The Financial Post reports in its Friday edition that as North American oil prices remain in the basement -- coming close to a five-year low last week -- analysts say Canada's increased pipeline capacity better positions the country to handle the turmoil. Postmedia's Zac Delaney quotes Rory Johnston at Commodity Context saying, "We have sufficient pipeline capacity such that we have much narrower or lower [discounts] for our crude." It means that Canada ships its oil to market much more economically than it did before and can bear the impact of lower global prices. The oil patch can still make money on a barrel of oil even with diminished prices. Since OPEC started releasing more oil into global markets this year, prices have steadily fallen. North American oil dropped to $55.06 (U.S.) on Tuesday. With the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline in operation, Canadian oil can hit the market much faster and at a fraction of the cost. The savings may come in handy for what could be a bleak new year for oil prices. Jeremy McCrea at BMO Capital Markets said what is coming is either a glut or a "super glut." Either way, the concern remains that there is a lot of supply building in global markets that is putting pressure on prices.