Sulphur (by-product)

POTENTIAL & KNOWN RESERVES IN ALBERTA

≈4 Mt/yr recovered (dated); 11.66 Mt inventory (Jul 2025)

Confidence: Measured

• Annual recovery≈4 Mt/yrDated figure; AER ST3 is the authoritative monthly seriesAER ST3 sulphur supply/disposition ↗
• Inventory11.66 Mt (Jul 2025), lowest since 2019Syncrude block ≈9.9 MtArgus, 2025 ↗
• Canadian exports4.25 Mt (2025, +41 %); 5.2 Mt expected 2026; Alberta >70 %SMM ↗

Where it occurs

• Oil sands upgraders (Syncrude, Suncor, Scotford, Horizon)
• Foothills sour gas (Caroline, Waterton, Strachan)
• Kaybob
• Refineries

Official reserve pins on the map

• Sulphur block inventory11.66 Mt (Jul 2025) · Resource estimate · Jul 2025Argus ↗

GEOLOGY: WHAT MAKES A DEPOSIT MORE LIKELY

H2S in deep Devonian–Mississippian carbonate gas and organically bound sulphur in bitumen, recovered by Claus units.

Host formations

Leduc / Wabamun / Rundle sour-gas reservoirs · Bitumen (3–3.5 wt % S)

Depth range

3K–5K m

Favourable conditions

• High-H2S gas pools (5–35 %)
• Upgrader throughput
• Forming and rail access to Vancouver

Prospectivity envelopes on the map (1)

• Foothills sour-gas belt (Caroline–Waterton)Producing / drill-proven
  By-product elemental sulphur from deep Devonian–Mississippian sour gas · 3K–5K m
  • H2S 5–35 % in Leduc, Wabamun and Rundle reservoirs along the Foothills
  • Sulphur recovered at Caroline, Waterton, Strachan and oil sands upgraders
  Source: Alberta sulphur production statistics (AER ST98).

DATASETS THAT TEST THE TARGET

Stack these layers on the integrated map

Discriminating datasets first, then every catalogued public dataset tagged to this commodity. Verified endpoints draw directly; link-only entries open the publisher page.

• Active producing wells (Alberta Energy Geoview)Alberta Energy and Minerals · Wells · link only · verifiedWhere hydrocarbons are flowing today: live reservoir pressure, produced-water (brine) access, helium-bearing gas streams and infrastructure for re-entry.Source ↗
• 3D Provincial Geological Framework: Precambrian subcrop zonesAlberta Geological Survey · Structure, depth & isopach · drawable · verifiedEntry point to the provincial 3D framework: which Paleozoic zone sits on basement controls helium traps, brine aquifers and storage seals.Source ↗
• Oil sands projects, schemes & development areas (OASIS)Alberta Energy and Minerals · Infrastructure · drawable · verifiedApproved project footprints — the mines and SAGD schemes whose tailings and produced water host by-product minerals.Source ↗

VALUE & VALUE CHAIN

Vancouver FOB: US$238/t average Jan–Jul 2025 (US$78 in 2024); US$280–290 Q3 2025

2026 reports above US$500/t unverified

Not modelled in the Atlas price deck; follows phosphate fertilizer and HPAL nickel acid demand.

Value chain

1. Claus recovery
2. Forming / block remelting
3. Rail to Vancouver
4. Sulphuric acid plants

Industries and products that rely on it

DEMAND & PRODUCTION PROJECTIONS

What the forecasts say

• Market3–5 %/yr growth into the 2030sMarket Intelo sulfur market ↗

Key risks

• Price cyclicality
• Declining sour-gas output
• Rail capacity

DEVELOPMENT: TENURE, ROYALTY, PERMITTING

What a developer needs to know

Tenure

No separate tenure — by-product of PNG and oil sands agreements.

Royalty

Alberta sulphur royalty applies under the Natural Gas Royalty Regulation (rate unverified).

Lead time

1–2 years for remelt / forming facilities

Permitting path

1. EPEA approval amendments for remelting
2. Rail loadout approvals

Infrastructure needs

• Remelters
• Forming plants
• Rail cars and Vancouver terminal slots

Active players

Recommended next steps

• Value the Syncrude block under a Vancouver FOB slider
• Assess acid-plant integration with lithium DLE reagent needs

MINES, PILOTS & PROJECTS (1)

Who is already working this commodity in Alberta

• Sultech / Canlin micronized sulphur plantCritical-minerals recovery · Sultech / Canlin Energy · 50 kt/yr micronized sulphur fertilizer (2027)Construction (2026)Location approximate (Caroline area gas plant).Source ↗