The deal with Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co helps Chevron reduce production risk and gives it more capital to increase drilling in Alberta’s Duvernay shale formation.
The refinery could be converted into a storage terminal or might be shut down permanently following the cancellation of the investment, an official said.
The move comes amid calls from some within the OPEC for action to shore up prices, as international benchmark Brent crude oil has slumped to a two-year low.
The company has had problems recovering payments in Egypt because of political turmoil and said in August that it was working with the Egyptian government to agree a new deal.
The company will operate the North El Salhiya onshore area on a 100 per cent basis, and will partner with British major BP to explore El Matariya on a 50:50 ownership basis.
Oil has fallen from $115 in June, pressured by concern about slowing global demand and higher supplies, raising concern among some oil exporters of lower revenues.
The firm, part of the Al Ghurair Group and one of the largest aluminium product makers in the Gulf, will lift annual output to 100,000 tonnes in the next three to four years.
The Dubai entity currently produces 1.1 million tonnes of aluminium per year, with the planned upgrade set to enhance output by 100,000 tonnes when completed.