Suncor Energy Inc. Toggle search box visibility Oil sands We were the first company to commercially develop the oil sands in northern Alberta, creating an industry that is now a key contributor to Canada’s prosperity. Oil sands at a glance ~600 mboe/d The heavy upgrading nameplate capacity of our high-margin barrels. Operations Base plant Fort Hills Firebag MacKay River Syncrude Proposed Base Mine Extension Coke Boiler Replacement Project Lewis Meadow Creek Syncrude Mildred Lake Extension As a major holder in the oil sands, Suncor will continue to deliver safe, reliable energy while focusing on growth, technical innovation and environmental sustainability. ON THIS PAGE Oil sands process and production Mining In situ Oil sands process and production Oil sand is a mixture of bitumen, sand, clay and water. Because it does not flow like conventional crude oil which isa liquid, it must be mined or heated underground before it can be processed. Once the bitumen has been extracted, we upgrade it into higher-value synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel and otherproducts. Suncor extracts bitumen in two ways: mining and in situ. Mining About 20% of Canada’s oil sands is close enough to the surface to be mined. Suncor uses large trucks and shovels toextract the oil sands that are near the surface (approx. 130-200 ft deep). Hot water is used to separate the bitumen from the sand. This step is called extraction. Bitumen is heated andsent to drums where excess carbon (in the form of petroleum coke) is removed. Vapours from the coke drums are sent to fractionators where they condense into naphtha, kerosene and gas oil. The end product is synthetic crude oil, which is shipped to refineries across North America to be furtherrefined into jet fuels, gasoline and other petroleum products. Our surface mining operations Suncor owned and operated: Millennium North Steepbank Base Mine Extension (proposed) Suncor operated joint ventures: Fort Hills Syncrude In situ Approximately 80% of Canada’s oil sands are too deep to mine using the truck and shovel technique and must be tappedusing in situ production, a three-part process to drill, inject steam and extract bitumen to the surface. WHAT WE DO Locations Refining Oil sands Base Mine Extension Coke Boiler Replacement Project Lewis Meadow Creek Fort Hills Syncrude Low-carbon power Low-carbon fuels Exploration and production Supply and trading Petro‑Canada The steam-assisted gravity drainage process The top horizontal well reaches the oil sands ore and injects steam to heat the reservoir. The bitumen is separated by the heat, so, using gravity, it can flow as a liquid into the lower well. The bitumen travels along the lower well where it is collected and piped to upgrading facilities. Our SAGD in situ operations Firebag MacKay River Meadow Creek (proposed) Lewis (proposed) Do you want to learn about Suncor’s Oil Sands and In Situ operations? This step-by-step tour video will take you behind the scenes to find out about our mining and steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processes. Land reclamation We are focused on reducing the size and duration of the land we disturb through mining and returning the land to a naturally sustainable ecosystem. Through scientific research, best practices and adopting traditional knowledge from Indigenous Peoples, we are facilitating the return to a biologically diverse landscape. Wapisiw Lookout More oil sands stories ENVIRONMENT Turn on your speakers for seismic footprint reduction ENVIRONMENT Crossing over to the wild side OPERATIONS Roar for the 10th anniversary of our dino dig ENVIRONMENT Getting to net-zero View all stories Our purpose is to provide trusted energy that enhances people’s lives, while caring for each other and the Earth. Careers menu Investors menu Contractors and suppliers menu Contact us Sign up for news Legal and privacy Petro‑Canada Follow us © Suncor Energy Inc. 2021. All Rights Reserved. ™ Trademark of Suncor Energy Inc.