As a member of Canada's Energy BOT Squad here's what you need to know.
DOSSIER: OilBOT
I’m super busy. Oil powers the vehicles that Canadians use to get around the second largest country in the world, and when I’m not doing that I’m making products like asphalt, jet fuel and household materials like plastics. But transportation’s really where I shine: diesel fuel, gasoline — I do it all. At the moment, I’m most at home in Alberta, where the oil sands contain the world’s second largest oil reserves. I’m a handy BOT to know, especially when you’ve got the road ahead of you. And I’ve got heat and electricity to spare too.
Heating
When Canadians in remote, rural locations need to warm up, sometimes they turn to heating oil. It’s not my specialty, but I can keep folks warm on nippy nights.
Transportation
When it comes to wheels, I can’t be beat: Canada’s vehicles are almost all fuelled with oil products. I’m making sure Canadians keep moving.
Electricity
If you live out in a rural area, you might need a diesel generator for your electricity —that’s where I come in. For places that need more electricity, there are also large facilities that burn heavy oil.
How much?
Canada has the world's third largest crude oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Most of this oil is found in the oil sands, but conventional production is still an important part of Canada's oil production.
Where?
Crude oil is mostly produced in Alberta, Saskatchewan and offshore Newfoundland. There are untapped reserves in the northern territories, but like most Canadians I’ll stay out of the cold as long as I can.
How does it work?
There are three ways to produce conventional oil, that is, oil that doesn’t have to be heated or diluted to get it to the surface.
And when the oil I’m trying to get at is heavy, like it is in the oil sands, I’ve got more aces up my sleeves (or would, if I wore sleeves) like mining, cyclic steam stimulation and SAGD.
Special powers
I’m not just fast, I’m also a BOT of many talents. Oil is used in all kinds of products, like synthetic rubber and plastics, and it’s also responsible for the asphalt on your roads. The roads I own.
Global intelligence
Canada’s lucky to have a BOT as powerful as I am, but I’m not alone: oil is produced around the world, on land and at sea. I don’t get offshore much myself: my wheels don’t work as well on the water.
Next: Now that we’ve gotten to know me, it’s time to find the second member of my squad: GasBOT. She’s a spitfire, and a country as cold as Canada needs one of those. Brrr.
