Oil Sands in Canada: 26 Facts on Alberta’s Oil Sands

26 Canadian Oil Sands Facts

Oil Sands Reserves & Production: Facts

#1 – Canada has the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves, and Alberta’s oil sands hold 167 billion barrels of them, according to a 2026 appraisal for the Alberta Energy Regulator (reserves as of December 31, 2023) ^[1]

#2 – About 97% of Canada’s proven oil reserves are located in the oil sands ^[2]

#3 – Alberta’s oil sands contain more than 140 years of proved inventory, giving Canada a secure, long-life supply ^[1]

#4 – An estimated 1.845 trillion barrels of crude bitumen are in place in Alberta's oil sands, meaning today’s proven reserves are only a fraction of the total resource ^[1]

#5 – The oil sands produced 3.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, or 65% of Canada’s oil production, compared to 1.8 million bpd of other oil production, and have out-produced conventional oil since 2010 ^[2]

#6 – Oil sands production rose 3.9% in 2025 as Canada set a new annual record for crude oil production; Alberta produced 1.36 billion barrels of crude bitumen, up from 1.30 billion in 2024 ^[1][3]

Oil Sands and the Economy: Facts

#7 – An estimated $379 billion of capital has been invested in the oil sands to date, including $13.3 billion in 2024, showing just how important the sector is for job-creating investment in Canada ^[2]

#8 – By late 2024, the oil sands were set to pass $1 trillion in cumulative direct spending in the Canadian economy over about 25 years ^[6]

#9 – More than 2,300 companies outside Alberta have done direct business with the oil sands, including over 1,300 in Ontario and almost 600 in Quebec ^[6]

#10 – Between 2019 and 2023, Oil Sands Alliance member companies spent an average of $20.3 billion a year in Canada’s supply chain, more than $100 billion in total ^[5]

#11 – Canada’s petroleum sector, which includes the oil sands, supported 503,100 direct and indirect jobs in 2024 ^[2]

#12 – The benefits of the oil sands reach far beyond Alberta: Alberta held 46% of the petroleum sector’s 313,400 supply chain jobs in 2024, followed by Ontario (24%), British Columbia (11%) and Quebec (8%) ^[2]

#13 – In 2025, 10.9% of Canada’s crude oil exports went to countries other than the U.S., more than triple the 2016-to-2024 average of 2.8%, helped by the Trans Mountain Expansion ^[3]

#14 – Canada was the largest foreign supplier of crude oil to the U.S. in 2024, accounting for 62% of total U.S. crude oil imports ^[2]

Oil Sands and Alberta: Facts

#15 – In the 2024-25 fiscal year, bitumen (oil sands) royalties brought Alberta $17.2 billion in revenues, more than the $16.1 billion the province collected in personal income tax ^[7]

#16 – Oil sands royalties have been the largest contributor to Alberta’s resource royalty revenue since the 2009-10 fiscal year ^[8]

#17 – Alberta now forecasts $18 billion in bitumen royalties for 2026-27, $8.3 billion more than it expected at budget time, helping turn a projected deficit into a surplus ^[4]

#18 – Oil sands accounted for the largest share of Alberta’s revenues in 2024, at over 70% ($107 billion), up from 16% ($8 billion) in 2000 ^[9]

#19 – The oil sands (bitumen and upgraded bitumen) are the primary engine of hydrocarbon growth in Alberta, comprising the largest share of provincial production in 2025 at 50%, followed by natural gas at 27% (on a barrel of oil equivalent, or boe, basis) ^[9]

#20 – Net export receipts of crude oil from Alberta climbed from $6 billion in 2000 to $130 billion in 2024 ^[10]

Oil Sands & First Nations: Facts

#21 – Oil Sands Alliance members spent $23.8 billion with Indigenous-affiliated suppliers from 2019 to 2023, an 81% increase over five years, with $6.6 billion in 2023 alone ^[5]

#22 – In 2022, 23 First Nation and Métis communities agreed to acquire an 11.57% interest in seven pipelines in Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region for $1.12 billion, at the time the largest energy-related Indigenous economic partnership transaction in North America ^[11]

#23 – The Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation has deployed just under $750 million in loan guarantees, supporting more than $1.5 billion in Indigenous investment, with 43 Métis and First Nations communities taking part ^[12]

A New Pipeline for the Oil Sands: Facts

#24 – Alberta’s proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline would move more than 1 million bpd toward Asian markets, include an Indigenous equity purchase right, and could begin construction as early as September 1, 2027 ^[13][10]

#25 – The federal government estimates that pipeline could support about 140,000 direct and indirect jobs at the height of construction and around 50,000 jobs a year once operating ^[13]

#26 – Ottawa estimates the Pacific Link pipeline could generate $100 billion in government revenues for Canadians through 2060 ^[14]

Where Are Canada’s Oil Sands?

Oil sands are a natural mixture of sand, clay or other minerals, water, and bitumen, a very heavy oil ^[15]. Canada’s oil sands lie beneath 142,200 square kilometres (km²) of northern Alberta, in three areas: Athabasca, Cold Lake and Peace River ^[8]. For perspective, Alberta is approximately 661,848 km².

