real estate for sale canada
real estate prince edward island canada
canada estate institute real
real estate victoria canada
max camosun re real estate victoria bc canada
commercial canada real estate lender 10025
ottawa canada real estate
real estate listing canada
sarnia ontario canada real estate agents
canada real estate school online
exit real estate canada
real estate for sale by owner edmonton canada
sutton real estate in toronto canada
canada estate in law real
royal lapage real estate housing nackawic nb canada
real estate agents2c on2c canada
canada wawa real estate for sale
real estate cranbrook bc canada
montreal canada real estate for sale
real estate new brunswick canada
calgary alberta canada real estate
canada estate newsletter real
canada sutton real estate
real estate cornwall canada
education commercial real estate courses canada
agency canada real estate
www real estate peterborough canada
real estate premiere canada
real estate for sale vancouver british columbia canada
auction canada real estate
canada re2fmax real estate
canada mls real estate
real estate dawson creek bc canada
canada 26 vancouver 26 real estate
canada real estate company
british columbia canada real estate
new brunswick canada real estate for sale
real estate listings ontario canada
mls canada real estate
real estate in ontario canada
| This article is part of the Canadian Petroleum History series. |
| History of the petroleum industry in Canada |
| Oil sands and heavy oil |
| Frontier exploration and development |
| Natural gas liquids |
| Natural gas |
The Canadian petroleum industry arose in parallel with that of the United States. Because of Canada's unique geography, geology, resources and patterns of settlement, however, it developed in quite different ways. The evolution of the petroleum sector has been a key factor in the history of Canada, and helps illustrate how the country became quite distinct from her neighbour to the south.
Although the conventional oil and gas industry in western Canada is mature, the country's Arctic and offshore petroleum resources are mostly in early stages of exploration and development. Canada became a natural gas-producing giant in the late 1950s and is second, after Russia, in exports; the country also is home to the world's largest natural gas liquids extraction facilities. The industry started constructing its vast pipeline networks in the 1950s, thus beginning to develop domestic and international markets in a big way.
Despite billions of dollars of investment, her bitumen - especially within the Athabasca oil sands - is still only a partially exploited resource. By 2025 this and other non-conventional oil resources - the northern and offshore frontiers and heavy crude oil resources in the West - could place Canada in the top ranks among the world's oil producing and exporting nations. In a 2004 reassessment of global resources, America's EIA put Canadian oil reserves second; only Saudi Arabia has greater potential. However, many oil experts argue that Saudi potential is highly limited, so Canada could well be number one.
Many of the stories surrounding the petroleum industry's early development are colourful. The gathering oilpatch involved rugged adventurers, the occasional fraud, important innovations and, in the end, world-class success. Canadian petroleum production is now a vital part of the national economy and an essential element of world supply. Canada has become an energy giant.