Glossary
Bitumen
A thick, sticky form of crude oil which is so heavy and viscous that it will not flow unless it is heated or diluted with lighter hydrocarbons. At room temperature, bitumen looks much like cold molasses.
Continued lease
An oil sands lease which is granted for an indefinite term once the holder of a primary lease (or equivalent) has met the required minimum level of evaluation. Continued leases are classified as producing or non-producing. Non-producing continued leases are subject to escalating rent.
Crude bitumen
Defined in the Mines and Minerals Act as "a naturally occurring viscous mixture, mainly of hydrocarbons heavier than pentane, that may contain sulphur compounds and that, in its naturally occurring viscous state, will not flow to a well."
Discovered Resources
Discovered resources are those quantities of oil and gas estimated on a given date to be remaining in (plus those quanities already produced from) known accumulations. Discovered resources are divided into economic and uneconomic catergories, with the estimated future recoverable portion classifed as reserves or contingent resources, respectively.
Evaluation
The process of gathering descriptive technical data-including geological, geophysical, engineering and production information-about the oil sands zone or zones included in oil sands agreements. Evaluation data provides valuable information about the nature and characteristics of the oil sands resource.
Heavy gas oil
Hydrocarbon with 40 to 70 carbon atoms per molecule.
In situ
"In place" production methods which use steam, solvent and oxygen injection to recover deeply buried bitumen deposits.
Lease
An oil sands agreement which grants rights to develop and use oil sands resources. Two types of leases exist under the Oil Sands Tenure Regulation: primary and continued.
Lease continuation
The process of continuing the term of a lease to a company or individual who holds a primary lease (or equivalent).
Lease selection
The process of converting an oil sands permit to a primary lease(s).
Light gas oil
Hydrocarbon with 30 to 40 carbon atoms per molecule.
Naptha
Hydrocarbon with 4 to 15 carbon atoms per molecule.
Oil sands
Defined in the Mines and Minerals Act as:
- Sands and other rock materials containing crude bitumen,
- The crude bitumen contained in those sands and other rock materials, and
- Any other mineral substance associated with the above-mentioned crude bitumen, sands or rock materials and includes a hydrocarbon substance declared to be oil sands under section 7(2) of the Oil Sands Conservation Act.
Oil sands agreement
A permit or lease
Oil sands well
A well which is drilled to penetrate an oil sands deposit for the purpose of evaluating the deposit or bringing it into production.
Permit
An oil sands agreement which is granted for a five-year term.
Royalty
A share of production or equivalent revenue.
Undisposed
A term that refers to Crown-owned mineral rights which have not been assigned. Undisposed rights can be acquired through oil sands agreements.