Oil sands deposits shallow enough to mine (up to 75 metres deep) are found only in the Athabasca area and cover about 4,800 km², roughly 3.4% of the oil sands area ^[8]. Deeper deposits are produced “in situ,” using wells and steam to bring the bitumen to the surface ^[2]. Mining and in situ extraction methods each play a major role ^[2]:

• Mining: roughly 20% of oil sands resources and 48% of current production
• In situ: roughly 80% of oil sands resources and 52% of current production

Brief History of Canada’s Oil Sands

Indigenous Peoples knew of the oil sands long before any company arrived. Here is a brief timeline ^[16]:

1715 – A Cree chief known as Captain Swan makes the first known reference to the Athabasca oil sands, telling Hudson’s Bay Company Governor James Knight about a river where he found “Gum or pitch.”

1788 – Alexander Mackenzie writes of bitumen seeps into which a six-metre pole could be pushed “without the least resistance.”

1926 – Karl Clark perfects a hot water process for separating bitumen from sand while working for the Research Council of Alberta and the University of Alberta.

1967 – Great Canadian Oil Sands (now Suncor) starts the world’s first large-scale oil sands operation at Fort McMurray, producing about 2,500 bpd.

1970s – Roger Butler develops steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), paving the way for scores of in situ projects.

1978 – Syncrude opens its oil sands mining and upgrading project at Fort McMurray.

2024 – The Trans Mountain Expansion begins operating in May, opening new opportunities to deliver Canadian crude to Asia ^[9][3].

2025 – On November 27, Canada and Alberta sign an energy agreement to support a privately financed, Indigenous co-owned pipeline of one million-plus bpd to Asian markets ^[16].

2026 – In July, Canada, Alberta and the Oil Sands Alliance sign a memorandum of understanding to support substantial oil sands production growth ^[13].

The Future of Canada’s Oil Sands

The best of the oil sands story is still ahead. Alberta has set a goal of doubling its oil production to eight million bpd over the next 10 to 15 years ^[19], and the oil sands will need to lead the way.

Getting there means building. The federal Major Projects Office has listed the West Coast Oil Pipeline, now named Pacific Link, as a national interest project under the Building Canada Act. We have seen what one new pipeline can do: Trans Mountain narrowed the discount on our oil and opened doors in Asia. Learn more in our post on why Canada needs a new West Coast oil pipeline.

The Government of Alberta says demand for oil and gas will remain strong for decades, especially in Asia ^[20]. The only question is whether that demand will be met by Canada, or by other suppliers instead, while Canadians miss out on the immense economic benefits that would go with.

The World Needs Canadian Oil

Canada’s oil sands are a national asset. They create jobs from Fort McMurray to Ontario and Quebec, fund public services through royalties and taxes, and give Indigenous communities a path towards economic reconciliation and project ownership.

More pipelines transporting Canadian oil sands from Alberta abroad mean a diversified customer base, better prices for our energy resources, and more prosperity for Canadian families. How can anyone be against that?

Learn more about Canada’s energy and natural resource sectors by joining us today!

Canada has the energy that the world needs. We can and should be working with all our trading partners abroad to provide them with oil, while creating jobs and public revenues for Canadians at home. https://t.co/v5lukWuFSF

— Oil Sands Action (@OilsandsAction) September 9, 2026

SOURCES:

_{1 - https://static.ags.aer.ca/files/document/INF/INF_161.pdf}

_{2 - https://energy-information.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/energy-fact-book-2025-2026.pdf}

_{3 - https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/9188-canadian-crude-oil-reaches-new-heights-2025}

_{4 - https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/9c81a5a7-cdf1-49ad-a923-d1ecb42944e4/resource/eaeb7a75-0c9f-4964-be53-0f1cc889ffab/download/tbf-2026-27-first-quarter-fiscal-update-economic-statement.pdf}

_{5 - https://oilsandsalliance.ca/stories/oil-sands-injects-20-billion-into-canadian-businesses/}

_{6 - https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/one-trillion-reasons-why-oilsands-benefit-canadas-economy-heather-exner-pirot-and-bryan-remillard-in-the-edmonton-journal/}

_{7 - https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/3393a7b5-07bf-4b9f-8aaf-a6d89273297b/resource/58a8d024-398f-482e-b1c2-81a754a97253/download/budget-2026-fiscal-plan-2026-29.pdf}

_{8 – https://www.alberta.ca/oil-sands-facts-and-statistics}

_{9 - https://www.capp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Alberta-Oil-Gas-101-April-17-2026.pdf}

_{10 - https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=964377446F701-C11F-18B4-3F0AEA07D8D9E1FD}

_{11 - https://www.enbridge.com/media-center/news/details?id=123735&lang=en}

_{12 - https://theaioc.com/2026/06/09/weve-really-inspired-the-country-how-an-alberta-loan-program-is-helping-indigenous-groups-buy-ownership-stakes-in-energy-projects/}

_{13 - https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy/news/2026/07/strengthening-our-sovereignty-diversifying-our-exports-reducing-emissions-and-building-a-stronger-economy.html}

_{14 - https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/10/01/prime-minister-carney-lists-west-coast-oil-pipeline-now-known-pacific}

_{15 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/what-are-oil-sands}

_{16 - https://www.alberta.ca/energy-in-alberta-timeline}

_{17 - https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=95316BDF2757A-B5C7-C364-6498DC1D01A6CF64}

_{18 - https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy/news/2026/07/strengthening-our-sovereignty-diversifying-our-exports-reducing-emissions-and-building-a-stronger-economy.html}

_{19 - https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=9648898F7E908-DE41-498F-538D2C645869C288}

_{20 - https://www.alberta.ca/pacific-link}