Nov 6 (Reuters) - The discount on Western Canada Select

to North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures

widened on Thursday.

WCS for December delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, settled at

$11.45 a barrel under the U.S. benchmark WTI, according to

brokerage CalRock, compared to Tuesday's close of $11.25.

* The differential is higher than this time last month but

remains

tight by historical standards.

* WCS pricing continues to be supported by the Trans

Mountain pipeline expansion, which has enabled strong buying of

Canadian crude off the Pacific coast, especially by China.

* The CEO of Canada's largest oil company, Canadian Natural

Resources ( CNQ ) , said on a conference call that last year's

opening of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has stabilized

Western Canada's oil market to the extent that tight discounts

on Canadian heavy oil will continue in the near term. Canadian

Natural expects the WCS discount to continue to hover in the

US$10-13 per barrel below WTI, Scott Stauth said.

* Oil prices declined on Thursday as investors considered a

potential supply glut, as well as weakened demand in the United

States, the world's largest oil consumer.