History of the petroleum industry in canada wikipedia. They include the vast oil sands of northern alberta, and the heavy oil reservoirs that surround the small city of lloydminster, which sits on the border between alberta and saskatchewan. The syncrude canada mine was the second to open in 1978, shell canada opened its muskeg river mine albian sands in 2003 and canadian natural resources ltd cnrl opened its horizon oil sands project in 2009. Tar sands mining and drilling in canada s boreal forest is the largest and most destructive project on earth. The vast majority of canada s oil is produced in alberta. Bitumen bitumen is oil that is too heavy or thick to flow on its own. Western canadian select explained western canadian select is canada s largest heavy crude oil stream, comprised of bitumen, conventional oil, synthetic crude and condensate. Canadas political climate is extremely stable compared to that in many other oilproducing countries. Learn more about how oil sands deposits are developed, from the ground to your gas tank, and beyond. Some bitumen is found within 70 metres 200 ft from the surface but the majority is deeper underground.
Location canada s oil sands are found in three deposits the. Initially, government was the primary sponsor of this research, but as time passed industry also became involved in unlocking the secrets of the oil sands. Whereas the athabasca oil sands lie close enough to the surface that the sand can be scooped up in openpit mines, and brought to a central location for processing, the peace river deposits are considered too deep, and are exploited in situ using steamassisted gravity drainage sagd heating through the injection of steam, that reduces the bitumens viscosity, allowing it to be pumped to the. History of development, prospects for the future summary when it comes to future reliable oil supplies, canadas oil sands will likely account for a greater share of u. Pdf we analyze the status of canadian oil sands and examine future prospects. Chris bourdeau, a spokesperson for alberta environment, says this is an unfair characterization of the impact of oil sands. Athabasca oil sands conference establishes an alberta oil sands policy and stimulates commercial interest in the.
In 1967 suncor helped pioneer the commercial development of canada s oil sands, one of the largest petroleum resource basins in the world. The canadian petroleum industry arose in parallel with that of the united states. Cover of sidney blairs report on the alberta bituminous sands commissioned by the government of alberta, 1950 source. The economic potential of the oil sands was recognized by charles mair in 1908, who wrote, that this region is stored with a substance of great economic value is beyond all doubt, and, when the hour of development comes, it will, i believe, prove to be one of the wonders of northern canada.
About canadas oil sands calgary economic development. Two different methods are used to produce oil from the oil sands surface. Because of canada s unique geography, geology, resources and patterns of settlement, however, it developed in different ways. Oil sands 101 offers an evenhanded look at key aspects of canada s most controversial and expensive mega project. Since 2004, when a substantial portion of canadas oil sands were deemed economic, canada, with about 175 billion barrels of proved oil sands. Crude oil produced from these tar sands is one of the worlds dirtiest and most environmentally destructive sources of fuel. The responsible development of oil sands is a key driver of albertas and canadas economy. Backers say their method will avoid the environmental toll incurred in canada s oil sands some others arent so sure. Syncrude operated an oil sands facility and produced crude oil through the mining of oil sands from ore deposits in the athabasca region of northern alberta, canada.
In canada, oil sands production in general, and insitu extraction, in particular, are the largest contributors to the increase in the nations ghg emissions. History of development, prospects for the future, january 17. Oil sands oil sands are a natural mixture of sand, water, clay and bitumen. Additional reserves are located under the beaufort sea arctic, along the pacific coast, and in the gulf of st. Oil production in canada occurs predominantly at three sources. Biodegradation and origin of oil sands in the western. Analysis of current and historical surface water monitoring programs and activities in the athabasca oil sands area, to 2011 20. Canada s oil sands are the largest deposit of crude oil on the planet. Lipsett department of mechanical engineering, university of alberta, canada abstract as world energy demands increase, so will the exploration and exploitation of alternative energy resources. The history of albertan oil and gas canada history and. A compilation of waterrelated monitoring programs and activities in the athabasca oil sands area prior to the joint canada alberta implementation plan for oil sands monitoring. Oil sands discovery centrethe website for the oil sands discovery centre in fort mcmurray, alberta. Canadas oilsands region now facing 340 billion gallons.
In order to put the history of albertas oil and gas industry into context, it helps to take a look at the early history of the canadian petroleum industry. Athabasca oil sands conference establishes an alberta oil sands policy and stimulates commercial interest in the resource. History of the oil sands although the oil sands of alberta have only been developed commercially since the late 1960s, their documented history dates back nearly three centuries to 1717, when waupisoo of the cree people brought samples of the oil sands to the hudsons bay company trading post at fort churchill ercb 2008b. Oil sands account for about 46% of canada s total oil production and oil sands. The pembina institute canadian aboriginal concerns with oil sands 5 first nations communities across alberta and canada have issued several resolutions including calls for a moratorium on oil sands approvals.
