The Oil Sands of Alberta

Abstract The heavy hydrocarbon deposits in the Cold Lake area of Alberta are described, and some observations on other Alberta oil sands, particularly the Athabasca deposit, are presented. Introduction This contribution was presented in a slightly different form at the Seventh World Petroleum Congress in Mexico City in April, 1967 as a discussion under Panel Discussion No. 13, "Occurrence and Prospects of Tar Sands," of a paper by Dr. P. H. Phizackerley and Miss L. O. Scott entitled "The Major Tar Sand Deposits of the World." In accordance with Congress rules against printing of discussions, this contribution is not being published in the Proceedings of the Congress. The purpose of this presentation is to supplement the recorded summary of 'world oil sands deposits with a discussion of the important Cold Lake deposits and with selected observations on the nature and properties of the other Alberta deposits, particularly the Athabasca deposit.