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Filed pursuant to General Instruction II.L of Form F-10
File No. 333-191876

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED NOVEMBER 12, 2014

P R E L I M I N A R Y    P R O S P E C T U S    S U P P L E M E N T

To Prospectus dated November 1, 2013

US$

LOGO

CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED
US$                        % Notes due
US$                        % Notes due



          The            % Notes due                                     (the "                        Notes") and the            % Notes due                                     (the "                        Notes"), collectively referred to in this prospectus supplement as the "notes", will bear interest at the rate of            % per year and            % per year, respectively. Interest on the                        Notes is payable on                                    and                                     of each year, beginning on                                    , 2015 and interest on the                        Notes is payable on                                    and                                     of each year, beginning on                                    , 2015. The                        Notes and the                        Notes will mature on                                    and                                     , respectively. We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time. The redemption prices are discussed under the caption "Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption". We may also redeem all of the notes, of either series, at any time if certain changes affecting Canadian withholding taxes occur.

          We are permitted, under the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States and Canada, to prepare this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting practices, and they are subject to Canadian and United States auditing and auditor independence standards. As a result, they may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies.

          Certain data on oil and gas reserves included in this prospectus supplement and incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus has been prepared in accordance with Canadian disclosure standards, which are not comparable in all respects to United States disclosure standards.

          Owning the notes may subject you to tax consequences both in the United States and in Canada. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion under the captions "Certain Income Tax Information", "Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations" and "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations".

          Your ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because we are incorporated in Alberta, some of our officers and directors and some of the experts named in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are Canadian residents, and most of our assets and all or most of the assets of our officers and directors and the experts are located outside the United States.

          Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or provincial securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

          We will not apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or to include the notes in any automated quotation system. Accordingly, there is no market through which the notes may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell notes purchased under this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. This may affect the pricing of the notes in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the notes, and the extent of issuer regulation.

          Each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and RBS Securities Inc. is an affiliate of a lender to us (the "Lenders") and to which we may be materially indebted and Canadian Natural may be considered to be a connected issuer to each of the underwriters. A portion of the net proceeds of the offering of notes may be used initially to reduce our indebtedness to the Lenders. See "Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)".

          Investing in the notes involves risks. See "Risk Factors" in this prospectus supplement on page S-10 and in the accompanying prospectus beginning on page 24.

 
  Public Offering
Price
  Underwriting
Commission
  Proceeds to
Canadian Natural
 

Per                        Note

      %     %     %

Total

  US$     US$     US$    

Per                        Note

      %     %     %

Total

  US$     US$     US$    

          Interest on the notes will accrue from November            , 2014.

          We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about November            , 2014 through The Depository Trust Company and its direct and indirect participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking S.A.



Joint Book-Running Managers

  Citigroup   Barclays   J.P. Morgan   MUFG   RBS

          The date of this prospectus supplement is November            , 2014.


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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION IN
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS

        This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the notes being offered. The second part, the base shelf prospectus, dated November 1, 2013, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to the notes being offered. The accompanying base shelf prospectus is referred to as the "prospectus" in this prospectus supplement.

        If the description of the notes varies between this prospectus supplement and the prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

        This prospectus supplement is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the prospectus solely for the purposes of the offering of the notes offered hereby. Other documents are also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into the prospectus. See "Documents Incorporated by Reference" in this prospectus supplement and "Where You Can Find More Information" in the prospectus.

        We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you any information or represent anything about us that is not contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus. If given or made, any such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus, as well as information in any document incorporated by reference that we previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and with the Alberta Securities Commission, is accurate only as of the respective dates of the applicable documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

        In this prospectus supplement, all capitalized terms and acronyms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings provided in the prospectus. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus supplement, the prospectus and any document incorporated by reference to "Canadian Natural", "we", "us", and "our" mean Canadian Natural Resources Limited and its subsidiaries, partnerships and, where applicable, interests in other entities. In the section entitled "Description of the Notes" in this prospectus supplement, "Canadian Natural", "we", "us" and "our" refers only to Canadian Natural Resources Limited, without its subsidiaries or interests in partnerships and other entities.

        This prospectus supplement contains disclosure respecting oil and gas production expressed as "cubic feet of natural gas equivalent" and "barrels of oil equivalent" or "BOE". All equivalency volumes have been derived using the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil. Equivalency measures may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil is based on an energy equivalence conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In comparing the value ratio using current crude oil prices relative to natural gas prices, the six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil conversion ratio may be misleading as an indication of value.

        The securities regulatory authorities in Canada have adopted National Instrument 51-101—Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"), which imposes oil and gas disclosure standards for Canadian public issuers engaged in oil and gas activities. NI 51-101 permits oil and gas issuers, in their filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, to disclose not only proved, probable and possible reserves but also resources, and to disclose reserves and production on a gross basis before deducting royalties.

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        We disclose reserves in accordance with Canadian securities law requirements and the disclosure of proved and probable reserves in the prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus is in accordance with NI 51-101. The SEC definitions of proved and probable reserves are different from the definitions contained in NI 51-101; therefore, proved and probable reserves disclosed in the prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the prospectus in compliance with NI 51-101 may not be comparable to United States standards. The SEC requires United States oil and gas reporting companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves after the deduction of royalties and production due others but permits the optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves.

        In addition, as permitted by NI 51-101, we have determined and disclosed the net present value of future net revenue from our reserves in our NI 51-101 compliant reserves disclosure using forecast prices and costs. The SEC requires that reserves and related future net revenue be estimated based on historical 12-month average prices and current costs, but permits the optional disclosure of revenue estimates based on different price and cost criteria.

        For additional information regarding the presentation of our reserves and other oil and gas information, see the section entitled "Form 51-101F1 Statement of Reserves Data and Other Information" in our Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in the prospectus.


PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        In this prospectus supplement, the prospectus and any document incorporated by reference, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars, and all financial information is determined using Canadian generally accepted accounting principles which are in effect from time to time, referred to as "Canadian GAAP" (which, since January 1, 2011, have been consistent with IFRS (as defined below)). "U.S. GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles which are in effect from time to time in the United States.

        Our audited comparative financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 together with the independent auditor's report thereon, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"). As the SEC has adopted rules to accept financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB without reconciliation to U.S. GAAP from foreign private issuers such as Canadian Natural, we will not be providing a description of the principal differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page  

Prospectus Supplement

 

Important Notice About Information in this Prospectus Supplement and the Accompanying Prospectus

   
S-2
 

Presentation of Financial Information

    S-3  

Exchange Rate Data

    S-5  

Forward-Looking Statements

    S-5  

The Offering

    S-8  

Risk Factors

    S-10  

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

    S-10  

Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Information

    S-10  

Use of Proceeds

    S-14  

Consolidated Capitalization

    S-14  

Pro Forma Interest Coverage

    S-16  

Description of the Notes

    S-17  

Certain Income Tax Information

    S-22  

Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations

    S-22  

Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

    S-23  

Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)

    S-26  

Legal Matters

    S-30  

Experts

    S-30  

Enforceability of Judgments

    S-30  

Documents Incorporated by Reference

    S-31  

 

 
  Page  

Prospectus

 

About This Prospectus

   
2
 

Definitions

    3  

Where You Can Find More Information

    3  

Forward-Looking Statements

    5  

Canadian Natural Resources Limited

    7  

Use of Proceeds

    7  

Interest Coverage

    7  

Description of Debt Securities

    8  

Certain Income Tax Considerations

    24  

Risk Factors

    24  

Plan of Distribution

    25  

Enforcement of Judgments Against Foreign Persons or Companies

    26  

Legal Matters

    26  

Experts

    26  

Documents Filed as Part of the Registration Statement

    27  

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EXCHANGE RATE DATA

        We publish our consolidated financial statements in Canadian dollars. Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts contained herein are expressed in Canadian dollars, and references to "dollars," "Cdn$" or "$" are to Canadian dollars and references to "US$" are to United States dollars.

        The following table sets forth certain exchange rates based on those published on the website of the Bank of Canada as being in effect at approximately noon on each trading day (the "Bank of Canada noon rate"). The exchange rates indicated are for the last day of the period as well as the high, low and average rates for each trading day during the relevant period. These rates are set forth as United States dollars per Cdn$1.00.

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  Period Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2014   2013   2013   2012   2011  

High

    0.9422     1.0164     1.0164     1.0299     1.0583  

Low

    0.8888     0.9455     0.9348     0.9599     0.9430  

Average

    0.9139     0.9770     0.9710     1.0004     1.0111  

Period End

    0.8922     0.9723     0.9402     1.0051     0.9833  

        On November 10, 2014, the inverse of the Bank of Canada noon rate was US$0.8814 equals Cdn$1.00.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This prospectus supplement and the prospectus contain or incorporate by reference "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "target", "continue", "could", "intend", "may", "potential", "predict", "should", "will", "objective", "project", "forecast", "goal", "guidance", "outlook", "effort", "seeks", "schedule", "proposed" or expressions of a similar nature suggesting future outcome or statements regarding an outlook. Disclosure related to expected future commodity pricing, forecast or anticipated production volumes, royalties, operating costs, capital expenditures, income tax expenses and other guidance provided throughout this prospectus supplement, the prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference constitute forward-looking statements. Disclosure of plans relating to and expected results of existing and future developments, including but not limited to the Horizon Oil Sands operations and future expansions, Primrose thermal projects, Pelican Lake water and polymer flood project, the Kirby Thermal Oil Sands Project, the construction and future operations of the North West Redwater bitumen upgrader and refinery and construction by third parties of new or expansion of existing pipeline capacity or other means of transportation of bitumen, crude oil, natural gas or synthetic crude oil upon which we may be reliant to transport our products to market also constitute forward-looking statements. This forward-looking information is based on annual budgets and multi-year forecasts, and is reviewed and revised throughout the year as necessary in the context of targeted financial ratios, project returns, product pricing expectations and balance in project risk and time horizons. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as there can be no assurances that the plans, initiatives or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

        In addition, statements relating to "reserves" are deemed to be forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment based on certain estimates and assumptions that the reserves described can be profitably produced in the future. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved and proved plus probable crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids ("NGLs") reserves and in projecting future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. The

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total amount or timing of actual future production may vary significantly from reserve and production estimates.

        The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about us and the industry in which we operate, which speak only as of the date such statements were made or as of the date of the report or document in which they are contained, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: general economic and business conditions which will, among other things, impact demand for and market prices of our products; volatility of and assumptions regarding crude oil and natural gas prices; fluctuations in currency and interest rates; assumptions on which our current guidance is based; economic conditions in the countries and regions in which we conduct business; political uncertainty, including actions of or against terrorists, insurgent groups or other conflict including conflict between states; industry capacity; our ability to implement our business strategy, including exploration and development activities; impact of competition; our defense of lawsuits; availability and cost of seismic, drilling and other equipment; our ability to complete capital programs; our ability to secure adequate transportation for our products; unexpected disruptions or delays in the resumption of the mining, extracting or upgrading of our bitumen products; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; our ability to attract the necessary labour required to build our thermal and oil sands mining projects; operating hazards and other difficulties inherent in the exploration for and production and sale of crude oil and natural gas and in mining, extracting or upgrading bitumen products; availability and cost of financing; our success of exploration and development activities and ability to replace and expand crude oil and natural gas reserves; timing and success of integrating the business and operations of acquired companies; production levels; imprecision of reserve estimates and estimates of recoverable quantities of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs not currently classified as proved; actions by governmental authorities; government regulations and the expenditures required to comply with them (especially safety and environmental laws and regulations and the impact of climate change initiatives on capital and operating costs); asset retirement obligations; the adequacy of our provision for taxes; and other circumstances affecting revenues and expenses.

        Our operations have been, and in the future may be, affected by political developments and by federal, provincial and local laws and regulations such as restrictions on production, changes in taxes, royalties and other amounts payable to governments or governmental agencies, price or gathering rate controls and environmental protection regulations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are dependent upon other factors, and our course of action would depend upon our assessment of the future considering all information then available.

        We caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available to us on the date such forward-looking statements are made, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

        Additional factors are described in our Management's Discussion and Analysis incorporated by reference in our Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2014, which is filed with the securities

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commissions or similar authorities in the provinces of Canada and incorporated by reference in the prospectus. You should also carefully consider the matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in the prospectus.

        Except as required under applicable securities laws, we assume no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or the foregoing factors affecting this information.

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THE OFFERING

        A brief description of the material terms of the offering follows. For a more complete description of the notes offered hereby, see "Description of the Notes" in this prospectus supplement and "Description of Debt Securities" in the prospectus.


Issuer

 

Canadian Natural Resources Limited.

Notes Offered

 

US$                        aggregate principal amount of            % Notes due                         (the "                         Notes") and US$                        aggregate principal amount of            % Notes due                         (the "                         Notes" and, together with the                         Notes, the "notes").

Maturity Dates

 

The                         Notes will mature on                        ,             and the                         Notes will mature on                        ,             .

Interest Rates and Payment Dates

 

Interest on the                         Notes will accrue at the rate of            % per year, payable semi-annually on                        and                         of each year, commencing                        , 2015.

 

 

Interest on the                         Notes will accrue at the rate of            % per year, payable semi-annually on                        and                         of each year, commencing                        , 2015.

Optional Redemption

 

We may redeem the                         Notes and, prior to                        , we may redeem the                         Notes, in each case, in whole or in part, at our option at any time by paying a "make-whole" premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. On or after                        ,              , we may redeem the                         Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the                         Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

 

 

See "Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption."

Ranking

 

The notes will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank pari passu with all of our other unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing indebtedness and future liabilities of any of our corporate or partnership subsidiaries, including trade payables and other indebtedness.

Certain Covenants

 

The notes will be issued under a trust indenture dated July 24, 2001 originally made between us and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York (the "Initial Trustee"), as amended by a first supplemental indenture dated October 28, 2011 entered into between us and the Initial Trustee, and as amended by a second supplemental indenture dated as of August 30, 2013 among us, the Initial Trustee and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor trustee (the trust indenture dated July 24, 2001 as amended by the first supplemental indenture and the second supplemental indenture, the "Indenture"). The Indenture, among other things, restricts our and our subsidiaries' ability to incur liens and our ability to sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies.

 

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    These covenants are subject to a number of important qualifications and limitations. For more details, see "Description of Debt Securities" beginning on page 8 of the prospectus.

Additional Amounts

 

All payments with respect to the notes will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any Canadian taxes unless required by law or by the interpretation or administration thereof. If we are required to withhold or deduct for Canadian taxes, we will pay any additional amounts as may be necessary so that the net amount received by the holders after such withholding or deduction will not be less than the amount that would have been received in the absence of such withholding or deduction. See "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Amounts" in the prospectus.

Use of Proceeds

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay borrowings under our credit facilities. See "Use of Proceeds."

Conflicts of Interest

 

Affiliates of the underwriters are lenders under our credit facilities. Because net proceeds from the offering of the notes will be used to repay indebtedness under our credit facilities, we expect that more than five percent of the net proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, will be directed to one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates, which would be considered a conflict of interest under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") Rule 5121. As such, this offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. In accordance with that rule, no "qualified independent underwriter" is required, because the notes are investment grade rated. To comply with FINRA Rule 5121, no underwriter will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the accountholder.

Form and Denomination

 

The notes will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations of US$2,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof.

Governing Law

 

The notes and the Indenture will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

No Public Trading Market

 

We do not intend to list the notes on any national securities exchange or to arrange for quotation on any automated dealer quotation systems. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop for the notes.

Risk Factors

 

See "Risk Factors" in this prospectus supplement on page S-10 and in the prospectus beginning on page 24 for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes.

 

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RISK FACTORS

        You should consider carefully the risk factors described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus including those described in the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page 24 of the prospectus and those described in our Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 and our management's discussion and analysis incorporated by reference in such Annual Report.


CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED

        We are a Canadian-based senior, independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, marketing and sale of crude oil, natural gas liquids, natural gas and bitumen. Our core regions of operations are in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea and Offshore Africa. Our head and principal office is located at 2100, 855 – 2 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4J8, Canada.


SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

        The following information should be read in conjunction with our audited annual comparative consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2013, our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2013, our unaudited comparative consolidated financial statements as at and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014, incorporated by reference in the prospectus and this prospectus supplement.

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

        The following table sets out certain of our consolidated financial and operating information as at and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and as at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. The selected consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 has been derived from our annual comparative consolidated financial statements, which statements have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants. The selected consolidated financial information for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 has been derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

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        Unless otherwise noted, our consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian dollars and are prepared in accordance with IFRS. See "Presentation of Financial Information".

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(unaudited)
  Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2014   2013   2013   2012  
 
  (millions of Canadian dollars)
 

Statement of Earnings Items

                         

Product Sales (before royalties)

    16,451     13,615     17,945     16,195  

Net earnings

    2,731     1,857     2,270     1,892  

Balance Sheet Items (at period end)

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Total assets

    59,016     51,426     51,754     48,980  

Working capital deficit(1)

    915     969     1,574     1,264  

Current portion of long-term debt

    1,914     514     1,444     798  

Long-term debt

    11,771     8,879     8,217     7,938  

Shareholders' equity

    27,934     25,552     25,772     24,283  

(1)
Calculated as current assets less current liabilities, excluding the current portion of long-term debt.

Selected Operational Information

        The following table sets out certain operating information regarding our production for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(unaudited)
  Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2014   2013   2013   2012  

Production (before royalties)

                         

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids (Mbbl/d)

                         

North America—Exploration and Production

    384     347     344     326  

North America—Oil Sands Mining and Upgrading(1)

    105     96     100     86  

North Sea

    16     18     18     20  

Offshore Africa

    12     17     16     19  
                   

Total

    517     478     478     451  
                   
                   

Natural Gas (MMcf/d)

                         

North America

    1,468     1,118     1,130     1,198  

North Sea

    7     3     4     2  

Offshore Africa

    22     24     24     20  
                   

Total

    1,497     1,145     1,158     1,220  
                   
                   

(1)
Canadian Natural commenced production of diesel for internal use at Horizon. Third quarter 2014 synthetic crude oil ("SCO") production before royalties excludes 875 bbl/d of SCO consumed internally as diesel.

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        The following table sets out certain information regarding our proved reserves as at December 31, 2013.


Summary of Company Gross Proved Reserves by Product(1)
As of December 31, 2013
Forecast Prices and Costs

 
  Light and
Medium
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Primary
Heavy
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Pelican Lake
Heavy
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Bitumen
(Thermal Oil)
(MMbbl)
  Synthetic
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Natural Gas
(Bcf)
  Natural Gas
Liquids
(MMbbl)
  Barrels of Oil
Equivalent
(MMBOE)
 

North America

                                                 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    95     123     216     321     1,848     2,773     63     3,128  

Developed Non-Producing

    4     23     1     90         251     4     164  

Undeveloped

    18     98     41     746     363     1,136     43     1,498  
                                   

Total Proved

    117     244     258     1,157     2,211     4,160     110     4,790  
                                   
                                   

North Sea

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    38                             8           39  

Developed Non-Producing

    18                             63           28  

Undeveloped

    168                             20           172  
                                   

Total Proved

    224                             91           239  
                                   
                                   

Offshore Africa

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    34                             40           41  

Developed Non-Producing

                                           

Undeveloped

    65                             14           67  
                                   

Total Proved

    99                             54           108  
                                   
                                   

Total Company

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    167     123     216     321     1,848     2,821     63     3,208  

Developed Non-Producing

    22     23     1     90         314     4     192  

Undeveloped

    251     98     41     746     363     1,170     43     1,737  
                                   

Total Proved

    440     244     258     1,157     2,211     4,305     110     5,137  
                                   
                                   

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Summary of Company Net Proved Reserves by Product(1)
As of December 31, 2013
Forecast Prices and Costs

 
  Light and
Medium
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Primary
Heavy
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Pelican Lake
Heavy
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Bitumen
(Thermal Oil)
(MMbbl)
  Synthetic
Crude Oil
(MMbbl)
  Natural Gas
(Bcf)
  Natural Gas
Liquids
(MMbbl)
  Barrels of Oil
Equivalent
(MMBOE)
 

North America

                                                 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    82     101     164     244     1,564     2,485     45     2,614  

Developed Non-Producing

    3     19     1     65         211     2     125  

Undeveloped

    15     82     32     574     263     988     34     1,165  
                                   

Total Proved

    100     202     197     883     1,827     3,684     81     3,904  
                                   
                                   

North Sea

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    38                             8           39  

Developed Non-Producing

    18                             63           28  

Undeveloped

    168                             20           172  
                                   

Total Proved

    224                             91           239  
                                   
                                   

Offshore Africa

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    29                             27           34  

Developed Non-Producing

                                           

Undeveloped

    51                             11           53  
                                   

Total Proved

    80                             38           87  
                                   
                                   

Total Company

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Proved

                                                 

Developed Producing

    149     101     164     244     1,564     2,520     45     2,687  

Developed Non-Producing

    21     19     1     65         274     2     153  

Undeveloped

    234     82     32     574     263     1,019     34     1,390  
                                   

Total Proved

    404     202     197     883     1,827     3,813     81     4,230  
                                   
                                   

(1)
Definitions of the above categories of reserves are set out in our "Statement of Reserves Data and Other Information" contained within our Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2014 for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in the prospectus.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately US$                        , after deducting the underwriting commissions, and estimated expenses of the offering of approximately US$                        . The net proceeds received by us from the sale of the notes will be used to repay borrowings under our credit facilities. The net proceeds that are not utilized immediately will be invested in short-term marketable securities.


CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION

        The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization as at September 30, 2014 on an actual basis and on an adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance and sale of the notes and the application of the net proceeds to be received from the offering as described above in "Use of Proceeds".

        You should read this table together with our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, which are incorporated by reference herein. All US$ amounts have been converted to Canadian dollars using the exchange rate at September 30, 2014 of US$0.8922 equals Cdn$1.00.

