Canada’s oil sands are among the world’s largest crude oil reserves and the most carbon-intensive. Here’s a 10-minute overview of their work, environmental cost, and role in the global energy mix.

Alberta’s oil sands are the world’s third-largest oil reserves and a huge part of Canada’s economy. They generate billions annually in government taxes, revenues, and royalties, support small and medium-sized businesses from coast to coast, and attract hundreds of thousands of workers from across the country.

But how much do you know about the oil sands?

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:50 Geological formation
• 1:15 Oil sands reserves
• 1:41 Deposit geology
• 2:00 Properties of bitumen
• 2:42 Getting oil from the oil sands
• 2:56 Extraction methods - in-situ vs mining
• 3:09 In-situ extraction
• 3:57 Surface mining
• 5:28 Bitumen upgrading
• 6:42 Production volumes - diluted bitumen vs synthetic crude
• 7:10 Buyers of oil sands crude - Canada vs USA
• 8:07 Export pipelines
• 9:24 Oil prices explained
• 10:13 GHG emissions from the oil sands
• 11:31 Outro

For more information on the Oil Sands, please visit the below links:

1. Oil Sands 101 — Short Course (full version) » GO.
2. Oil Sands Technical Library » GO.
3. Oil Sands Weekly Newsletter » GO.

Oil Sands at a Crossroads — What Comes Next?

The Canadian oil sands remain an economic driver and environmental concern. Their long-term viability depends on how quickly we can transition to cleaner, more circular systems that meet today’s energy needs while protecting the climate.

Klean Industries is Driving the Shift:

✅ Advanced thermal processing to replace carbon-heavy fuels
✅ Clean oil recovery from tires, plastics & waste
✅ Scalable circular economy solutions for energy transition
✅ ESG-aligned strategies for fossil-dependent regions

Connect with Klean Industries to discover real-world alternatives to oil sand extraction and help build a decarbonized, resource-efficient energy future » GO.