Oil Facts

Conventional crude oil production in Alberta averaged 525 thousand barrels a day (bbls/d) in 2007.

Alberta exported over 1.3 million bbls/d of oil to US markets in 2007, similar to the levels in 2006 and an increase of 40% over 2000.

There are about 3,000 "petroleum products" or products made from crude oil including gasoline, ink, crayons, bubble gum, dishwashing liquids, deodorant, eyeglasses, records, tires, ammonia, and heart valves.

All crude oil is not the same. Crude oil is called "sweet" when it contains only a small amount of sulphur and "sour" if it contains a lot of sulphur.

There are 159 litres (42 US gallons) in a barrel of oil.  During the early development of the petroleum industry, 42 US gallons was deemed to equal a barrel of oil.  The only barrels guaranteed to be 42 US gallons were the blue barrels manufactured for and used by Standard Oil.  Thus the standard measure for oil became the 42 US gallon blue barrel or "bbl".

In 2007, Alberta produced more crude oil from non-conventional resources (Oil Sands) than from conventional sources.

At the year end 2007, the world crude oil reserves were estimated at close to 1.23 trillion barrels, of which the 13 OPEC Member Countries held about 76 per cent.