 
  September 30, 2014 (unaudited)  
 
  Actual   As Adjusted  
 
  (millions of
Canadian dollars)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 16   $    
           
           

Long term debt (including current portion):

             

Credit facilities

  $ 2,784   $    

US dollar commercial paper

    560        

Medium term notes:

             

4.95% unsecured debentures due June 1, 2015

    400     400  

3.05% unsecured debentures due June 19, 2019

    500     500  

2.60% unsecured debentures due December 3, 2019

    500     500  

2.89% unsecured debentures due August 14, 2020

    500     500  

3.55% unsecured debentures due June 3, 2024

    500     500  

Senior unsecured notes:

             

1.45% notes due November 14, 2014

    561     561  

4.90% notes due December 1, 2014

    392     392  

LIBOR + 0.375% floating rate notes due March 30, 2016

    561     561  

6.00% notes due August 15, 2016

    280     280  

5.70% notes due May 15, 2017

    1,233     1,233  

5.90% notes due February 1, 2018

    448     448  

3.45% notes due November 15, 2021

    561     561  

3.80% notes due April 15, 2024

    561     561  

7.20% notes due January 15, 2032

    448     448  

6.45% notes due June 30, 2033

    392     392  

5.85% notes due February 1, 2035

    392     392  

6.50% notes due February 15, 2037

    504     504  

6.25% notes due March 15, 2038

    1,233     1,233  

6.75% notes due February 1, 2039

    448     448  

Less: original issue discount, transaction costs and change in fair value

    (73 )      

            Notes offered hereby

           

            Notes offered hereby

           
           

Total long-term debt

    13,685        
           

Shareholders' equity:

             

Share Capital:

             

Common shares, no par value: unlimited shares authorized:

             

1,091.806 million shares issued and outstanding(1)

    4,388     4,388  

Retained earnings

    23,499     23,499  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    47     47  
           

Total shareholders' equity

    27,934     27,934  
           

Total capitalization

  $ 41,619   $    
           
           

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(1)
Share amount outstanding is at September 30, 2014 and does not include 15.1 million shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options as of September 30, 2014. We also have an unlimited number of Preferred Shares authorized, issuable in one or more series, with our directors authorized to fix, before the issue thereof, the number of shares in each series and to determine the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Preferred Shares of each series. There are no Preferred Shares issued and outstanding.

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PRO FORMA INTEREST COVERAGE

        The following pro forma coverage ratios have been prepared in accordance with Canadian securities law requirements and are included in this prospectus supplement in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements.

        The following pro forma coverage ratios for the twelve month periods ended September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 have been calculated based on information contained within our financial statements for the related periods. The following pro forma ratios have been calculated to give effect to the issue of the notes pursuant to this prospectus supplement, and the application of the estimated net proceeds to repay debt as discussed under "Use of Proceeds" as if repayments had occurred at the beginning of the respective periods. The pro forma interest coverage ratios set forth below do not purport to be indicative of the actual interest coverage ratios that would have occurred if each of the foregoing events had actually occurred on the foregoing dates, nor to be indicative of interest coverage ratios for any future periods.

 
  September 30, 2014   December 31, 2013  
 
  (unaudited)
  (unaudited)
 

Interest coverage(1)

             

(1)
Interest coverage is equal to net earnings plus income taxes and interest expense, excluding current and deferred United Kingdom Petroleum Revenue Tax expense and other taxes; divided by the sum of interest expense and capitalized interest.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

        The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements, and to the extent inconsistent with, replaces, the description of the debt securities set forth under "Description of Debt Securities" in the prospectus and should be read in conjunction with that description.

        The notes will be issued under a trust indenture dated July 24, 2001 originally made between us and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York (the "Initial Trustee"), as amended by a first supplemental indenture dated October 28, 2011 entered into between us and the Initial Trustee, and as amended by a second supplemental indenture dated as of August 30, 2013 among us, the Initial Trustee and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor trustee (the trust indenture dated July 24, 2001 as amended by the first supplemental indenture and the second supplemental indenture, the "Indenture"). The following summary of certain provisions of the Indenture and the notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual provisions of the Indenture. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

General

        The notes will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank pari passu with all of our other unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing indebtedness and future liabilities of any of our corporate or partnership subsidiaries, including trade payables and other indebtedness. For a discussion of the ranking of the notes and the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, see "Description of Debt Securities—Ranking and Other Indebtedness" in the prospectus.

        Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made in United States dollars. The notes will not be entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund. The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of US$2,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof.

        The                        Notes will initially be issued in an aggregate principal amount of US$                                    and will mature on                                    ,                         . The                        Notes will bear interest at the rate of                        % per year from                                    , 2014, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, payable semi-annually on                                     and                                     of each year, commencing                                    , 2015, to the persons in whose names the                        Notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding                                     or                                     , respectively.

        The                        Notes will initially be issued in an aggregate principal amount of US$                                    and will mature on                                    ,                         . The                        Notes will bear interest at the rate of                        % per year from                                    , 2014, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, payable semi-annually on                                     and                                     of each year, commencing                                    , 2015, to the persons in whose names the                        Notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding                                     or                                     , respectively.

        Interest payments for the notes will include accrued interest from and including the date of issue or from and including the last date in respect of which interest has been paid, as the case may be, to, but excluding, the date of the interest payment (the "Interest Payment Date") or the date of maturity, as the case may be. If any Interest Payment Date or the maturity date of the notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined in the Indenture), the related payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the maturity date, as the case may be. Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

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        We may from time to time without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the notes, create and issue additional                        Notes or                        Notes under the Indenture. Such additional                        Notes and                        Notes will have the same terms as the                        Notes or the                        Notes, as the case may be, offered hereby in all respects (or in all respects except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional                        Notes or                        Notes or except for the first payments of interest following the issue date of the additional                        Notes or                        Notes) so that the additional                        Notes or                        Notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the                        Notes or the                        Notes, as the case may be. In the event that additional                        Notes or                        Notes are issued, we will prepare a new prospectus supplement.

        We may redeem the notes prior to maturity as described below under "Description of The Notes—Optional Redemption".

        The provisions of the Indenture relating to the payment of Additional Amounts in respect of Canadian withholding taxes in certain circumstances (described under the caption "Description of Debt Securities—Additional Amounts" in the prospectus) and the provisions of the Indenture relating to the redemption of notes in the event of specified changes in Canadian withholding tax law on or after the date of this prospectus supplement (described under the caption "Description of Debt Securities—Tax Redemption" in the prospectus) will apply to the notes.

        The notes will be subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance as described in the prospectus under the heading "Description of Debt Securities—Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance."

Optional Redemption

        We may redeem the                        Notes, in whole or in part, at our option at any time or from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the                        Notes, or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of any portion of the payments of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Treasury Yield plus                         basis points, in each case, together with accrued interest to the date of redemption.

        Prior to                                    ,                         (the "            Notes Early Call Date"), we may redeem the                        Notes, in whole or in part, at our option at any time or from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the                        Notes, or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the                        Notes being redeemed that would be due if such                        Notes matured on the            Notes Early Call Date but for the redemption (exclusive of any portion of the payments of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Treasury Yield plus                        basis points, in each case, together with accrued interest to the date of redemption.

        On or after                                    ,                         , we may redeem the                        Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the                         Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

        Holders of notes to be redeemed will receive notice of redemption by first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption.

        Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, on or after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes of the applicable series or the portions of such notes called for redemption.

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        "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed (assuming, for this purpose, that the            Notes matured on the            Notes Early Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes.

        "Comparable Treasury Price" means (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.

        "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers selected by the Trustee after consultation with us or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing in the United States appointed by the Trustee after consultation with us.

        "Reference Treasury Dealer" means (A) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and RBS Securities Inc., or their respective successors; provided, however, that if any shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in The City of New York (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), we will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with us.

        "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and ask prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

        "Treasury Yield" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that redemption date.

Book-Entry System

        The Depository Trust Company (the "Depository") will act as securities depository for the notes. The notes will be represented by one or more registered global notes (collectively, the "Registered Global Securities") registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the Depository's partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of the Depository. The provisions set forth under "Description of Debt Securities—Registered Global Securities" in the prospectus will be applicable to the notes. Accordingly, beneficial interests in the notes will be shown on, and transfers of the notes will be effected, only through, records maintained by the Depository and its Direct and Indirect Participants (defined below). Except as described under "Description of Debt Securities—Registered Global Securities" in the prospectus, owners of beneficial interests in the Registered Global Securities representing the notes will not be entitled to receive notes in definitive form and will not be considered Holders of notes under the Indenture.

        The following is based on information furnished by the Depository:

        The Depository is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Depository holds securities that its participants ("Direct

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Participants") deposit with the Depository. The Depository also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include: both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, including depositories for Euroclear and Clearstream.

        The Depository is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation ("DTCC"). DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and Members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, Government Securities Clearing Corporation, MBS Clearing Corporation and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NYSE Amex LLC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Access to the Depository's system is also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to the Depository and Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the SEC. All interests in the Registered Global Securities, including those held through the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") or Clearstream Banking, S.A. ("Clearstream"), may be subject to the procedures and requirements of the Depository. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems.

        Purchases of notes under the Depository's system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for such notes on the Depository's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of notes represented by the Registered Global Securities ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from the Depository of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Registered Global Securities representing the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the Registered Global Securities representing the notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued or upon the occurrence of certain other events described in the prospectus.

        To facilitate subsequent transfers, the Registered Global Securities, representing the notes that are deposited by Direct Participants with the Depository, are registered in the name of the Depository's partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of the Depository. The deposit of the Registered Global Securities with the Depository and its registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee does not effect any change in beneficial ownership. The Depository has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Registered Global Securities representing the notes; the Depository's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct or Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

        Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depository to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

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        Neither the Depository nor Cede & Co. (nor any other Depository nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the Registered Global Securities representing the notes. Under its usual procedures, the Depository mails an omnibus proxy (an "Omnibus Proxy") to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

        Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the Registered Global Securities representing the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of the Depository. The Depository's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts upon the Depository's receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the Trustee on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on the Depository's records, upon the Depository's receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the Trustee on the payment date. Payments by Direct and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such Direct and Indirect Participants and not of the Depository, the Trustee, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of the Depository) is our responsibility or the responsibility of the Trustee. Disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of the Depository, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of the Direct and Indirect Participants. Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the disbursements of payments in respect of ownership interests in the notes by the Depository or the Direct or Indirect Participants or for maintaining or reviewing any records of the Depository or the Direct or Indirect Participants relating to ownership interests in the notes or the disbursement of payments in respect of the notes.

        The Depository may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the Trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, notes in definitive form are required to be printed and delivered to each Holder.

        We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through the Depository (or a successor securities depository). In that event, notes in definitive form will be printed and delivered.

        The information in this section concerning the Depository and the Depository's system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but is subject to any changes to the arrangements between us and the Depository and any changes to these procedures that may be instituted unilaterally by the Depository.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

        Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between the Depository Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the Depository rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using Depository 's Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and the Euroclear System, as applicable.

        Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through the Depository on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through the Depository in accordance with the Depository rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depository. However, such cross-market

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transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in the Depository, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to the Depository. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

        Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream or the Euroclear System as a result of a transaction with a the Depository Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the Depository settlement date. The credits or any transactions in the notes settled during the processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant on that business day. Cash received in Clearstream or the Euroclear System as a result of sales of the notes by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a the Depository Participant will be received with value on the Depository settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or the Euroclear System cash account only as of the business day following settlement in the Depository.

        Although the Depository, Clearstream and the Euroclear System have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of the Depository, Clearstream and the Euroclear System, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time.


