O Canada! U.S. Oil Gushes; Refiners Want Canadian

Bentek Energy's annual Benposium is the most data-rich energy conference there is. This year drew an edge-of-their-seats crowd after a year ago, during which the oil world turned on a drillbit.

At the conference, Bentek's senior energy analyst, Chris Micsak, shared with the Fool's Tom Jacobs a wrinkle in the North American crude oil gusher. The oil companies with investments already in the Bakken, Permian Basin, and Eagle Ford -- the world-class plays that keep on giving -- can make money as low as $45 to $50 barrel. That's half of today's prices and serious ka-ching. So the light, sweet crude we're swimming in may be moving the U.S. toward oil independence in that grade within five years.

But it's not the whole story. The catch is that Gulf Coast refiners have retrofitted for where their money is: making diesel and jet fuel from heavy crude. Yes, we get that from Saudi Arabia, but our friends to the north have a lot to offer us and at lower cost. Four stocks are the leaders in Canada's oil sands. Find out what they are by watching the following video.

If you're on the lookout for some currently intriguing energy plays, check out The Motley Fool's "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." For free access to this special report, simply click here now.

The article O Canada! U.S. Oil Gushes; Refiners Want Canadian originally appeared on Fool.com.

Tom Jacobs, Motley Fool Special Ops advisor and co-author of What's Behind the Numbers?, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Statoil and owns shares of Devon Energy. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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