* June Syn trades at $1.25/bbl over WTI
* June WCS trades at $12.30/bbl under WTI
NEW YORK, May 10 (Reuters) - Canadian crude prices slipped
on Tuesday as oil companies moved towards restarting output and
assessing damage as the raging wildfire in northern Alberta
shifted direction away from key production facilities.
Numerous producers and pipeline companies took production
offline last week due to the fire, shutting in about 1 million
barrels a day as a precautionary measure. In the last day,
however, Shell Canada RDSA.L said it had restarted production,
albeit at a reduced rate, while many other energy companies
remain off line.
Repair crews on Tuesday assessed wildfire damage to Fort
McMurray after an initial inspection by officials showed the
Canadian energy boomtown was spared the worst, while nearby oil
sands companies looked to resume production.
The fires continued to burn on Monday, but cooler weather
helped firefighters battle the blaze.
Western Canadian Select (WCS) heavy blend crude for June
delivery SHRWCSMc2 slipped on Tuesday, trading at $12.30 a
barrel under the U.S. crude benchmark, according to Shorcan
Energy Brokers. It settled at $11.60 on Monday. Prices are still
somewhat elevated from prior to the fire, when WCS settled at
$13.55/bbl below crude.
Light synthetic crude from the oil sands for June
SHRSYNMc2 traded at $1.25 to West Texas Intermediate crude
CLc1 , down from $1.75 on Monday.
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TAKE A LOOK-Repair crews assess damage to wildfire-hit Canadian
energy boomtown
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