XOM and Imperial Oil decide to divest Calgary-based non-core assets and restructure to stay competitive in a shifting regional and global energy market:
1- Calgary Quarry Park HQ: Sold to Brookfield, monetizing underutilized space. This mirrors Imperial’s real move to donate its former research centre and labs to SAIT, reinforcing a Calgary real estate pullback.
2- Corporate functions: Relocated to Edmonton, aligning headquarters with upstream operations.
3- Employee impact: Calgary staff offered relocation to operational or refinery sites, redeployment packages, or voluntary exits.
4- Cold Lake & Kearl: Continue to run as profitable oil sands assets, with upgrader units ensuring bitumen flows meet refinery specs. Over time, Imperial phases in project-level JVs with partners like Suncor and Cenovus on select expansions — sharing cost, technology, and risk without ceding full control.
5- Logistics & infrastructure (Midstream segment): Throughput and tariff agreements renegotiated with Enbridge and TC Energy, leveraging planned Mainline expansions and ~$2.5B Enbridge system upgrades. Rail partnerships with CN and CPKC improve flexibility to U.S. Gulf and Midwest markets.
6- Downstream operations:
Strathcona refinery (Edmonton) remains a central hub, now with renewable diesel capacity.
Sarnia refinery & chemical complex anchors the eastern market.
Nanticoke refinery complements Sarnia, strengthening Imperial’s Ontario downstream footprint.
Staff relocations tied into these downstream assets keep talent aligned with refining/chemical demand centers.