately 510,000 bbl/d in staged increments over the next 15 years.

Tags: Canadian Natural Resources Ltd