Tenure Facts

Albertans own the mineral rights for 53.7 million hectares of land. That's about 81 per cent of Alberta's total land area. The remaining 19 per cent are freehold mineral rights owned by private individuals and companies or minerals owned by the federal government (National Parks, Indian Reserves).

As of March 31, 2011 there were 95,510 active Crown petroleum and natural gas agreements.

On a yearly basis, the Alberta Energy holds an average of 24 land auctions and issues between 6,000 and 9,000 new petroleum and natural gas agreements.

The highest bonus amount collected by Alberta Energy in one year for petroleum and natural gas rights was $2.388 billion in 2010.

In 2005, $1.827 billion in bonus revenue was collected from the public offering petroleum and natural gas rights. This is the second highest total amount ever collected in one year.

The most money paid for one parcel of petroleum and natural gas rights was $96.7 million on March 23, 2011.

The most money collected by Alberta Energy in one public offering of petroleum and natural gas rights was $475.9 million on December 14, 2005.

The best measure of the land sale is the average price paid per hectare. The top sale by average price per hectare was held July 7, 2010. A total of $451.7 million was collected at an average price of $2,185.03 per hectare.

Alberta Energy collects freehold mineral tax on production from freehold oil and gas properties. The tax averages $300 million annually.