Crains petrophysical handbook oil sand and depleted gas. Oil sands, also known as tar sands, are sediments or sedimentary rocks composed of sand, clay minerals, water, and bitumen. It creates jobs and tax revenue for government which support the social programs and capital infrastructure projects we rely on. The oil sands deposits in the western canada sedimentary basin wcsb comprise of at. Bitumen bitumen is oil that is too heavy or thick to flow or be pumped without being diluted or heated. Oil sands oil sands are a natural mixture of sand, water and bitumen. Canada s oil sands region now facing 340 billion gallons of toxic sludge. Oil goes into a tailings pond at the suncor tar sands operations near fort mcmurray, alberta, sept. These oil sands, hosted primarily in the mcmurray formation, consist of a mixture of crude bitumen a semisolid rocklike form of crude oil, silica sand, clay minerals, and water. Alberta oil sands most destructive project on earth. Canadas oilsands region now facing 340 billion gallons of toxic sludge. The athabasca oil sands, also known as the athabasca tar sands, are large deposits of bitumen or extremely heavy crude oil, located in northeastern alberta, canada roughly centred on the boomtown of fort mcmurray. The alberta energy and utility board estimates that these contain about 1. A plan to unlock billions of barrels of oil from utahs sands.
During the same year, 11% of albertas oil was delivered to refineries in other parts of canada, and 74% was exported to u. Forecast total oil sands production in canada 20152035. Sidney kidder, sidney blair, george hume, and elmer adkins l to r at the edmonton portion of the athabasca oil sands conference at the university of alberta, 1951 source. They contain enough oil to make canada an energy superpower but at what cost and to whose benefit. The future of the canadian oil sands oxford institute for energy. In the oil sands, ultimate potential reserves, or the oil estimated to be recoverable as technology improves, are estimated at more than 300 billion barrels.
In situ recovery methods will be required to tap the 90 percent of reserves that are too deeply buried to be surface mined. The oil sands are a mixture of sand, clay and water together with a dense and extremely sticky form of petroleum referred to as bitumen. Alberta government oil sands project plant at bitumount succeeds in separating crude oil from oil sands. Oilsandssee reports and articles about the environmental, social, and economic impacts of oil sands production and transportation in canada. Canada s political climate is extremely stable compared to that in many other oil producing countries. The oil sands deposits in the western canada sedimentary basin wcsb comprise of at least 85% of the total immobile bitumen in place in the world and are so. The heavy oil is called bitumen, which is defined as oil that is too heavy or thick to flow or be pumped without being diluted or heated. Canadian oil sands facts and information natural gas intel. Openpit mining and hot water extraction methods, which involve the handling of huge tonnages of earth materials, are being employed in the two commercial plants now operating. Pdf the economics of canadian oil sands researchgate. Oil sands 101 lecture notes petroleum history society. Apr 03, 2012 canada holds 175 billion barrels of oil in reserves, the third highest right after saudi arabia and venezuela.
The completed alberta government oil sands project plant, ca. Oil sands simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to a study ordered by the government of alberta, canada, conducted by jacobs engineering group, carbon emissions from oil sand crude are 12% higher than from conventional oil. The figure rises to 315 billion barrels of potentially recoverable oil from the oil sands as extraction. The battle escalates over how quickly to clean up the giant pools of goop and who will pay. Albertas oil production and where it goes formated. Biodegradation and origin of oil sands in the western canada. History of development, prospects for the future summary when it comes to future reliable oil supplies, canada s oil sands will likely account for a greater share of u. This innovative thrust has developed in part because of the great exploitation difficulties experienced in canada and the greater maturity of the sedimentary basin. Canadian oil sands have the potential to continue to provide ever greater fuel supply reliability to the united. This is the vision of the institute for oil sands innovation iosi at the university of alberta. Almost everyone, from oil company ceos to hollywood stars, has offered their opinions. Institute for oil sands innovation iosi faculty of.
Inplace bitumen resources in the alberta oil sands are estimated at 50 billion barrels. Peace river, cold lake and athabasca figure 1, table 1. Albertas first commercial oil sands operation started in 1967. Oil sands are naturally occurring geologic formations that contain a mixture of water, sand and thick, heavy oil that can be found in many parts of the world. As with the extraction and use of any fossil fuel, negative environmental effects arise as a result of the extraction, upgrading, and processing of bitumen from the oil sands. Canadian oil sands limited was a canadian company that generates income from its oil sands investment in the syncrude joint venture. By 2025, production from canadian oil sands is expected to rise from about 1. Perhaps one of the ways to address this fear is to look to the past, and examine the history of albertan oil and gas. With the plunge in oil prices in fall 2008, many producers began canceling or postponing plans to expand oil sands development projects, but this turn of events could yet reverse, as canadas vast oil sands deposits are lauded as a secure source of imported oil for the united states. The largest oil sands reserves are located in canada. Oil sands are geologic formations that contain a mixture of thick, heavy oil, water and sand. The future of the canadian oil sands oxford institute for. In 2011 it was believed the reserve amounted to 170.
