Energy

• Alberta's extensive technology infrastructure, strong knowledge base and favourable business climate have led the province to become the world's third largest producer of natural gas and the world leader in oil sands development.

• Alberta has a large natural gas resource base, with remaining estimated reserves of 40.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf).

• Alberta's non-conventional natural gas resources include coalbed methane, tight gas (natural gas trapped in low-permeability sedimentary rocks such as sandstone or limestone), and shale gas (trapped in shale rock). Alberta's coalbed methane resource is estimated to contain up to 500 Tcf of natural gas.

• Alberta accounts for 81% of the natural gas produced in Canada and is the world's second largest gas exporter.

• Second only to the Saudi Arabia reserves, Alberta's oil sands deposits were described by Time Magazine as "Canada's greatest buried energy treasure," and "could satisfy the world's demand for petroleum for the next century."

• Alberta's 2007 gross revenues from all hydrocarbons was $79.1 billion, with natural gas accounting for half the total.

• In 2007, energy resource exports totalled $55.5 billion, about 61% of Alberta's total exports of goods and services.

Date Updated: Oct 02, 2008
RDP-749