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Turner Valley Gas Plant

Royalite #4 well, Turner Valley AlbertaThe Turner Valley Gas Plant is the most significant historic resource associated with the development of the Turner Valley Oil Field. It is the oldest and best-preserved example of a gas processing plant in Canada and it represents the enterprise that transformed the resource into an industry. 

The Turner Valley Gas Plant is located near the Sheep River amid the rolling foothills of southern Alberta. Here you can explore the colourful history of the oil and gas industry in Alberta, Canada. The Turner Valley Gas Plant is a designated National Historic Site, and is the only surviving example of its kind in Canada illustrating pioneering technology in the oil and gas industry.

The Turner Valley plant became a flagship operation, leading the way in adapting new technologies in response to increased production and the demand for new petroleum by-products. It boasted the first sour gas scrubbing plant in Canada (1935), the first propane plant (1949) and one of the first two sulphur plants (1952). In operation until 1985, it remains the only one of its kind in Canada.

Guides lead visitors through the historic plant. From the site of the discovery well to the impressive lines of machinery and vessels, the tour explains how the gas stream from the field was processed into marketable products, and what life was like for the people who worked in the field and the plant. Stories link the plant to the nearby communities. Who worked at the plant? What did they do? Where did they live? Using audio-visual shows and displays, interpreters highlight the unique history of the oil and gas industry and the communities in the Turner Valley area, preparing visitors for a first-hand experience on the plant grounds.

Contact Information:
Turner Valley Gas Plant
Box 959, Blairmore
Crowsnest Pass, AB T0K 0E0
Phone: (403) 562–7388 
Fax: (403) 562–8635
E-mail to tturval@telusplanet.net
Internet: www.frankslide.com

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