Canada’s oil and gas sector is entering 2026 with steady production growth but a much bigger strategic shift underway: export infrastructure, LNG approvals, and corridor readiness are becoming the real growth drivers.
Drilling activity is expected to rise modestly, while major progress is anticipated on LNG exports, northwest coast pipelines, and Alberta-led investment initiatives. Together, these developments point to a transition from pure supply growth toward market access and scale.
Rather than a drilling boom, 2026 is shaping up as a year where connectivity determines value.
Why It Matters
● Growth without a drilling surge
Rig counts and wells are forecast to increase only slightly in 2026, reinforcing that near-term growth depends more on infrastructure and exports than aggressive upstream expansion.
● LNG capacity moving closer to reality
Projects like LNG Canada, Kitimat LNG, Ridley LNG, and Pacific Northwest LNG are central to Canada’s plan to expand export capacity beyond current levels.
● Northwest Coast corridors gain national priority
New pipeline proposals and accelerated permitting timelines signal a stronger federal–provincial alignment on export routes to Asia.
● Western Canada positioned for long-term scale
Montney, Duvernay, and Horn River remain the core supply engines, supported by an increasingly integrated transmission network.
What the Map Shows
The Rextag Energy DataLink map visualizes how Canada’s gas growth story comes together geographically:
● Shale plays and basins
Montney, Duvernay, and Horn River shown within the Alberta Basin and Alberta Thrust Belt, highlighting the primary gas supply regions.
● Natural gas transmission backbone
NGTL, TC Energy, Alliance Pipeline, Coastal GasLink, and Pacific Northern illustrate how Western Canadian gas moves toward domestic demand and export corridors.
● LNG export terminals
LNG Canada, Kitimat LNG (Chevron and Shell), Ridley LNG, and Pacific Northwest LNG anchor the northwest coast as the focal point for future exports.
● Integrated supply-to-export corridors
The map connects upstream production, transmission networks, and LNG terminals into a single system driving Canada’s 2026 outlook.
A Deeper Dive with DataLink
Using Rextag Energy DataLink, users can:
● Map Western Canada’s gas supply basins alongside transmission and LNG infrastructure
● Analyze how Montney and Duvernay production ties into export-ready corridors
● Track proposed and operating LNG terminals on the northwest coast
● Compare Canada’s infrastructure-led growth model with U.S. shale dynamics
● Visualize how policy, pipelines, and LNG shape future market access
