Canadian Oil Sands: ConocoPhillips' Surmont Facility

Jane Van Ryan
Posted November 24, 2009

Northern Alberta is believed to contain more recoverable oil than the total reserves of Saudi Arabia--existing in oil sands deposits--20% of which can be accessed via surface mining and 80% that are too deep for mining.

During our visit to Alberta, we had the opportunity to visit ConocoPhillips' Surmont facility where these deep deposits are produced by flooding the sands with steam in a process called Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).

Watch the video below to see how ConocoPhillips produces about 20,000 barrels of oil per day from SAGD oil sands recovery.

A recent Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) study says greater production of Canada's oil sands is expected to stimulate economic activity in both countries, creating more than 340,000 new U.S. jobs and adding an estimated $42.2 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025.

Canadian oil sands are a vital component to the U.S. energy mix. So take action and contact Congress. Let them hear from you in support of expanding access to oil and natural gas resources--including energy supplies from Canadian oil sands.

And for more information, read the CERI study, "Canada's Oil Sands and Economic Impact on the United States' Economy," and this Canadian oil sands primer.