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.

A female and a male worker standing at a railing on the top of Plant 82 Extraction facilities looking out towards the river. They are wearing blue hard hats and safety glasses.

Oil sands at a glance

~600 mboe/d

The heavy upgrading nameplate capacity of our high-margin barrels.

$10.5 B

Adjusted funds from operations for our Oil Sands segment were $10.5 billion in 2025.

860,000 bbls/d

We achieved a record total upstream production of 860,000 bbls/d and record upgrader utilization of 99% in 2025.

As a major operator in the oil sands, Suncor will continue to deliver safe, reliable energy while focusing on growth, technical innovation and environmental sustainability.

Two Suncor workers talking beside a truck by the main feed conveyor from the crusher at an extraction plant at Suncor’s Base Plant in Northern Alberta. They are wearing blue hard hats, safety glasses, ear plugs, coveralls and gloves.

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 is a 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 other products.

Suncor extracts bitumen in two ways: mining and in situ.

In Situ

Approximately 80% of Canada’s oil sands are too deep to mine using the truck and shovel technique and must be tapped using in situ production, a three-part process to drill, inject steam and extract bitumen to the surface.

Explore in situ at Suncor

Firebag

MacKay River

 

Proposed in situ projects

Lewis

Firebag Update

Mining

Suncor’s mining operations are a part of our integrated business, combining large-scale oil sands development, innovation and operational expertise to deliver value while advancing safe performance.

Explore mining at Suncor

Base Plant

Suncor owned and operated

Fort Hills

Suncor owned and operated

Syncrude

Suncor operated joint venture

 

Proposed mining projects

Base Mine Extension

Syncrude Mildred Lake Extension (MLX)

Oil sands stories

Aerial view of one of the new coke drums being installed at Base Plant.
Video
Operations

Upgraded upgrader: Suncor successfully completes replacement of eight coke drums at Base Plant

A large, yellow excavator in the dirt at an oil sands mine with blue sky above.
Innovation

“In the oil sands, bigger is better”: The global debut of the PC9000

Three women in blue coveralls stand smiling with the middle one holding a light-coloured, spiral shared fossil.
Operations

Scientifically significant fossil found at Syncrude

Suncor’s large autonomous haul trucks rumble down the road at Base Plant. The company has successfully deployed the world’s largest autonomous ultra-class haul truck fleet at a single mining site.
Innovation

The Future of Canadian Mining is Autonomous — and Suncor is Leading the Way

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