An oil sands worker checks the oil during the first step of separation at the suncor processing plant at their tar sands operations near fort mcmurray, alberta. The project is located in northeastern alberta, approximately 110 kilometres north of fort mcmurray. The present level of energy generation cannot meet. The frontier oil sands mine project, proposed by teck resources limited includes the construction, operation and reclamation of an oil sands surface mine with a production capacity of about 260,000 barrels per day of bitumen. The geology of the oil sands oil sands albertas energy.
Project historical databases for the canadian oil sands cost. Environmental impacts of oil sands energy education. Environmental defence has released a report calling the alberta oil sands the most destructive project on earth few canadians know that canada is home to one of the worlds largest dams and it is built to hold toxic waste from just one tar sands operation, rick smith. Historical overview of the fort mcmurray area and oil sands. In 1967 suncor helped pioneer the commercial development of canada s oil sands, one of. Apr 14, 2017 exodus from canada s oil sands continues as energy giants shed assets.
The environmental impact of the oil sands is an issue that has been extremely divisive. Most of the worlds oil sand resources are located in alberta, canada. Get breaking news and analysis on canadian oil sands ltd. Collectively these deposits underlie approximately. Growth potential of a unique resource amidst regulation, egress, cost, and price uncertainty 5 preface this research was conceived with two central objectives. Here are the pros and cons of tar sands to consider. History of the petroleum industry in canada oil sands and. Thanks to innovation and technology we can recover oil from the oil sands, providing energy security for the future. This statistic shows canada s total oil sands production from 1967 to 2018, measured in thousand cubic meters. Oil sands facts, statistics and indicators are subject to change as new information becomes available. The exploration of oil sands significantly increased canadas total oil reserves from approximately five billion barrels to an estimated 173 billion, meaning canada has the third largest oil reserve in the world, with 97 per cent of the oil in the form of oil sands. Oil sands are a natural mixture of sand, water, clay, and bitumen.
So in spite of the history of mistrust, some first. Oil sands operations that use little or no water, consume less energy, generate lower greenhouse gas emissions and yield highquality products at lower costs. Facts about albertas oil sands and its industry open government. Alberta government issues report on oil sands potential. Today, energy companies in canada are actively developing this dirty fuel. Some bitumen is found within 200 feet from the surface but the majority is deeper underground. Canada s oil sands and heavy oil resources are among the worlds great petroleum deposits.
A large number of oil sands mines are currently in operation and more are in the stages of approval or development. Oil sands account for about 46% of canadas total oil production and oil sands production is increasing as conventional. Albertas oil sands were formed millions of years ago, as tiny marine creatures died and drifted to the sea floor and were covered by layers of sediment that exerted enough pressure and temperatures to transform the organic matter into oil. History of the oil sands regional aquatics monitoring.
The oil sands or tar sands, are a mixture of sand, water, clay and a type of oil called bitumen. It must be diluted, pumped without being diluted or heated. An overview of heavy oil properties and its recovery and transportation methods 573 brazilian journal of chemical engineering vol. Inter pipeline fund oversees one of canada s biggest petroleum and petrochemical transport, pipeline and storage business. Many years of scientific study were required in order to develop an understanding of the nature, extent and origin of albertas oil sands.
Over millions of years, that oil became trapped in thick layers of sand. Until now the story of canadas oil sands has only been partially. Oil from sand oil boom in the canadian sand pictures. A geological survey of canada field party hauling a scow up the athabasca river, alberta, in 1914. Canada also has significant potential tight oil resources. Oil sand and depleted gas zone this case history shows an unusual fluid distribution. February 2016 the future of the canadian oil sands.
Coswf stock, price quote and chart, trading and investing tools. Natural bitumen is found in many countries, with the largest quantities in canada, kazakhstan and russia. Canada s tar sands is the thirdlargest proven crude oil reserve in the world behind saudi arabia and venezuela. Focuses on the history, science, and technology of the oil sands. Oil sands, or tar sands are an unconventional source of petroleum.
The oil production history of canada remains unique in the world. The oil is in the form of bitumen, a very heavy liquid or sticky black solid with a low melting temperature. I t has been reported that oil sand deposits in alberta. Comparing venezuelan and canadian heavy oil and tar sands. One of the worlds largest oil deposits is in the bituminous sands of alberta, canada.
121 168 591 512 906 1263 73 1 476 785 1174 73 380 1004 1091 711 967 43 583 438 255 676 191 679 686 984 415 854 616 194 1078 1323 1041 388