CERTAIN INCOME TAX INFORMATION

        The following summary is of a general nature only and is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any prospective investor and no representation with respect to the tax consequences to any particular investor is made. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult with their own tax advisors for advice with respect to the income tax consequences to them of purchasing, holding or disposing of the notes having regard to their own particular circumstances, including any consequences of an investment in the notes arising under state, provincial or local tax laws in the United States or Canada or tax laws of jurisdictions outside the United States or Canada.


CERTAIN CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        In the opinion of Parlee McLaws LLP, our Canadian counsel, the following is, as of the date hereof, a fair and adequate summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax consequences generally applicable to a purchaser who acquires notes, as beneficial owner, and who, at all relevant times, for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and any applicable income tax treaty or convention (i) is neither a resident of Canada nor deemed to be a resident of Canada; (ii) deals at arm's length with Canadian Natural, any successor to Canadian Natural, and with any transferees resident or deemed to be resident in Canada to whom the purchaser disposes of notes; (iii) does not use or hold, and is not deemed to use or hold, notes in connection with a trade or business carried on, or deemed to be carried on, in Canada, (iv) is not a "specified shareholder" (as defined in the Tax Act for purposes of the thin capitalization rules in subsection 18(4) of the Tax Act) of Canadian Natural or a person that does not deal at arm's length with a specified shareholder of Canadian Natural, and (v) is not an insurer carrying on an insurance business in Canada and elsewhere. This summary assumes that no amount paid or payable as, or on account or in lieu of interest, will be in respect of a debt or other obligation to pay an amount to a person who does not deal at arm's length with Canadian Natural for purposes of the Tax Act.

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        This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act and the regulations thereunder, counsel's understanding of the current published administrative practices of the Canada Revenue Agency (the "CRA"), and all specific proposals ("Proposals") to amend the Tax Act and the regulations announced by the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof. This summary does not otherwise take into account or anticipate changes in the law or in the administrative practices of the CRA, whether by judicial, governmental or legislative decision or action, nor does it take into account tax legislation or considerations of any province or territory of Canada or any jurisdiction outside Canada. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax consequences and no assurance can be given that any Proposals to amend the Tax Act and the regulations will be enacted as proposed or at all.

        Under the Tax Act, interest, premium, if any, or principal on the notes paid or credited, or deemed to be paid or credited by Canadian Natural to a purchaser will be exempt from Canadian non-resident withholding tax. There are no other Canadian federal taxes on income or capital gains payable under the Tax Act by a purchaser in respect of the acquisition, holding, redemption or disposition of the notes, or the receipt of interest, premium, if any, or principal thereon solely as a consequence of the acquisition, holding, redemption or disposition of the notes.


CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes by a U.S. Holder, as defined below, that acquires the notes in this initial offering at the price set forth on the cover page. This discussion is not a complete analysis or description of all of the possible tax consequences of such transactions and does not address all tax considerations that might be relevant to particular holders in light of their particular circumstances or to persons that are subject to special tax rules. In particular, the information set forth below deals only with holders that will hold the notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). In addition, this discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences does not address the tax treatment of special classes of holders, such as banks, financial institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, partnerships or other pass-through entities (or investors in such entities), tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, persons holding the notes as part of a hedging, integrated or conversion transaction, constructive sale or "straddle," U.S. expatriates, persons having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, and dealers or traders in securities or currencies.

        This summary does not address U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax consequences or tax consequences under any state, local or foreign laws.

        The following discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, U.S. judicial decisions and administrative pronouncements. All of the preceding authorities are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, which may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. We have not requested, and will not request, a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") with respect to any of the U.S. federal income tax consequences described below. As a result, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court considering these issues will not disagree with or challenge any of the conclusions we have reached and describe herein.

        For purposes of this discussion, a "U.S. Holder" is a beneficial owner of notes that is (1) an individual who is a citizen or a resident alien of the United States as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (2) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (4) a trust (A) if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary

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supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

        If a partnership or other pass-through entity holds the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in or owner of the partnership or pass-through entity will generally depend upon the status of the partner or owner and the activities of the entity. If you are a partner in or owner of a partnership or other pass-through entity that is considering holding notes, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of notes.

        The following discussion is for general information only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any holder or prospective holder of notes, and no opinion or representation with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any such holder or prospective holder is given.

        We urge holders to consult their own tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal, state and local tax laws, as well as any applicable foreign tax laws, to their particular situation.

Payments of Interest

        Each payment of interest paid on the notes will be taxable as ordinary income at the time it accrues or is received, in accordance with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Interest paid on the notes will be income from sources outside the United States for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to a U.S. Holder. Interest income on a note generally will be considered either "passive category income" or "general category income" for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex, and you should consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the credit under your particular circumstances.

Original Issue Discount

        A note with a term that exceeds one year will be treated as issued with original issue discount ("OID") if the "stated redemption price at maturity" of the note exceeds its "issue price" by at least the de minimis amount of 1/4 of 1 percent of the "stated redemption price at maturity" multiplied by the number of complete years from the issue date of the note to its maturity. A note's "issue price" generally is the first price at which a substantial amount of notes included in the issue of which the note is a part is sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers. The "stated redemption price at maturity" of a note is the total of all payments provided by the note that are not payments of "qualified stated interest." Generally, an interest payment on a note is "qualified stated interest" if it is one of a series of stated interest payments on a note that are unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate.

        It is not expected that the notes will be issued with OID. If, however, the stated redemption price of a note exceeds its issue price by at least the de minimis amount, you will be required to treat such excess amount as OID, which is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as accruing on a constant yield basis over the term of the note as interest income to you. Your adjusted tax basis in a note would be increased by the amount of any OID included in your gross income. In compliance with Treasury regulations, if we determine that the notes have OID, we will provide certain information to the IRS and/or you that is relevant to determining the amount of OID in each accrual period.

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Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Notes

        Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a note, you will generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received (other than any amount received that is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest not previously included in income, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income) and (ii) your adjusted tax basis in the note at the time of sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition. Your adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be the amount that you paid for the note.

        Any capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of the note, the U.S. Holder has held the note for more than one year. Long-term capital gain of non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders, is generally taxed at reduced rates. The gain or loss will generally be treated as U.S. source gain or loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Additional Tax on Investment Income

        Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts, and whose income exceeds certain thresholds, generally will be required to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on all or a portion of their "net investment income", which includes, among other things, interest income and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of notes, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on your ownership and disposition of the notes.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

        In general, information reporting requirements apply to certain payments to U.S. Holders of principal of, and interest on, a note, and the receipt of proceeds on the sale or other disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of a note before maturity, in each case when made within the United States or through certain U.S. intermediaries. In addition, such payments will be subject to backup withholding if a U.S. Holder fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number, fails to certify that such number is correct, fails to certify that such U.S. Holder is not subject to backup withholding, or otherwise fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

        U.S. Holders, including corporations, are generally not subject to backup withholding and information reporting requirements provided their exemption from backup withholding and information reporting are properly established. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the application of backup withholding, the availability of an exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if available.

        Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals that hold certain specified foreign financial assets, which may include the notes, are required to report information relating to such assets, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for notes held in accounts maintained by domestic financial institutions). You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding your reporting requirements.

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

        We intend to offer the notes through underwriters. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and RBS Securities Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters named below.

        Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement between us and the underwriters, each underwriter named below has agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amounts of notes set forth opposite the underwriter's name.

Underwriters
  Principal Amount
of          Notes
  Principal Amount
of          Notes
 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.    US$     US$    
Barclays Capital Inc.               
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC              
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.               
RBS Securities Inc.               
               
               
               
               
               
               
           

Total

  US$     US$    
           
           

        The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the notes of any series if they purchase any of the notes.

        The underwriters propose to offer some of the notes of each series directly to the public at the applicable public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and some of the notes of each series to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed            % and            % of the principal amount of the                         Notes and the                        Notes, respectively. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may re-allow, a concession not to exceed            % and            % of the principal amount of the                        Notes and the                        Notes, respectively, on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the representatives may change the public offering price, concessions and other selling terms. The underwriters may offer to sell the Notes through certain of their affiliates.

        The following table shows the underwriting commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the applicable series of notes).

 
  Paid by Canadian Natural  

Per            Note

        %  

Per            Note

        %  

        In connection with this offering, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and RBS Securities Inc., on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves

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syndicate sales of the notes in excess of the principal amounts of the notes to be purchased by the underwriters in this offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of the notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the notes while the offering is in progress.

        The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and RBS Securities Inc., in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

        Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. They may also cause the prices of the notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

        We have agreed not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any debt securities, or enter into any related transaction, until the closing of this offering; provided that we may offer and sell Canadian dollar denominated debt securities outside of the United States pursuant to an "MTN program" under National Instrument 44-102 of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

        We estimate that our total expenses for this offering will be US$                        (not including the underwriting commissions).

        Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

        In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short position in such securities and instruments.

        Each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. and RBS Securities Inc., is an affiliate of a bank that is currently a lender to us (such affiliates, the "Lenders"), and Canadian Natural may be considered to be a connected issuer to each of the Lenders. We were indebted to the Lenders for approximately $494.2 million as of September 30, 2014 under various credit facilities, representing approximately 3.61% of our total indebtedness as of that date. At the date hereof these credit facilities are unsecured. We are in compliance with the terms of such credit facilities and the Lenders have not waived any

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material breach of the agreements governing such credit facilities since their execution on June 15, 2012, May 29, 2013 and March 28, 2014. Our financial position has not changed materially since the indebtedness under the credit facilities was incurred. As a consequence of the sale of the notes, each of the underwriters referred to above will receive a commission on the sale of the notes. Although the net proceeds of this offering will be used to repay borrowings under our credit facilities, none of the proceeds of this offering will be applied to permanently reduce such facilities. None of the banks affiliated with the underwriters referred to above were involved in the decision to offer the notes or in the determination of the terms of the distribution of the notes.

        We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

        The notes will not be qualified for sale under the securities laws of Canada or any province or territory of Canada (other than the Province of Alberta) and may not be, directly or indirectly, offered, sold or delivered in Canada or to residents of Canada in contravention of the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada. Each underwriter has agreed that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or deliver any notes purchased by it in Canada or to residents of Canada in contravention of the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada.

Conflicts of Interest

        Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our credit facilities. Because net proceeds from the offering of the notes will be used to repay indebtedness under our credit facilities, we expect that more than five percent of the net proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, will be directed to one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates, which would be considered a conflict of interest under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") Rule 5121. As such, this offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121. In accordance with that rule, no "qualified independent underwriter" is required, because the notes are investment grade rated. To comply with FINRA Rule 5121, no underwriter will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the accountholder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

        In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State"), each underwriter has represented and agreed that, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the "Relevant Implementation Date"), it has not made and will not make an offer of the notes to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

        (a)   any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

        (b)   to fewer than 100, or if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or

        (c)   in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of the notes above shall require us or the underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

        Each person who receives any communication in respect of the notes or is a purchaser of the notes located within a Relevant Member State will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

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        For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of notes to the public" in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or to subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC and amendments thereto including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State, and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State and the expression "2010 PD Amending Directive" means Directive 2010/73/FU.

