ConocoPhillips holds nearly 1 million net acres of land in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta. The significant
bitumenBitumen is a thick, sticky and dense type of crude oil resembling cold molasses (at room temperature). It requires upgrading before it can be refined and is so viscous that it must be heated or diluted with lighter hydrocarbons to be transported by pipeline. deposits on these lands are estimated to contain more than 15 billion net barrels of resources, making ConocoPhillips the holder of one of the largest land and resource positions in the region.
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ConocoPhillips is well-positioned to become a leading in-situ producer in the Athabasca oil sands region. |
Surmont
ConocoPhillips operates the Surmont oil sands project, located southeast of Fort McMurray. This multi-phase steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)A process used to recover bitumen that is too deep to mine. A pair of horizontal wells is drilled from a central wellpad. In a plant nearby, steam generators powered by natural gas heat water and transform it into steam. The steam then travels through above-ground pipelines to the wells. It enters the ground via the steam injection (top) well. The steam heats the bitumen to a temperature at which it can flow by gravity into the producing (bottom) well. The steam injection and oil production happen continuously and simultaneously. The resulting bitumen and condensed steam emulsion is then piped from the producing well to the plant, where it is separated and treated. The water is then recycled for generating new steam.
project is a 50/50 joint venture between ConocoPhillips and Total E&P Canada Ltd. Surmont Phase 1 began oil production in 2007, and the Phase 2 expansion commenced construction in 2010. These first two phases have a gross regulatory capacity of 110,000 barrels per day. Significant expansion potential exists.
To better understand the technology we use and what the Surmont Project looks like, view the virtual tour.
FCCL Partnership
The FCCL Partnership is a 50/50 partnership between ConocoPhillips and
Cenovus Energy. Operated by Cenovus, the partnership consists of the Foster Creek and Christina Lake projects and the proposed Narrows Lake project, all located in the south eastern section of the Athabasca oil sands. There are expansion plans in progress for both Foster Creek and Christina Lake, which currently have a gross regulatory capacity of 428,000 barrels per day.
Current production net before royalties to ConocoPhillips is 67,000 barrels per day.
Other Leaseholdings
In addition to its project interests, ConocoPhillips has additional significant leaseholdings in the Athabasca Region located in Thornbury, Clyden and Saleski. We have a 100 percent working interest in these lands and will continue to delineate their resource potential