OIL SANDS MINEOil & gas

Syncrude Aurora North

Syncrude · Nameplate 225 kbbl/d

Feeds Mildred Lake upgrader.

RESOURCE CONTEXT

167.3 Bbbl proved (187 Bbbl proved + probable); 1,845 Bbbl in place

The largest proved hydrocarbon inventory in Alberta and the base load of provincial royalty income.

Crude bitumen — proved reserves167.3 Bbbl · Remaining established reserves · 31 Dec 2023AGS/AER INF 161 (McDaniel) ↗
Crude bitumen — initial in place1,845 Bbbl · Initial in place · 31 Dec 2023AGS/AER INF 161 ↗
Cold Lake in situ bitumen (share of 153 Bbbl in situ P+P)153 Bbbl in situ P+P (province) · Remaining established reserves · 31 Dec 2023AER ST98 2026 reserves ↗

GEOLOGICAL SETTING

Athabasca McMurray mineable and SAGD fairwayProducing / drill-proven
Lower Cretaceous McMurray fluvial-estuarine sand saturated with biodegraded oil

Tenure: Oil sands lease under the Oil Sands Tenure Regulation (Alberta Energy and Minerals).
Royalty: Pre-payout 1–9 % of gross revenue (sliding with WTI C$55–120); post-payout the greater of 1–9 % gross or 25–40 % net.

DATASETS TO STACK HERE

Bedrock geology polygons (DIG 2013-0018, queryable)Alberta Geological SurveyAttribute-level bedrock mapping for screening host lithologies; heavy, so it loads only when zoomed in.
Bedrock topography (DIG 2020-0022 tiles)Alberta Geological SurveyBuried valleys and bedrock highs: where cover is thin (cheap stripping) and where preglacial gravels pool.
Sediment (drift) thickness above bedrockAlberta Geological SurveyOverburden cost for open-pit targets and the depth of cover that geophysics must see through.
Seismic / forestry cutlines (oil sands region)Alberta Environment and Protected Areas – OSIPWhere 2D/3D seismic has been shot; legacy data may be purchasable from brokers.
AGS prospective areas for mineral explorationAlberta Geological SurveyThe survey's own view of where each commodity is prospective; compare with the Atlas knowledge-driven envelopes.
NRCan Map 900A: producing mines, mineral areas, oil & gas fieldsNatural Resources CanadaOfficial federal view of producing operations to cross-check the Atlas mine inventory.
Oil sands agreementsAlberta Energy and MineralsOil sands rights; nearly all of the Athabasca mineable area is leased.
Non-Crown mineral ownershipAlberta Energy and MineralsFreehold minerals need private deals and carry freehold mineral tax instead of Crown royalty.

NEARBY OPERATIONS

Jackpine (Albian)Oil sands mine · Canadian Natural · ≈9 kmOperating
Fort HillsOil sands mine · Suncor (100 %) · ≈10 kmOperating
Muskeg River (Albian)Oil sands mine · Canadian Natural · ≈11 kmOperating
Froth-treatment tailings heavy minerals (Ti–Zr–REE)Critical-minerals recovery · CVW CleanTech (ex-Titanium Corp) / AGS studies · ≈15 kmPilot / demonstration
Canadian Natural HorizonOil sands mine · Canadian Natural · ≈17 kmOperating
KearlOil sands mine · Imperial (71 %) / ExxonMobil · ≈17 kmOperating