        We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of the notes through any financial intermediary on our behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the notes as contemplated in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, no purchaser of the notes, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the notes on our behalf or on behalf of the underwriters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

        This prospectus supplement is for distribution only to, and is only directed at (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order"), (ii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated falling within Article 49(1) of the Financial Promotion Order or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This prospectus supplement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by anyone who is not a relevant person. Any investments or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

        Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

        (a)   it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (the "FSMA")) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of such notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and

        (b)   it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for us by Parlee McLaws LLP, Calgary, Alberta, concerning matters of Canadian law, and by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, New York, concerning matters of U.S. law. The underwriters will be represented with respect to certain U.S. legal matters by Shearman & Sterling LLP, Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York.

        Based on information provided to us, the partners and associates of Parlee McLaws LLP as a group beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than one percent of our outstanding securities and none of our securities or our property are to be received by such persons.


EXPERTS

        Our consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report dated March 5, 2014 of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is independent in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct as outlined by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and the rules of the SEC.

        Sproule Associates Limited, Sproule International Limited and GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., independent qualified reserves evaluators, have evaluated our reserves in reports dated March 5, 2014 with an effective date of December 31, 2013 and a preparation date of February 3, 2014, as more particularly described in our Annual Information Form incorporated by reference herein. The statements as to our reserves, which appear in or are incorporated by reference herein, have been so included or incorporated by reference upon the authority, as experts, of Sproule Associates Limited, Sproule International Limited and GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., to the extent described herein or in the documents incorporated by reference herein.

        Based on information provided by the relevant persons or companies, there are beneficial interests, direct or indirect, in less than one percent of our securities or property or securities or property of our associates or affiliates held by Sproule Associates Limited, Sproule International Limited or GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. or by "designated professionals", being any partners, employees or consultants of such independent consultants who participated in and who were in a position to directly influence the preparation of the relevant report, or any such person who, at the time of the preparation of the report was in a position to directly influence the outcome of the preparation of the report.


ENFORCEABILITY OF JUDGMENTS

        Since a significant portion of our assets, as well as the assets of a number of our directors and officers, are outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or certain of our directors or officers, including judgments with respect to the payment of principal on any debt securities, may not be collectible within the United States.

        We have been informed by Parlee McLaws LLP that the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein permit an action to be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Province of Alberta on any final and conclusive judgment in personam of any New York Court against us, which judgment is subsisting and unsatisfied for a sum certain with respect to enforceability of the Indenture and the notes that is not impeachable as void or voidable or otherwise ineffective under the internal laws of the State of New York if (i) the New York Court rendering such judgment had jurisdiction over the judgment debtor, as recognized by the courts of the Province of Alberta (and submission by us in the Indenture to the jurisdiction of the New York Court

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will be sufficient for that purpose with respect to the notes), (ii) the judgment debtor was properly served in connection with any action leading to such judgment, (iii) such judgment was not obtained by fraud or in a manner contrary to natural justice and the enforcement thereof would not be inconsistent with public policy, as such terms are understood under the laws of the Province of Alberta and enforcement thereof will not be contrary to any order made by the Attorney General of Canada under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) or by the Competition Tribunal under the Competition Act (Canada), (iv) the enforcement of such judgment would not be contrary to the laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors' rights including any other rule of law, whether equitable, legal or statutory, bankruptcy, reorganization, winding up, moratorium and similar laws and does not constitute, directly or indirectly, the enforcement of foreign revenue, expropriatory, penal or public laws in the Province of Alberta, (v) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is discovered prior to the rendering of judgment by the court in the Province of Alberta, (vi) interest payable on the debt securities is not characterized by a court in the Province of Alberta as interest payable at a criminal rate within the meaning of section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and (vii) the action to enforce such judgment is commenced within the appropriate limitation periods, except that any court in the Province of Alberta may only give judgment in Canadian dollars. We have been advised by such counsel that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Canada in original actions, or in motions to enforce judgments of United States courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon United States federal securities laws.


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        This prospectus supplement is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the prospectus solely for the purposes of the offering of the notes. Other documents are also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into the prospectus. The following documents which have been filed with the securities commission or similar authority in each of the provinces of Canada or the SEC are also specifically incorporated by reference in and form an integral part of the prospectus, as supplemented by this prospectus supplement:

        Any statement contained in the prospectus, in this prospectus supplement or in any document (or part thereof) incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into the prospectus for the purpose of the offering of the notes offered hereby shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document (or part thereof) that also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference in the prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this prospectus supplement or the prospectus. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document which it modifies or supersedes.

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Table of Contents

        In addition, any template version of any other marketing materials filed with a securities commission or similar authority in a province of Canada in connection with the offering of the notes after the date hereof but prior to the termination of the distribution of the notes under this prospectus supplement is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and in the prospectus.

        You may obtain a copy of the financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis and other information identified above by writing or calling us at the following address and telephone number:

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BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS

New Issue   November 1, 2013

LOGO

CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED

Debt Securities



        Canadian Natural Resources Limited may offer for sale from time to time debt securities in the aggregate principal amount of up to US$3,000,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency or units based on or relating to foreign currencies during the 25 month period that this prospectus (including any amendments hereto) remains effective.

        We will provide the specific terms of these securities and all information omitted from this prospectus in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the supplements carefully before you invest.



        Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.



        We are permitted to prepare this prospectus in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. We prepare our financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting practices, and they are subject to Canadian and United States auditing and auditor independence standards. They may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies.

        Owning the debt securities may subject you to tax consequences both in the United States and Canada. This prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any applicable prospectus supplement.

        Your ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because we are incorporated in Alberta, some of our officers and directors and some of the experts named in this prospectus are Canadian residents, and many of our assets are located in Canada.

        The debt securities offered hereby have not been qualified for sale under the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada and are not being and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Canada or to any resident of Canada in contravention of the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

  2

DEFINITIONS

  3

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

  3

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

  5

CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED

  7

USE OF PROCEEDS

  7

INTEREST COVERAGE

  7

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

  8

CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

  24

RISK FACTORS

  24

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

  25

ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS AGAINST FOREIGN PERSONS OR COMPANIES

  26

LEGAL MATTERS

  26

EXPERTS

  26

DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

  27


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise indicates, references to "Canadian Natural", "us", "we" or "our" mean Canadian Natural Resources Limited and its subsidiaries, including its material operating subsidiaries and, where applicable, their respective interests in partnerships and other entities. Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts contained in this prospectus are expressed in Canadian dollars, and references to "dollars", "Cdn$" or "$" are to Canadian dollars and all references to "US$" are to United States dollars.

        All financial information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus is determined using International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which have been adopted as Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, referred to as "Canadian GAAP". "U.S. GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles which are in effect from time to time in the United States.

        This prospectus replaces our base shelf prospectus dated October 28, 2011.

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-10 relating to the debt securities that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Under the shelf registration statement, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the debt securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an aggregate principal amount of US$3,000,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities that we may offer. Each time we sell debt securities under the registration statement, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering of debt securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before you invest, you should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information". This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. You should refer

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to the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement for further information with respect to us and the debt securities.


DEFINITIONS

        In this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement:

        This prospectus contains disclosure respecting oil and gas production expressed as "cubic feet of natural gas equivalent" and "barrels of oil equivalent" or "Boe". All equivalency volumes have been derived using the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil. Equivalency measures may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil is based on an energy equivalence conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In comparing the value ratio using current crude oil prices relative to natural gas prices, the six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil conversion ratio may be misleading as an indication of value.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file with the Alberta Securities Commission (the "ASC"), a commission of authority in the Province of Alberta similar to the SEC, material change, annual and quarterly reports and other information. We are also subject to the reporting requirements under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance with the Exchange Act, we file reports with and furnish other information to the SEC. Under the multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States and Canada, these reports and other information (including financial information) may be prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements of Canada, which differ from those in the United States. You may read any document we file with or furnish to the SEC at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of the same documents from the public reference room of the SEC by paying a fee. The SEC also maintains an internet site that contains reports and other information about issuers like us that file electronically with the SEC. The site address is www.sec.gov.

        Under the multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States and the provinces of Canada, the SEC and the ASC allow us to "incorporate by reference" certain information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Information that is incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, which were filed with the ASC under the Securities Act (Alberta) and filed with or furnished to the SEC under the Exchange Act:

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        Any documents of the type referred to in the preceding paragraph, or similar material, including an Annual Information Form filed by us, all material change reports (excluding confidential reports, if any), business acquisition reports, all updated interest coverage ratio information, as well as all prospectus supplements disclosing additional or updated information, filed by us with securities commissions or similar authorities in the relevant provinces of Canada subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to 25 months from the date hereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The documents are available through the internet on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) which can be accessed at www.sedar.com.

        Any report that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part, if and to the extent expressly provided for in such report. Our U.S. filings are electronically available from the SEC's Electronic Document Gathering and Retrieval System, which is commonly known by the acronym EDGAR and may be accessed at www.sec.gov.

        A prospectus supplement containing the specific variable terms of an offering of debt securities will be delivered to purchasers of such debt securities together with this prospectus and will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus as of the date of such prospectus supplement but only for the purposes of the offering of the debt securities issued thereunder.

        To the extent that any document or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus is included in a report filed or furnished on Form 40-F, 20-F, 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, 6-K or any respective successor form, such document or information shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement relating to the debt securities of which this prospectus forms a part.

        Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement or document so modified or superseded shall not, except to the extent so modified or superseded, be incorporated by reference and constitute a part of this prospectus.

        Upon a new Annual Information Form and related Management's Discussion and Analysis and annual consolidated financial statements, together with the notes thereto and the independent auditor's report thereon, being filed with, and where required, accepted by, the applicable securities regulatory authorities during the currency of this prospectus, the previous Annual Information Form, annual consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis and any interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis, material change reports and management proxy circulars filed prior to the commencement of the then current fiscal year will be deemed no longer to be incorporated into this prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of debt securities under this prospectus. Upon interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis being filed by us with the applicable securities regulatory authorities during the currency of this prospectus, all interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis filed prior to the new interim consolidated financial statements shall be deemed no longer to be incorporated into this prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of debt securities under this prospectus.

4


        In addition, certain marketing materials (as that term is defined in applicable securities legislation) may be used in connection with a distribution of debt securities under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement(s). Any template version of marketing materials (as those terms are defined in applicable securities legislation) pertaining to a distribution of debt securities, and filed by us with the Canadian securities regulators after the date of the prospectus supplement for the offering and before termination of the distribution of such debt securities, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in that prospectus supplement for the purposes of the distribution of debt securities to which the prospectus supplement pertains.

        In addition, you may obtain a copy of the Annual Information Form and other information mentioned above by writing or calling us at the following address and telephone number:

        We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information, whether orally or in writing, or represent anything about us or the offering of debt securities that is not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. If given or made, any such information or representations should not be called upon as having been authorized by us. We are not making an offer of these debt securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted by law. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the applicable prospectus supplement.


FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference forward looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may or will occur in the future are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements can be identified by the words "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "target", "continue", "could", "intend", "may", "potential", "predict", "should", "will", "objective", "project", "forecast", "goal", "guidance", "outlook", "effort", "seeks", "schedule", "proposed" or expressions of a similar nature suggesting future outcome or statements regarding an outlook. Disclosure related to expected future commodity pricing, forecast or anticipated production volumes, royalties, operating costs, capital expenditures, income tax expenses and other guidance provided throughout this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference constitute forward looking statements. Disclosure of plans relating to and expected results of existing and future developments, including but not limited to Horizon Oil Sands ("Horizon") operations and future expansion, Primrose thermal projects, Pelican Lake water and polymer flood project, the Kirby Thermal Oil Sands Project, construction of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast, construction of the proposed Energy East pipeline to transport crude oil from Alberta to Québec and New Brunswick, the proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from Edmonton, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia and the construction and future operations of the North West Redwater bitumen upgrader and refinery also constitute forward looking statements. This forward looking information is based on annual budgets and multi-year forecasts, and is reviewed and revised throughout the year as necessary in the context of targeted financial ratios, project returns, product pricing expectations and balance in project risk and time horizons. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain

5


risks. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements as there can be no assurances that the plans, initiatives or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

        In addition, statements relating to "reserves" are deemed to be forward looking statements as they involve the implied assessment based on certain estimates and assumptions that the reserves described can be profitably produced in the future. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved and proved plus probable crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids reserves and in projecting future rates of production and the timing of development expenditures. The total amount or timing of actual future production may vary significantly from reserve and production estimates.

        The forward looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about us and the industry in which we operate, which speak only as of the date such statements were made or as of the date of the report or document in which they are contained and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: general economic and business conditions which will, among other things, impact demand for and market prices of our products; volatility of and assumptions regarding crude oil and natural gas prices; fluctuations in currency and interest rates; assumptions on which our current guidance is based; economic conditions in the countries and regions in which we conduct business; political uncertainty, including actions of or against terrorists, insurgent groups or other conflicts including conflict between states; industry capacity; our ability to implement our business strategy, including exploration and development activities; impact of competition; our defense of lawsuits; availability and cost of seismic, drilling and other equipment; our ability to complete capital programs; our ability to secure adequate transportation for our products; unexpected disruptions or delays in the resumption of the mining, extracting or upgrading of our bitumen products; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; our ability to attract the necessary labour required to build our thermal and oil sands mining projects; operating hazards and other difficulties inherent in the exploration for and production and sale of crude oil and natural gas and in mining, extracting or upgrading bitumen products; availability and cost of financing; our success of exploration and development activities and ability to replace and expand crude oil and natural gas reserves; timing and success of integrating the business and operations of acquired companies; production levels; imprecision of reserve estimates and estimates of recoverable quantities of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and natural gas liquids not currently classified as proved; actions by governmental authorities; government regulations and the expenditures required to comply with them (especially safety and environmental laws and regulations and the impact of climate change initiatives on capital and operating costs); asset retirement obligations; the adequacy of our provision for taxes; and other circumstances affecting revenues and expenses. Our operations have been, and in the future may be affected by political developments and by federal, provincial and local laws and regulations such as restrictions on production, changes in taxes, royalties and other amounts payable to governments or governmental agencies, price or gathering rate controls and environmental protection regulations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward looking statements. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are dependent upon other factors, and our course of action would depend upon our assessment of the future considering all information then available.

        We caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, could also have material adverse effects on forward looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations conveyed by the forward looking statements are reasonable based on information available to us on the date such forward looking statements are made, no assurances can be given as to future

6


results, levels of activity and achievements. All subsequent forward looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

        Additional factors are described in our management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations incorporated by reference in our Annual Information Form, which is filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in the provinces of Canada and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also carefully consider the matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in this prospectus. Except as required under applicable securities laws, we assume no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or the foregoing list of factors affecting this information.


CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED

        We are a Canadian-based senior, independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, marketing and sale of crude oil, natural gas liquids, natural gas and bitumen. Our core regions of operations are in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea and Offshore Africa. Our head and principal office is located at 2500, 855 - 2 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 4J8.

        Our common shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CNQ".


USE OF PROCEEDS

        Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the debt securities for general corporate purposes relating to our core regions of operations in North America, the North Sea and Offshore Africa, which may include financing our capital expenditure program and working capital requirements in those regions. We may also use the net proceeds for the repayment of indebtedness. Pending such use of any proceeds, we may invest funds in short-term marketable securities.


INTEREST COVERAGE

        The following coverage ratios have been prepared in accordance with Canadian securities law requirements and are included in this prospectus in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements.

        The following coverage ratios are calculated on a consolidated basis for the twelve month periods ended June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The following ratios do not give effect to the issue of any debt securities pursuant to this prospectus.

        The interest coverage ratios for the twelve month periods ended June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 have been calculated based on information contained within our financial statements for the related periods which were prepared in accordance with IFRS.

 
  June 30, 2013(1)   December 31, 2012(1)  

Interest coverage on long-term debt

    5.1x     6.4x
 

Note:

(1)
Interest coverage on long-term debt is equal to net earnings plus income taxes and interest expense, excluding current and deferred United Kingdom Petroleum Revenue Tax expense and other taxes, divided by the sum of interest expense and capitalized interest.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        In this section, "we", "us", "our" or "Canadian Natural" refers only to Canadian Natural Resources Limited without its subsidiaries or interest in partnerships and other entities. The following describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The particular terms and provisions of the series of debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to them, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular series of debt securities, reference must be made to both the applicable prospectus supplement relating to them and the description of the debt securities set forth in this prospectus.

        The debt securities will be issued under a trust indenture dated July 24, 2001 originally made between us and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the "Initial Trustee"), as amended by a supplemental indenture dated October 28, 2011 (the "First Supplemental Indenture") entered into between us and the Initial Trustee and having effect only with respect to debt securities issued after the date of the First Supplemental Indenture, as amended by a second supplemental indenture (the "Second Supplemental Indenture") dated as of August 30, 2013 among us, the Initial Trustee and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the "Trustee"), as the successor trustee on the resignation of the Initial Trustee (the trust indenture dated July 24, 2001 as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture referred to herein as the "Indenture"). Pursuant to the terms of the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee has accepted its appointment as successor Trustee, Security Registrar and Paying Agent under the Indenture. The Indenture is subject to and governed by the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. A copy of the Indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The following summaries of the Indenture and the debt securities are brief summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture and do not purport to be complete; these statements are subject to the detailed referenced provisions of the Indenture, including the definition of capitalized terms used under this caption. Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture are referred to, these sections or defined terms are incorporated in this prospectus by reference as part of the statement made, and the statement is qualified in its entirety by the reference to the Indenture. References in parentheses are to section numbers in the Indenture.

General

        The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities (which may include debentures, notes and other unsecured evidences of indebtedness) that may be issued under the Indenture, and provides that debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in foreign currencies. The debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be issued in an amount up to US$3,000,000,000 or the equivalent. The Indenture also permits us to increase the principal amount of any series of debt securities previously issued and to issue that increased principal amount.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will contain a description of the following terms relating to the debt securities being offered:

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        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture does not afford the Holders the right to tender debt securities to us for repurchase, or provide for any increase in the rate or rates of interest per annum at which the debt securities will bear interest, in the event we become involved in a highly leveraged transaction or in the event that we undergo a change in control.

        Debt securities may be issued under the Indenture bearing no interest or interest at a rate below the prevailing market rate at the time of issuance and may be offered and sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. The Canadian and U.S. federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to those discounted debt securities or other debt securities offered and sold at par which are treated as having been issued at a discount for Canadian and/or U.S. federal income tax purposes will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities.

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Ranking and Other Indebtedness

        The debt securities will be unsecured obligations of ours and, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities, will rank pari passu with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding and pari passu with other debt securities issued under the Indenture. The debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of any of our corporate or partnership subsidiaries, including trade payables and other indebtedness.

Registered Global Securities

        Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, a series of debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities which will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a Depository, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. Unless and until exchanged, in whole or in part, for debt securities in definitive registered form, a Registered Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository for a Registered Global Security to a nominee of that Depository, by a nominee of that Depository to that Depository or another nominee of that Depository or by that Depository or any nominee of that Depository to a successor of that Depository or a nominee of a successor of that Depository.

        The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to any portion of a particular series of debt securities to be represented by a Registered Global Security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. Canadian Natural anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all depository arrangements.

        Upon the issuance of a Registered Global Security, the Depository or its nominee will credit, on its book entry and registration system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by that Registered Global Security to the accounts of those persons having accounts with that Depository or its nominee ("participants") as shall be designated by the underwriters, investment dealers or agents participating in the distribution of those debt securities or by us if those debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of the ownership of those beneficial interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depository therefor or its nominee (with respect to beneficial interests of participants) or by participants or persons that hold through participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants).

        The laws of some states in the United States require certain purchasers of securities to take physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form. These depository arrangements and these laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Registered Global Security.

        So long as the Depository for a Registered Global Security or its nominee is the registered owner of the debt securities, that Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the debt securities represented by that Registered Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by that Registered Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of that series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or Holders of those debt securities under the Indenture.

        Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on a Registered Global Security registered in the name of a Depository or its nominee will be made to that Depository or nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of that Registered Global Security. Neither we, the Trustee nor any paying

10


agent for debt securities of the series represented by that Registered Global Security will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in that Registered Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests.

        We expect that the Depository for a Registered Global Security or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of that Registered Global Security as shown on the records of that Depository or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in that Registered Global Security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of those participants.

        If the Depository for a Registered Global Security representing debt securities of a particular series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depository, or if the Depository is no longer eligible to continue as Depository, and a successor Depository is not appointed by us within 90 days, or if an Event of Default described in clauses (a) or (b) of the first sentence under "Events of Default" below with respect to a particular series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, we will issue Registered Securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for that Registered Global Security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the debt securities of a particular series represented by one or more Registered Global Securities and, in that event, will issue Registered Securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for all of the Registered Global Securities representing debt securities of that series.

Debt Securities in Definitive Form

        If indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities may be issued in definitive form without coupons. Debt securities in definitive form may be presented for exchange and for registration of transfer in the manner, at the places and, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Indenture and in the applicable prospectus supplement, without service charge, but upon payment of any taxes or other governmental charges due in connection therewith. We have appointed the Trustee as Security Registrar. Debt securities in bearer form and the coupons appertaining thereto, if any, will be transferable by delivery.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on debt securities in definitive form will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee except that, at our option, payment of any interest may be made (a) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as that Person's address will appear in the Security Register or (b) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register.

Negative Pledge

        The Indenture includes our covenant that, so long as any of the debt securities remain outstanding, we will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume or otherwise have outstanding any Security Interest, except for Permitted Encumbrances, on or over its or their respective assets (present or future) securing any Indebtedness of any Person without also at the same time or prior to that time securing equally and ratably with other Indebtedness all of the debt securities then Outstanding under the Indenture.

Certain Definitions

        Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for the full definitions of all such terms.

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        The term "Capital Lease Obligation" means the obligation of a Person, as lessee, to pay rent or other amounts to the lessor under a lease of real or personal property which is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

        The term "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of assets of any Person on a consolidated basis (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom:

in each case, as shown on the most recent annual audited or quarterly unaudited consolidated balance sheet of such Person computed in accordance with GAAP.

        The term "Current Assets" means current assets as determined in accordance with GAAP.

        The term "Financial Instrument Obligations" means obligations arising under:

        The term "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles which are in effect from time to time in Canada.

