About the Petroleum Industry
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Petroleum Industry Facts
Did You Know?
Canada's impact on the world's stage is undeniable.
Technology, a skilled workforce and innovation have unlocked vast
new oil and gas reserves and helped secure Canada's place as a
major supplier of energy to the world. As the global demand for
energy grows, Canada's oil and gas industry will continue to create
jobs for thousands of Canadians.
Here are a few interesting facts about the industry
- read further to learn a thing or two!
Crude Oil
- Canada has about 179 billion barrels
of established crude oil reserves, more than any other country in
the world except Saudi Arabia.
- About 170 billion barrels of Canada's
oil reserves - or about 97% - is oil sands.
- Canada is the world's sixth-largest
producer of crude oil.
- Canada currently produces close to
2.8 million barrels of crude oil every day. About 2.0 million
barrels per day of oil - or about two-thirds of Canada's production
is exported.
- Oil production is forecast to reach at least 4.2 million
barrels per day by 2020.
Natural Gas
- Canada is the world's third-largest
producer of natural gas, only after United States and Russia.
- Canada currently produces 15.4
billion cubic feet per day of natural gas and exports about 9
billion cubic feet per day - about 58%.
- Canada's proven natural gas reserves were between 700 and 1,300
trillion cubic feet (Tcf) as of 2010.
- The natural gas industry has a
significant impact on Canada's economy, contributing approximately
$106 billion in direct value to the Canadian economy.
- The Canadian natural gas industry directly employed over
172,000 people in 2010.
Wells
- In 2010, 12,343 wells were drilled
across Canada while 15,100 wells are expected to be drilled in
2012.
- On average, 798
drilling rigs and 817 service
rigs operated in Canada in 2010.
Pipelines
- Canada has more than 825,000
kilometres of pipelines, the majority of this
pipeline network is underground. If laid end to end these could
circle the earth 20 times.
- Oil travels through a pipeline at 4
to 8 kilometers per hour, which is roughly walking speed. It may
take a month or more to carry crude oil to different
customers. At this pace, it may take a month or more to
carry crude oil to customers.
- Natural gas moves through a pipeline
up to 40 kilometers per hour, about the speed of an Olympic runner.
Natural gas can travel from Alberta to Southern Ontario in about 6
days.
- Alberta alone has 392,000 kilometres
of energy related pipelines.
Offshore
- There are currently three producing
offshore oil projects: Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose.
- These projects operate in one of the
world's harshest environments, challenged by ice, wind and
waves.
Careers
- By 2035, it is estimated the oil
sands alone are expected to support 905,000 jobs as a result of new
investments in production and processing.
- Jobs in the petroleum industry can be
found across Canada, from
BC to
Newfoundland and Labrador.
- The oil and gas industry is truly a
national industry, with oil and gas activity in 12 our of 13
provinces across Canada.
- The Pipeline sector employs nearly
9,000 workers.
Products
- Over 3,000 products we use on a daily
basis are made from petroleum products.
- The downstream sector
provides the thousands of products we use in our everyday lives,
such as gasoline, motor oil, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, synthetic
rubber, plastics, fertilizers, antifreeze, medicines, natural gas
and propane - even make-up, bubble gum and polar fleece!
To find out more about Canada's oil and gas
industry: