Canada ranks second largest in terms of global proven crude oil reserves (15% of world reserves), after Saudi Arabia. The majority of these reserves are found in Alberta’s oil sands – over 173 billion barrels.

Oil sands production of more than 1.2 millon barrels a day (bbls/d) in 2006 now account for approximately 42 per cent of Canada’s total crude output.

Alberta's oil sands underlie 140, 200 square kilometers (54,132 square miles) of primarily northern Alberta; an area larger than the state of Florida.

It takes about two tonnes of oil sand to produce a barrel of oil.

Oil sands producers move enough overburden and oil sands every two days to fill Toronto’s Skydome or New York’s Yankee Stadium.