        The term "Indebtedness" means at any time, and whether or not contingent, all items of indebtedness in respect of any amounts borrowed which, in accordance with GAAP, would be recorded as indebtedness in the consolidated financial statements of Canadian Natural as at the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined, and in any event including, without duplication (i) any obligation for borrowed money, (ii) any obligation evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, guarantees or other similar instruments, including, without limitation, any such obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (iii) any Purchase Money Obligation, (iv) any reimbursement obligation with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities, (v) any obligation issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, (vi) any Capital Lease Obligation, (vii) any obligation to pay rent or other payment amounts with respect to any

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Sale and Leaseback Transaction, (viii) any payment obligation under Financial Instrument Obligations at the time of determination, (ix) any indebtedness in respect of any amounts borrowed or any Purchase Money Obligation secured by any Security Interest existing on property owned subject to such Security Interest, whether or not the indebtedness or Purchase Money Obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed and (x) guarantees, indemnities, endorsements (other than endorsements for collection in the ordinary course of business) or other contingent liabilities in respect of obligations of another Person for indebtedness of that other Person in respect of any amounts borrowed by that other Person.

        The term "Permitted Encumbrances" means any of the following:

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        The term "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

        The term "Purchase Money Obligation" means any monetary obligation created or assumed as part of the purchase price of real or tangible personal property, whether or not secured, any extensions, renewals or refundings of any such obligation, provided that the principal amount of such obligation on the date of such extension, renewal or refunding is not increased and further provided that any security given in respect of such obligation shall not extend to any property other than the property acquired in connection with which such obligation was created or assumed and fixed improvements, if any, thereto or erected or constructed thereon.

        The term "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means any direct or indirect arrangement (excluding, however, any such arrangement between Canadian Natural and a Subsidiary or between one or more Subsidiaries) pursuant to which property is sold or transferred and is thereafter leased back from the purchaser or transferee thereof.

        The term "Security Interest" means any security by way of an assignment, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, encumbrance, title retention agreement or other security interest whatsoever, howsoever created or arising, whether absolute or contingent, fixed or floating, perfected or not; however, for purposes of the "Negative Pledge" covenant only, such term shall not include any encumbrance that may be deemed to arise solely as a result of entering into an agreement, not in violation of the terms of the Indenture, to sell or otherwise transfer assets or property.

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        The term "Shareholders' Equity" means the aggregate amount of shareholders' equity of a Person as shown on the most recent annual audited or unaudited interim consolidated balance sheet of such Person and computed in accordance with GAAP.

        The term "Significant Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary that constitutes a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act.

        The term "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other Person of which there are owned, directly or indirectly, by or for Canadian Natural or by or for any corporation or other Person in like relation to Canadian Natural, Voting Shares or other interests which, in the aggregate, entitle the holders thereof to cast more than 50 percent of the votes which may be cast by the holders of all outstanding Voting Shares of such first mentioned corporation or other Person for the election of its directors or, in the case of any Person which is not a corporation, Persons having similar powers or (if there are no such persons) entitle the holders thereof to more than 50 percent of the income or capital interests (however called) thereon and includes any corporation in like relation to a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such term will not include, for purposes of the "Negative Pledge" covenant only, any Subsidiary if the assets of the Subsidiary do not at the time exceed 2 percent of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

        The term "Voting Shares" means shares of capital stock of any class of a corporation and other interests of any other Persons having under all circumstances the right to vote for the election of the directors of such corporation or in the case of any Person which is not a corporation, Persons having similar powers or (if there are no such Persons) income or capital interests (however called), provided that, for the purpose of this definition, shares or other interests which only carry the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Shares whether or not such event shall have happened.

Events of Default

        The occurrence of any of the following events with respect to the debt securities of any series will constitute an "Event of Default" with respect to the debt securities of that series:

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        If an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) above occurs and is continuing with respect to debt securities of any series, unless the principal of all of the debt securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee may, in its discretion, and shall upon request in writing made by the Holders of not less than 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then Outstanding, declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all the debt securities of that series then Outstanding and the interest accrued thereon and all other money, if any, owing under the provisions of the Indenture in respect of those debt securities to be due and payable immediately on demand. If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (h) above occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of one or more series, unless the principal of all of the debt securities of the affected series shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee may, in its discretion, and shall upon request in writing made by the Holders of not less than 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all such affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class), declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all the debt securities of all the affected series then Outstanding and the interest accrued thereon and all other money, if any, owing under the provisions of the Indenture in respect of those debt securities to be due and payable immediately on demand. If an Event of Default described in clause (c), (e), (f) or (g) above occurs and is continuing, unless the principal of all debt securities then Outstanding shall have already become due and payable, the Trustee may, in its discretion, and shall upon request in writing made by the Holders of not less than 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of all the debt securities then Outstanding (voting as one class), declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all the debt securities then Outstanding and the interest accrued thereon and all other money, if any, owing under the provisions of the Indenture in respect of those debt securities to be due and payable immediately on demand.

        Upon certain conditions, any declaration of this kind may be cancelled if all Events of Default with respect to the debt securities of all those affected series then Outstanding shall have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class, except in the case of Events of Default described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, as to which each series so affected will vote as a separate class). See "Modification and Waiver" below. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements relating to any series of Original Issue Discount Securities for the particular provisions relating to the acceleration of a portion of the principal amount thereof upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default with respect thereto.

        The Indenture provides that the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of the Holders, unless those Holders shall have

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provided to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to those provisions for indemnity and certain other limitations contained in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class) will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the debt securities of those affected series.

        The Indenture provides that no Holder of the debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless (a) that Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series, (b) the Holders of not less than 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class) shall have made written request, and provided reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute that proceeding, (c) the Trustee shall have failed to institute that proceeding within 60 days after that notification, request and offer of indemnity and (d) the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class) a direction inconsistent with that request during such 60 day period. However, the Holder of any Security will have an absolute right to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on that Security on or after the due dates expressed in that Security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any of these payments. The Indenture requires Canadian Natural to furnish to the Trustee annually an Officers' Certificate as to the compliance by Canadian Natural with certain covenants, conditions or other requirements contained in the Indenture and as to any non-compliance therewith.

        The Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of the debt securities of one or more series of any default affecting those series (except defaults as to payment of principal or interest) if it, in good faith, considers that withholding to be in the best interests of the Holders of the debt securities of those series.

Consolidation, Merger, Amalgamation and Sale of Assets

        Canadian Natural shall not enter into any transaction (whether by way of reorganization, reconstruction, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, lease, transfer, sale or otherwise) whereby all or substantially all of its assets would become the property of any other Person (the "Successor Corporation") unless (a) the Successor Corporation shall, prior to or contemporaneously with the consummation of that transaction, execute those instruments, which may include a supplemental indenture, and do those things as shall be necessary or advisable to establish that upon the consummation of that transaction (i) the Successor Corporation will have assumed all of the covenants and obligations of Canadian Natural under the Indenture in respect of the debt securities of every series, and (ii) the debt securities of every series will be valid and binding obligations of the Successor Corporation entitling the Holders thereof, as against the Successor Corporation, to all the rights of Holders of debt securities under the Indenture; (b) the Successor Corporation is a corporation, partnership, or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of Canada or any province thereof or of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) Canadian Natural has delivered to the Trustee, within 60 days thereof, an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this covenant and all conditions precedent to Section 7.1 relating to such transaction have been complied with, and (d) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

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Additional Amounts

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments made by Canadian Natural under or with respect to the debt securities will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (including penalties, interest and other liabilities related thereto) imposed or levied by or on behalf of the Government of Canada or of any province or territory thereof or by any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax (hereinafter "Canadian Taxes"), unless Canadian Natural is required to withhold or deduct Canadian Taxes by law or by the interpretation or administration thereof. If Canadian Natural is so required to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of Canadian Taxes from any payment made under or with respect to the debt securities, Canadian Natural will pay to each Holder as additional interest such additional amounts ("Additional Amounts") as may be necessary so that the net amount received by each Holder after such withholding or deduction (and after deducting any Canadian Taxes on such Additional Amounts) will not be less than the amount the Holder would have received if such Canadian Taxes had not been withheld or deducted. However, no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to a payment made to a Holder (such Holder, an "Excluded Holder") in respect of the beneficial owner thereof:

        Canadian Natural will also:

        Canadian Natural will furnish to the Holders of the debt securities, within 60 days after the date the payment of any Canadian Taxes is due pursuant to applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts or other documents evidencing such payment by Canadian Natural.

        Canadian Natural will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder (other than an Excluded Holder) and upon written request reimburse each such Holder for the amount of:

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        Wherever in the Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal (and premium, if any), interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to a Security, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

Tax Redemption

        The debt securities will be subject to redemption in whole, but not in part, at the option of Canadian Natural, at any time, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior written notice, at 100 percent of the principal amount, together with accrued interest thereon to the redemption date, in the event that we have become or would become obligated to pay, on the next date on which any amount would be payable with respect to the debt securities, any Additional Amounts as a result of an amendment to or change in the laws (including any regulations promulgated thereunder) of Canada (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), or any amendment to or change in any official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of this prospectus.

Modification and Waiver

        The Indenture permits Canadian Natural and the Trustee to enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the Holders of the debt securities to, among other things: (a) secure the debt securities of one or more series, (b) evidence the assumption by the Successor Corporation of Canadian Natural's covenants and obligations under the Indenture and the debt securities then Outstanding, (c) add covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of one or more series of the debt securities, (d) cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any defective provision in the Indenture which correction will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of the debt securities, (e) establish the form and terms of the debt securities of any series, (f) evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee, (g) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in order to effect and maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (h) to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided, however, such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any debt securities in any material respect, and (i) make any other modifications which will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of the debt securities.

        The Indenture also permits Canadian Natural and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series then Outstanding and affected (voting as one class), to add any provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any of the provisions of, the Indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the Holders of the debt securities of each such affected series; provided, however, that Canadian Natural and the Trustee may not, among other things, without the consent of the Holder of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby: (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal amount of, or any installment of the principal of or the interest on, that Security, (b) reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest on or any premium payable upon the redemption of that Security, (c) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, (d) change the place or currency of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on that Security, (e) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of payment of this kind with respect to that Security on or after the Stated Maturity thereof, (f) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the affected series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture, or for any waiver with respect to defaults, breaches, Events of Default or declarations of acceleration, (g) change the time at which any Security may or shall be redeemable or repayable, (h) change any obligation of Canadian Natural to pay additional amounts provided for

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pursuant to the Indenture, with certain exceptions, or (i) modify any provisions of the Indenture relating to modifying or amending the Indenture or the waiving of past defaults or covenants except as otherwise specified in the Indenture.

        Prior to the acceleration of the Maturity of any debt securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default or breach or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (voting as one class) may on behalf of the Holders of all such affected debt securities waive any past default or breach or Event of Default and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium or interest on any Security of any series or an Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture or of any Security which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture provides that, at the option of Canadian Natural, Canadian Natural will be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of that series, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of that series, to maintain paying agencies, to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to maintain the trust and payments under the trust described below and the defeasance provisions of the Indenture) (hereinafter called a "defeasance") upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money, and/or Government Obligations which, through the payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon in accordance with their terms, will provide money, in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants, to pay all the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of that series on the Stated Maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities of that series. Such a defeasance may be effected only if, among other things, (i) Canadian Natural has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States (who may be counsel for Canadian Natural) stating that Canadian Natural has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, since the date of the Indenture, or there has been a change in the applicable laws or regulations, in either case to the effect that the Holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of that defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if that defeasance had not occurred, and (ii) Canadian Natural has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Canada (who may be counsel for Canadian Natural) or a ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian federal or provincial income or other Canadian tax purposes as a result of that defeasance and will be subject to Canadian federal or provincial income and other Canadian tax (including withholding tax) on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if that defeasance had not occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume that Holders of the debt securities include holders who are not resident in Canada). In addition, Canadian Natural may also obtain a discharge of the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of all series issued under the Indenture by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, an amount of money and government securities as shall be sufficient to pay, at Stated Maturity or upon redemption, all of those debt securities, provided that those debt securities are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year.

        The Indenture also provides that Canadian Natural may omit to comply with the restrictive covenants described under the caption "Negative Pledge" and certain other covenants and no Event of Default shall arise with respect to the debt securities of that series by reason of this failure to comply

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(hereinafter called a "covenant defeasance"), upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money and/or Government Obligations which, through the payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon in accordance with their terms, will provide money, in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants, to pay all the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of that series on the Stated Maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities of that series. Canadian Natural's other obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series would remain in full force and effect. A covenant defeasance may be effected only if, among other things, (i) Canadian Natural has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States (who may be counsel for Canadian Natural) to the effect that the Holders of debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if that covenant defeasance had not occurred, and (ii) Canadian Natural has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Canada (who may be counsel for Canadian Natural) or a ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian federal or provincial income or other Canadian tax purposes as a result of that covenant defeasance and will be subject to Canadian federal or provincial income and other Canadian tax (including withholding tax) on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if that covenant defeasance had not occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume that Holders of the debt securities include holders who are not resident in Canada).

        In the event that Canadian Natural exercises its option to effect a covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of any series, the debt securities of that series are thereafter declared due and payable because of the occurrence of another Event of Default and the amount of money and securities on deposit with the Trustee would be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants, to pay the amounts due on the debt securities of that series at their respective Stated Maturities, but may not be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants, to pay the amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from that Event of Default, then Canadian Natural would remain liable for this deficiency.

Provision of Financial Information

        We will file with the Trustee, within 15 days after we file them with the SEC, copies of our annual report and other information (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding that we may not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, we will continue to provide the Trustee, and file with the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, the information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations, which, regardless of applicable requirements shall, at a minimum, consist of such information required to be provided in quarterly and annual reports under the laws of Canada or any province thereof to security holders of a corporation with securities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, whether or not we have any of our securities listed on such exchange. Such information will be prepared in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements and Canadian GAAP.

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Resignation of Trustee

        The Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as Trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each such Trustee shall be a Trustee of a trust under the Indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other such Trustee, and any action described herein to be taken by the "Trustee" may then be taken by each such Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is Trustee.

Payment and Paying Agents

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities will be payable at an office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York, except that at our option interest, if any, may be paid (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of any instalment of interest on debt securities will be made to the Person in whose name such debt security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

        Any Paying Agents outside the United States and any other Paying Agents in the United States initially designated by us for the debt securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for such series.

Consent to Service and Jurisdiction

        We have designated CT Corporation System, 111-8th Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10011 as our authorized agent for service of process in the United States in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture or the debt securities. Any such action may be brought in any Federal court (or, if such court refuses to take jurisdiction, in any New York state court) located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York (a "New York Court"), or brought under United States federal or state securities laws or brought by the Trustee, and Canadian Natural has irrevocably submitted to the jurisdiction of any such court.

Governing Law

        The Indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Enforceability of Judgments

        Since a significant portion of our assets, as well as the assets of a number of our directors and officers, are outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or certain of our directors or officers, including judgments with respect to the payment of principal on any debt securities, may not be collectible within the United States.

        We have been informed by Parlee McLaws LLP that the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein permit an action to be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Province of Alberta on any final and conclusive judgment in personam of any New York Court against us, which judgment is subsisting and unsatisfied for a sum certain with respect to enforceability of the Indenture and the debt securities that is not impeachable as void or voidable or

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otherwise ineffective under the internal laws of the State of New York if (i) the New York Court rendering such judgment had jurisdiction over the judgment debtor, as recognized by the courts of the Province of Alberta (and submission by us in the Indenture to the jurisdiction of the New York Court will be sufficient for that purpose with respect to the debt securities), (ii) the judgment debtor was properly served in connection with any action leading to such judgment, (iii) such judgment was not obtained by fraud or in a manner contrary to natural justice and the enforcement thereof would not be inconsistent with public policy, as such terms are understood under the laws of the Province of Alberta and enforcement thereof will not be contrary to any order made by the Attorney General of Canada under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) or by the Competition Tribunal under the Competition Act (Canada), (iv) the enforcement of such judgment would not be contrary to the laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors' rights including any other rule of law, whether equitable, legal or statutory, bankruptcy, reorganization, winding up, moratorium and similar laws and does not constitute, directly or indirectly, the enforcement of foreign revenue, expropriatory, penal or public laws in the Province of Alberta, (v) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is discovered prior to the rendering of judgment by the court in the Province of Alberta, (vi) interest payable on the debt securities is not characterized by a court in the Province of Alberta as interest payable at a criminal rate within the meaning of section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and (vii) the action to enforce such judgment is commenced within the appropriate limitation periods, except that any court in the Province of Alberta may only give judgment in Canadian dollars. We have been advised by such counsel that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Canada in original actions, or in motions to enforce judgments of United States courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon United States federal securities laws.


CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the material Canadian federal income tax consequences to an investor who is a citizen or resident of the United States purchasing the debt securities, including whether payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe certain United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities by an investor who is a United States person (as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement), including, to the extent applicable, certain relevant United States federal income tax rules pertaining to capital gains and ordinary income treatment, original issue discount, backup withholding and the foreign tax credit, and any consequences relating to debt securities payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars, issued at an original discount for United States federal income tax purposes or containing early redemption provisions or other special terms.


RISK FACTORS

        Various risk factors relating to the business and securities of Canadian Natural are described in our disclosure documents filed from time to time with the securities commissions and similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, are available electronically at www.sedar.com and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including in particular, our current AIF and Management's Discussion and Analysis. Such risk disclosure forms an integral part hereof.

The debt securities will be structurally subordinated to any indebtedness of our subsidiaries.

        The majority of our assets are held in one or more corporate subsidiaries or partnerships. In the event of the liquidation of any corporate subsidiary, the assets of the subsidiary would be used first to repay the indebtedness of the subsidiary, including trade payables or obligations under any guarantees, prior to being used by us to pay our indebtedness, including any debt securities. Such indebtedness and

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any other future indebtedness of our subsidiaries would be structurally senior to the debt securities. The Indenture pursuant to which the debt securities will be issued does not limit our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional unsecured indebtedness. See "Description of Debt Securities — Ranking and Other Indebtedness".

Credit ratings may not reflect all risks of an investment in the debt securities and may change.

        Credit ratings assigned to us and to our securities by independent credit rating companies may not reflect all risks associated with an investment in the debt securities. Any credit ratings applied to the debt securities are an independent assessment of our ability to pay our obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in the credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the debt securities. The credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential impact of risks related to structure, market or other factors discussed herein on the value of the debt securities. There is no assurance that any credit rating assigned to the debt securities will remain in effect for any given period of time or that any rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by the relevant rating agency.

Changes in interest rates may cause the market price or value of the debt securities to decline.

        Prevailing interest rates will affect the market price or value of the debt securities. The market price or value of the debt securities may decline as prevailing interest rates for comparable debt instruments rise, and increase as prevailing interest rates for comparable debt instruments decline.

There is an absence of a public market for the debt securities.

        There is no public market for the debt securities and we do not intend to apply for listing of the debt securities on any securities exchange. If the debt securities are traded after their initial issue, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering prices depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors, including general economic conditions and our financial condition. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for the debt securities or that a trading market for the debt securities will develop.


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell the debt securities to or through underwriters or dealers or to one or more other purchasers directly or through agents.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price or prices of the debt securities to be offered, the proceeds to us from the sale of the debt securities to be offered, any initial public offering price, any underwriting discount or commission and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed or reallowed or paid by any underwriter to other dealers. Any initial public offering price and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        The debt securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or fixed prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to these prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

        If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize dealers or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the debt securities directly from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. These contracts will be subject only to the conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements, which will also describe the commission payable for solicitation of these contracts.

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        We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the debt securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect of these liabilities. The underwriters, dealers and agents with whom we enter into agreements may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

        The debt securities will not be qualified for sale under the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in Canada or to any resident of Canada in contravention of the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada. Each underwriter and each dealer participating in the distribution of debt securities will agree that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or deliver any such debt securities purchased by it in connection with that distribution in Canada or to any resident of Canada in contravention of the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada.

        Each series of the debt securities will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. Some broker-dealers may make a market in the debt securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that there will be liquidity in the trading market for the debt securities of any series or that an active public market for the debt securities of any series will develop. If an active public trading market for the debt securities of any series does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the series of debt securities may be adversely affected.


ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS AGAINST FOREIGN PERSONS OR COMPANIES

        Mr. Timothy Faithfull and Mr. Gordon Giffin, two directors of Canadian Natural, reside outside of Canada. Each of Mr. Faithfull and Mr. Giffin has appointed Canadian Natural, 2500, 855 - 2 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 4J8, as his agent for service of process. Purchasers are advised that it may not be possible for investors to enforce judgments obtained in Canada against any person that resides outside of Canada, even if the party has appointed an agent for service of process.


LEGAL MATTERS

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities, the validity of the debt securities will be passed upon for us by Parlee McLaws LLP, Calgary, Alberta, and by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, New York. As to all matters of Canadian federal and Alberta law, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP may rely upon the opinion of Parlee McLaws LLP. As to all matters of U.S. federal and New York law, Parlee McLaws LLP may rely upon the opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

        We are advised that, as of the date hereof, the partners and associates of Parlee McLaws LLP beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than one percent of our outstanding securities and none of our securities or our property are to be received by such persons.


EXPERTS

        Our consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2012 have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus in reliance on the report dated March 6, 2013 of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has advised

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that they are independent with respect to us within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and the rules of the SEC.

        Sproule Associates Limited, Sproule International Limited and GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., independent qualified reserves evaluators, have evaluated our reserves in reports dated March 6, 2013 with an effective date of December 31, 2012 and a preparation date of February 11, 2013, as more particularly described in our Annual Information Form, incorporated by reference herein. The statements as to our reserves, which appear in or are incorporated by reference herein, have been so included or incorporated by reference upon the authority, as experts, of Sproule Associates Limited, Sproule International Limited and GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd.

        Based on information provided by the relevant persons or companies, there are beneficial interests, direct or indirect, in less than one percent of our securities or property or securities or property of our associates or affiliates held by Sproule Associates Limited, Sproule International Limited and GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. or by "designated professionals", being any partners, employees or consultants of such independent reserves evaluators who participated in and who were in a position to directly influence the preparation of the relevant report, or any such person who, at the time of the preparation of the report was in a position to directly influence the outcome of the preparation of the report.


DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

        The following documents have been filed with the SEC as part of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part insofar as required by the SEC's Form F-10:

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PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                    , 2014



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